Following a perfect day for the set up on the beach, Mother Nature put on a spectacular overnight lightening show with non-stop sheet and fork lightening for well over half an hour accompanied by torrential rain and gale force winds. Despite the ensuing devastation to the marquees and gazebos the true British spirit came prevailed and the Festival went ahead with only minimal disruption.
Over 150 junior teams and in excess of 50 adult teams enjoyed 2 days of sunshine and sea breezes at the spectacular setting of Sandbanks beach. The spectacle of volleyball courts, 2 – 3 deep, for over 250 metres along the shoreline with junior players ranging from ages under 10 years to their late teens enjoying the healthy sport in the fresh air for 2 days was amazing.
The standard of play was as usual very high with, in particular, the top flight Division 1 (British Open Championship) players putting on an exhibition of skillful, well trained and well practiced volleyball all well matured and in a competitive but fund atmosphere.
Competitions were run for ages U12, U14, U16, U18 and U20 with adults able to take part in men’s fours, women’s fours and mixed fours. Winners and runners up over the weekend were as follows:
JUNIORS
| Saturday 4 July 2015 | Winners | Runners-Up |
| U12 Div 1 Girls | Lucy HardingBeth Morgan
Bea Stone |
Lisa CanevariKatie Keefe |
| U12 Div 2 Girls | Imogen Parker-ElmsIsabella Tilzey | Daisy BastowMia Pretlove |
| U12 Div 1 Boys | Enrique BelloJakob Kraeutle | Luke HoneybunAntony Wilson |
| U12 Div 2 Boys | Ryan BastowJosh Pretlove | Sam BrewsterJude Stewart |
| Sunday 5 July 2015 | Winners | Runners-Up |
| U14 Div 1 GirlsBritish Champions | Holly ColesEmma Featherstone | Caitlin MoorePoppy Pearce |
| U14 Div 2 Girls | Maddie MonteiroAlex Roe | Chelsea HeatherlandSian Longham |
| U14 Div 1 BoysBritish Champions | Noah GoalenYuan Kuzmanor | Jamie HarwoodIraj Safaee |
| U14 Div 2 Boys | Enrique BelloMichael Bryan | Stephen CofieMichael Enrique |
| Saturday 4 July 2015 | Winners | Runners-Up |
| U16 Div 1 GirlsBritish Champions | Martha BullenMattea Goalen | Isabella HopeEmma Valenti |
| U16 Div 2 Girls | Poppy PearceCaitlin Moore | Olivia GrahamMegan Twissell |
| U16 Div 1 BoysBritish Champions | Javier BelloJoaquin Bello | Zak ChambersEd Van-Wingerden |
| U16 Div 2 Boys | Max ChellowDanny Mulford | Niral KeraiCallum Wilson |
| Sunday 5 July 2015 | Winners | Runners-Up |
| U18 Div 1 GirlsBritish Champions | Ellie AustinXaz Kaashoek | Ellie CranchAnnya Evans |
| U18 Div 2 Girls | Charlotte BreenKatie Murmanis | Lauren ShortNicole Short |
| U18 Div 1 BoysBritish Champions | Harry JonesWill Van-Wingerden | Tom AllenDan Harwood |
| U18 Div 2 Boys | Harry Kanisius PocockHarry Stokes | Jack ArnoldRhys Chung |
| Saturday 4 July 2015 | Winners | Runners-Up |
| U20 Div 1 GirlsBritish Champions | Ellie CranchAnaya Evans | Gaia CanevariLucie Guigo |
| U20 Div 1 BoysBritish Champions | Sam DunbavinSam Walrond | Issa BatraneHarry Jones |
ADULTS
| Saturday 4 July 2015 | Winners | Runners-Up |
| Mixed 4sBritish Champions | Midland C | Pars A |
| Sunday 5 July 2015 | Winners | Runners-Up |
| Mens 4sBritish Champions | Redhill Falcons | Old Guys |
| Women’s 4sBritish Champions | Rockets | Vipers |
| Mixed 4s | Sandbanks VC | Blue Eagles |
Prizes over the weekend were presented by an impressive range of volleyball royalty, in alphabetical order:
- Geoff Allen, Volleyball England President and former National Coach
- Denise Austin: Former International player and current National Beach Coach
- Mo Glover: 1996 Olympian (9th in Beach Volleyball)
- Dave Gunter: Level 3 Coach and Wessex Junior Coach
- Vince Joyce: 5 x National Champion and coach of the 1996 Olympic Beach Pair
- Vangellis Koutealous: Former Greek International Indoor player, former World Tour Player on Beach and National Beach Coach
- Vicky Palmer: current Indoor and Beach International
- Kirk Pitman: former New Zealand International Beach Tour player and National Selector
- Anthony Roberts: former GB International
The weekend was enjoyed equally by both experienced players and those trying their hand at beach volleyball for the first time. Players, their coaches and families commented on the good organisation, the continued friendliness of the Festival and how special it felt to play in an event with such a good legacy.
Teams took part from various parts of the country as far apart as Croyde and Wolverhampton and with large contingents from Richmond and Swindon. As in previous years, old friendships were renewed and new ones created.
Overall the 2 days were a great success and the organising committee would like to give special thanks to all those who helped out over the weekend. Special thanks also go to the sponsors, in particular Revo and Mojo Bros for providing the prizes, and also to those presenting the prizes.
