After the slow build up reported in previous editions, the hockey group has now exploded with new players - fifteen new recruits in the last two months! I also had a very productive meeting with the two players in Geneva who are trying to get the sport started there. We all came out of it full of enthusiasm, and I very much hope to be able to report the birth of a new club in Romandie in the next edition of Flaschenpost.

The hockey group is also becoming well known to travelling players from around the world and in the last couple of months we have had visiting players from New Zealand, USA, Hungary and Germany come and join in with our sessions.

We have also achieved our first success at international level: Elisa Mosler, well known within the club as an underwater rugby player and coach, has been selected to represent Germany at underwater hockey at the forthcoming world championships in Slovenia at the end of August. Go Elisa!

The 12th September sees a return to the tournament that saw the first ever "Swiss" underwater hockey team: the Parma Cup in Parma, Italy. Last year's "Switzerland" team was made up of two Germans, two Hungarians, an American, an Italian and an Englishman, and scored two goals but no points. This year we have already improved upon that: we have a Swiss person on the team (Rebecca from Geneva)! All we need to do now is to improve on the goals and the points!

At the time of writing we still have five places available on the team for Parma, so if you fancy a fun day of underwater hockey in an outdoor pool under the glorious Italian sun, then please let me know or sign up via the Doodle poll on the front page of our website: www.uwh.ch.

On a sad note, we are having to say a temporary goodbye to my fellow instigator, Martin Paesold, as he travels to Singapore for four months. However, underwater hockey does already exist in Singapore (it was established about 4 1/2 years ago, in early 2005), and their level jumped significantly a couple of years later with the arrival of a multiple World Championship gold medal winner from Australia. We look forward to Martin teaching us everything he knows upon his return!

Martin Reed