Joy Davis Hull International 2025 – What a Weekend!
The sun (mostly) shone, the pitches were packed, and the paddles flew as 55 teams from across the UK and Ireland descended on Dacre Lakeside Park for another brilliant Joy Davis Hull International Canoe Polo Tournament.
With four full divisions and six visiting teams from Ireland, the weekend was a fantastic showcase of talent, teamwork, and true canoe polo spirit.
Champions Crowned and Great Battles Fought
The competition across all divisions was fierce yet full of sportsmanship, with some excellent displays of grit, skill, and camaraderie. A huge congratulations to Kingston A, who claimed the Division 1 title with a superb unbeaten run.
Another shoutout goes to the Kingston Ladies, who put in a strong performance across the weekend to take home the Women’s Team Trophy — a well-deserved reward for their dedication and teamwork.
In Division 2, Ireland’s Mullingar 1 paddled away as champions, while Mullingar 2 triumphed in Division 3 and Avon clinched victory in Division 4. Full results from every division are available here.
Kingston Kayak Club – Running the Show
This event wouldn’t happen without the tireless work of the Kingston Kayak Club volunteers, who once again ran the tournament from start to finish — building pitches, managing fixtures, running the control tent, and everything in between.
Special thanks go to Steve, whose engineering expertise once again ensured we had four full pitches to play on. We’re already looking at how to improve Pitch 3 for 2026.
We also extend our sincere thanks to Dacre Lakeside Park, whose team — led by Craig — were incredibly welcoming and kept everyone well fed with their excellent catering facilities.
A Weekend of Fun, Competition and Community
Despite some gusty winds on Saturday, the weather held off and thankfully the forecast lightning stayed away. The atmosphere all weekend was buzzing — fun, competitive and friendly — just as it should be.
It was also fantastic to see so many players, families and supporters sharing their experiences throughout the weekend. If you missed it, check out the action online by searching #JDHI2025 on social media.
Thank You
A massive thank you to:
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All competitors, families, and supporters
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Every single KKC volunteer — too many to name, but your efforts don’t go unnoticed
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Craig and the Dacre team for their ongoing support
See You Next Year
Plans are already underway for JDHI 2026, which will return to Dacre Lakeside Park on 4th & 5th July 2026. Expect more of the same: fierce polo, fantastic friendships, and flawless organisation (well… we’ll try!).
Until then, enjoy the highlights, rest up, and keep paddling.
— Kingston Kayak Club