The Inaugural Dave Woods Cup

UTS Balmain Tigers v UNSW Wests @ Auburn

• 11am: UTS BWPC U14s v Central Coast U14s
• Midday: UTS BWPC Old Boys v UNSW Wests Old Boys
• 1pm: UTS BWPC Australian Waterpolo League Men's team v UNSW Wests Australian Waterpolo League Men's team
• ALL STAR SHOOT OUT
• 2:15pm: UTS BWPC Australian Waterpolo League Women's team v UNSW Wests Australian Waterpolo League Women's team
• 3:30pm: Presentation of Cup and best players from each game
• 4pm: Grateful Dads LIVE

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More info about BWPC AWL>

DAVID WOODS INAUGURAL CUP – 25 March 2018

There are very few Australian families who can include an Olympian in their ranks. The hard work, tenacity and determination to reach the Olympic level in any sport, is something most of us can only dream of. The mixture of skill, strength and speed needed to make the Olympics for water polo is a dream that one Balmain family, made a reality for not 1 – but 4 members of their clan.

The Woods’s and Mayer’s are well known in our club and greater Balmain. The paternal lead for water polo in the Woods / Mayer families was taken by David Woods when he played water polo for our club in the 1960’s and 1970’s. He was made a life member of the club  in 1976.

David went on to play for his state, being made the Captain/Coach of New South Wales from 1969 to 1972 and Coach from 1978 to 1980. David represented Australia in water polo at two Olympic Games; Munich in 1972 and Montreal in 1976. He was also a member of the 1968 team that travelled to Mexico, but were denied entry by the Australian Olympic Federation.

In 1981, he coached the Australia Men’s Water Polo team, and from 1991 until 1994 he coached the Australian Women’s Water Polo team.

in 1967 was voted into the New South Wales Sporting Hall of Fame in recognition of his contribution to water polo.

David coached many Balmain teams, including the first-grade women in the 1990s. He took a young side, including his daughter Taryn Woods, and his niece Bronwyn Smith (née Mayer), from developing youngsters to key members of the gold medal winning 2000 Women’s Olympic team in Sydney. Alongside of his father and sister, David’s son, Gavin Woods, also represented Australian and was a member of Australia's Olympic team at the 2000, 2004, 2008 and 2012 Summer Olympics.

Sadly, David died suddenly last year at the age of 74.

On 25 March 2018, we are holding the Inaugural David Woods Cup at Dawn Fraser Baths. The intention of the day is to recognise the spirit and dedication of David to his love of water polo and also in the hope of continuing the UTS BWPC history of developing, coaching and producing great athletes.

Running order for the day:

• 11am: UTS BWPC U14s v Central Coast U14s
• Midday: UTS BWPC Old Boys v UNSW Wests Old Boys
• 1pm: UTS BWPC Australian Waterpolo League Men's team v UNSW Wests Australian Waterpolo League Men's team
• ALL STAR SHOOT OUT
• 2:15pm: UTS BWPC Australian Waterpolo League Women's team v UNSW Wests Australian Waterpolo League Women's team
• 3:30pm: Presentation of Cup and best players from each game
• 4pm: Grateful Dads LIVE

A huge, celebratory day is planned, full of the life and colour of the Balmain community, in remembrance and recognition of a great man and his love for a tough sport.

Water Polo Australia Hall of Fame Award (2010)

Read more about Dave Woods >