'We hope this will be an Olympic sport one day': Players make a splash at Cork Underwater Hockey Club
Cork Underwater Hockey Club members Barry Murray, Melissa Crouch, and Dave Ahern take a poolside break during a training session. Picture: Chani Anderson
Barry Murray and his teammates are like most hockey players, with one small exception — their pitch is submerged underwater.
While traditional players are lacing up their runners, members of the Cork Underwater Hockey Club are frantically adjusting fins and snorkels. It’s all in preparation for a game that is as unique as it is fascinating.
The team has been meeting at Dolphin Swimming Club in Mayfield for the last 13 years.
The sport, also known as Octopush, was first introduced in Portsmouth, England, 73 years ago to help Southsea Sub-Aqua Club members remain active in winter.
The game involves two teams competing by pushing a puck across the bottom of a swimming pool using a hockey stick.
One of the most challenging parts is its absence of breathing devices; participants must instead hold their breath under water.
Barry Murray, who formed the team in Cork, said the sport is going from strength to strength locally. He even hopes to start a junior team in the near future.
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He started the club after moving to Ireland from Pembroke in West Wales 15 years ago.
"We advertised using some flyers and got some pool space. Our first sessions were in an 18-metre pool, but it was too shallow. We started playing in Mayfield after that, in a 25-metre pool. What we’d ideally like is a 50 metre pool, but there's nothing like that in Cork, even for the swimmers.
"There are four subs at the side of the pool. When players are exhausted after doing their bit of swimming, they can pop out of the pool and get subbed out. It’s basically rolling subs the whole way through the game.
"These games can last up to 20 or 25 minutes, depending on whether it’s club or international standard."
Barry has welcomed players from all walks of life.
“Often, it appeals to people who used to play sports like GAA, rugby, or field hockey, who can no longer play due to an injury. We get a lot of players like this.
"For others, who don’t enjoy laps of the pool, it breaks up the swimming lanes.
"Instead of just swimming, you are ducking and diving at the bottom of the pool. As a result, you probably end up swimming a couple of kilometres during the course of the hour session.
"There are so many benefits to playing a sport like this. Because you can’t talk underwater, you have to look around and develop a decent sense of spatial awareness. You are also developing strategies and playing a lot of different formations.”
The team has experienced highs and lows over the years.
“Some of the players have been with us since the club’s inception. We've had success in the past. We've also had our fair share of hidings. Dublin once beat us by 18 goals. We eventually beat them six years ago. That was a great day.
"It took us about five or six years to get up to their standard because they were a premier level club and we were like a division five club.”
Barry is keen to expand their offering in Mayfield.
“If we can secure bigger player numbers, then we’d love to have a second session. Ideally, what we'd like to do is start a junior club. I think any club that’s had success has a very healthy juvenile section, and that’s something we’d love to have as well. It’s a very good foundation to have.”
The sport is yet to feature in the Olympic Games.
“The hope is that this will be an Olympic sport one day, but there are not quite enough countries playing it yet. It’s played in Britain, France, Spain, South Africa, and New Zealand, but we need more countries playing it before it can be an Olympic sport. That’s where we would like to be with it internationally.”
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