Bendigo Water Polo Association provides the ideal sport to keep participants fit and healthy while keeping cool in the summer.

The association is a family-friendly club that caters for water polo competitions for all ages and levels of ability and has competition for both males and females.

Water polo is a team-oriented sport and is a great way to meet new friends in a healthy, competitive environment - and it is never too late to learn.

The club hosts competition at the Bendigo Aquatic Centre in Barnard Street, with men’s and women’s competitions held on Thursdays from 7pm.

The centre also holds training sessions from 5.30pm to 6.30pm on Monday and Wednesday

A junior competition has been planned for Sunday mornings.

For more information or to get involved, contact club secretary Graham Clark on 0447 337 470.

Bendigo Speedstacks is unique in that it is the only club in Bendigo that offers training and activities for children and adults interested in sport stacking.

Sport stacking, also known as cup stacking or speed stacking, is an individual and team sport that involves stacking specialised plastic cups in specific sequences in as little time as possible.

It includes more than 70 fitness-based activities and motivates all participants to be active and fit.

Sport stacking allows non-athletic participants to compete on a level playing field against more athletic players, raising self-esteem and resulting in more active participation levels.

Apart from physical fitness benefits, studies have demonstrated that students who stack on a regular basis show increases in test scores and levels of concentration.

The studies have also shown that sport stacking demands the use of both sides of the brain, which can result in greater brain growth.

The Bendigo Speedstacks club has trained some Australian record-holders.

The club competes in Bendigo, state and national championships and is training participants to compete in the World Championships in Denver, USA.

For more information or to get involved, contact Jenny McWilliam on 5439 7557, email bendigospeedstacks@gmail.com or visit www.bendigospeedstacks.comfypage. com