Sydney training camp for Mount College water polo players

VALUABLE TRIP: Mount Maunganui College Premier girls' water polo players relax after a training session in Sydney. PHOTO: Supplied

The Mount Maunganui College Premier girls' team got their season off to a great start with a week-long preseason trip to Sydney.

The trip was made possible due to former Mount College pupil and Australian Olympian Joe Kayes who is based at the Cronulla Sharks Water Polo Club.

"The girls had a great trip. They trained really hard for the week that included two 5-7am sessions at the NSW Institute of Sport training alongside Aussie Olympians and top NSW women," team manager Kellie Spee said.

"They also played against and trained with the Cronulla age group players. Some sessions were even held in the sea at Gunnamatta Bay where the Cronulla clubrooms are."

Coach Paul Kayes said the idea was a week's training camp that mixed some fun activities with a lot of hard training.

"The girls visited some cool if obvious places such as Bondi and the Darling Harbour, Opera House area but also some less well known beaches to Kiwis within the Royal National Park," he said.

"They also learned a lot of good water polo skills and have therefore had a positive start to their water polo year."

This weekend the Mount Maunganui College Premier girls are hosting Auckland's Diocesan Girls Premier team, as part of both schools ongoing build-up to the season.