History of Canoe Polo in Italy

History of Canoe Polo in Italy and the World

1970

Canoe Polo makes its first appereance in Great Britain and Germany as an alternative to the cold winter trainings.

1984

Teams start to be formed in Northern Italy, thanks to an Anglo-Indian, Reza Ali’. He would then introduce those rules that will caratterize the paddle-only variant of Canoe Polo, known later as «Italian Style» since Italy would be the only place in the world playing with those rules. In Abbano Terme main square a twelve teams tournament is held.

1985

First tournaments begin to be held in North-Eastern Italy: beyond Abbano Terme, in Padova and Gorizia. The most rapresentative teams are «Castelfranco Veneto» and the «Kayak Polo Rangers Padova»; in the mainwhile other teams form in the North-West and tournaments are held following the hand-paddle rules imported from Northern Europe. Some teams make their appearance in Central (DLF Roma) and Southern Italy (Napoli).

1986

The Italian Canoe and Kayak Federation (F.I.C.K.) begins to get interested in these activities, trying to regulate the two playing styles: the paddle-only one and the hands-paddle one. Being the second one limitate to the teams in the Liguria region, while the other way is spread all over Italy, the Federation goes with the first one, forming a Polo Federal Committee and writing a Rule Book, the first in Europe. It also organize a «crusade» with a national selection team to take part to Europe most important polo tournament in Amsterdam and export the «Italian Style».

1987

The first national tournament is held by the F.I.C.K. and called «Italian Cup». It is won by the «Roma Canoa Polo A.S.», second the «Siracusa» and third the «C.N. Posillipo».

1988

This is the year of the Olympic Games in Seoul, Corea. The International Canoe Federation (I.C.F.) uniforms the Canoe Polo rules with the Anglo-French hands-paddle standard, with the goals at two meters above the water, for an experimental period of four years; Italy is given a «permit» to keep playing with its own rules. «C.C. Naples» wins the Italian Cup over the «Roma Canoa Polo A.S.», third the «C.K.C. Milano».

1989

The Italian Cup is won by «Roma Canoa Polo A.S.», second «C.C. Napoli» and third the «Lerici».

1990

«Roma Canoa Polo A.S.» wins the Italian Cup for the third time in four years, second the «G.C. Roma» and third «C.C. Napoli».

1991

The Italian Cup trophy goes to «C.C. Napoli», second is «Roma Canoa Polo A.S.» and third «Siracusa».

1992

Last Italian Cup played with the Italian Style, won again by «Roma Canoa Polo A.S.» over «Lerici», third «C.C. Napoli». During the Olympic Games in Barcelona, Spain, the I.C.F. declares the hands-paddle style as the official one and draw the official Rule Book. Canoe Polo becames an official activity in the federation.

1993

The F.I.C.K. adopts the I.C.F. rules and the Italian Style disappears. The first «Italian Championship» is held, and won by the «A.R.C.I. Borgata Marinara Lerici». The European Canoe Association (E.C.A.) is formed.z

1994

In Sheffield, Great Britain, is held the first Canoe Polo World Championship. Italy ends in the 9th position, after Australia, Germany, Great Britain, Holland, France, Belgium, Ireland and Hungary. «A.R.C.I. Lerici» wins the Championship again, second is «Siracusa» and third «C.N. Posillipo».

1995

The first European Championship is held in Rome, Italy. The English team gets the first place, France is second and Germany third; Italy ends in the 5th place, behind Holland. Third win in a row in the Championship for the «A.R.C.I. Lerici», second is «Pro Scogli Chiavari» and third is «C.N. Posillipo».

1996

This is the year of the second World Championship in Adelaide, Australia; the Australian team wins the final match 2 – 1 against Italy. The Italian Championship is won by «A.R.C.I. Lerici» again, second is «Pro Scogli Chiavari» and third is «C.N. Posillipo».

1997

The city of Essen, Germany, hosts the second European Championship, won by the French team, second is Great Britain and Italy is third in the Men Division, while in the Women Division the first place goes to Great Britain, second is France and third Germany. The Italian Championship is won by «Canottieri Siracusa», second is «C.N. Posillipo» and third is «Pro Scogli Chiavari».

1998

The third World Championship is held in Aveiro, Portugal, and the Australians win their third World title in a row, although only after penalty shoot-outs; second is Great Britain and third is Italy. In the Women Division, is Australia again to gain the first place, over Great Britain and France. «Pro Scogli Chiavari» wins the Italian Championship for the first time.

1999

Third European Championship with the same male podium of the previous edition: the French team is on the highest step, and following below are respectively Great Britain and Italy. In the female division Germany is first, Great Britain is second and France is third. Debut for the Italian U21 male (6th) and female (3rd) teams. The Italian «Serie A» is conquered by «A.R.C.I. Lerici» after a two year drought, thanks to a last second score by Alan Vessey in the second extra period; second is «C.N. Posillipo»

Italian Cup 1987 Roma Canoa Polo A.S. 1988 C.C. Napoli 1989 Roma Canoa Polo A.S. 1990 Roma Canoa Polo A.S. 1991 C.C. Napoli 1992 Roma Canoa Polo A.S. Italian Championship 1993 A.R.C.I. Borgata Marinara Lerici 1994 A.R.C.I. Borgata Marinara Lerici 1995 A.R.C.I. Borgata Marinara Lerici 1996 A.R.C.I. Borgata Marinara Lerici 1997 Canottieri Siracusa 1998 Pro Scogli Chiavari 1999 A.R.C.I. Borgata Marinara Lerici