A TOURNAMENT set up in memory of a late Dunfermline Water Polo Club stalwart will host its first-ever female edition this weekend.

The BMC Cup, created in honour of Brian Campbell, is set to welcome six under-18 teams to Carnegie Leisure Centre on Saturday and Sunday for as part of an inaugural girls-only competition.

First held in 2021, the BMC Cup was created by Brian's three sons - Alasdair, Darren and Chris, who have all played with Dunfermline - as a way of marking his contribution to the sport.

A former Scotland international, Brian, a life member with Dunfermline, passed away in December 2019, aged just 61, following a brave battle with cancer.

As well as holding numerous roles with Dunfermline, who he also coached to a British Cup win at under-16 level, he was involved with Scotland and Caledonia boys' teams, the latter of which is a composite side featuring players from Dunfermline and other Scottish clubs to compete in British Water Polo League competitions.

After a successful first competition, which saw six under-18 boys teams compete, last year's BMC Cup saw eight teams - including three from England - and more than 100 junior players take part over two days.

A male edition is set to take place for a third time later in the year, but this weekend will be a first girls' event, which will also see a separate under-14 mixed development tournament take place.

Speaking to Press Sport, Alasdair commented: "It's crazy where we've came from and that it's our third year running the BMC Cup.

"Since the first, we've been getting asked 'when are you going to do a girls one'? We've got six teams - four from Scotland, one from Wales and one from England - so they're come from far and wide to play, which is brilliant.

"All-in-all, we've got over 100 girls taking part. Dunfermline in particular have got a strong girls team, and City of Liverpool, who are coming up, are fourth in Britain. They are a high-quality team. We've got a team from Wales (Junior Celtic Dragons) so to have teams coming from the length of the UK, to play in a weekend tournament in Scotland, is brilliant."

Alasdair hopes that the event can help those participating improve their game, and to inspire others to take part in the sport, which he hopes would make his dad proud.

"Liverpool's coach has good memories of dad, which is a big reason why she's coming up," he added.

"I think his words would be 'stop making a fuss about me', but he'd be quite proud, I hope, and overwhelmed by the support."

In addition to the playing action, those participating will have the chance to attend free sport psychology workshops with Alban Dickson, who has previously worked with the Scottish under-18 boys water polo squad, and who is a performance psychologist with Scottish Premiership football club, Heart of Midlothian.

Spectators are welcome to attend and watch the event for free, whilst there will also be a raffle, a bake sale and merchandise for purcahse.

In the under-18 girls competition, Group A consists of Dunfermline, City of Liverpool and Warrender, with Junior Celtic Dragons, Kirkintilloch and Kilsyth, and Portobello, contesting Group B.

The teams competing in the under-14 development tournament are Dunfermline, Stingrays, Stirling and Warrender, and the first match, between Dunfermline and Warrender in the under-18s tournament, takes place at 9am on Saturday.

Play continues until 5pm on day one, before resuming at 8.30am on Sunday, running until 3pm.

For more information, find The BMC Cup on Facebook.