Horace Binns

Horace Binns joined the Bradford Dolphins swimming Club in 1911 at the age of 14 and remained a member until his death in 1953. He won the first of many swimming titles, the Bradford 500 yards title when he was 15 and went on to win many local and county titles. As a water polo player, Binns was a fine back, and went on to captain the Dolphins team, eventually becoming their coach and club president.

After making his England water polo début against Wales in September 1921, Binns played for the national side up to 1929. He was also a regular member of the Yorkshire side between 1920 and his retirement from competitive sport in 1932, when he continued to play an active role in the administration of the sport. Binns became president of the Yorkshire ASA, was a member of the North-East Council of the ASA, and was secretary of the Yorkshire Water Polo Selection Committee.

A yarn merchant by profession, Binns was one of the first members of the newly formed English Water Polo Committee of the ASA in March 1935, and he became a member of the in the International Water Polo Selection Committee in 1938. That same year Binns canvassed for a National Water Polo League, but it did not come to fruition until 1963. Binns was also England team manager, Great Britain coach and, at the 1948 Olympics, a goal judge in four games and timekeeper in two others.

Binns was suspended for 12 months in December 1924 when, as captain of the Dolphins, he called his team out of the water in protest at a referee’s decision. Looking at the posts he went on to hold with the local and national ASA, however, his misdemeanour was forgiven.