The U17 FIVB World Championships start today, our independently funded team of Anaya Evans, Yasmin Kaashoek and coach Denise Austin have made their way over to Acapulco.

Team Registration yesterday

Nine hour stop over in Mexico City – Out and about

Thanks to Denise for the updates, you can keep up to date with all the action on the FIVB U17 web site at: http://www.fivb.org/EN/BeachVolleyball/Competitions/U17/2014/

About the event:
Implementing another solid element of its overall plan for growth and development of the sport worldwide, the new FIVB administration has announced that starting in 2014 a fourth age-group world championship will be held, the latest for the U17 age-group. On July 15-20, Acapulco, Mexico will be the site of the inaugural FIVB Beach Volleyball U17 World Championships.

Acapulco Bound! World Under 17 Championships with Anaya Evans & Yas Kaashoek. Thanks to all the supporters, this ones for you.

(A FREE tournament for all ages and abilities),  NON VOLLEYBALL/beginner PLAYERS are most definitely a priority. Experienced players will be used to help teams out and possibly support with some coaching.

24TH AUGUST – 10:30am to 7pm
Adults tournament (4 players):  Open to all. Any experienced players will be used to help out with teams. I will set you up with a team if required.

25TH AUGUST – 12:30pm to 7pm
Childrens 6′s tournament (5 yrs – 16yrs): Very much for those that want to try volleyball. I will put you in a team of 6 if required.

I will be there during the week leading up to the HOPE COVE VOLLEYBALL FESTIVAL – FREE coaching and playing will be available on the permanent court.

COME DOWN AND HAVE A HOLIDAY – enjoy the festivities of the HOPE COVE WEEKEND!! and play some beach VB in sunny Hope Cove.

Anthony Balson anthonybalson@hotmail.com or 07948 269484 for details

2013/14  SW League Ladies runners Up

Most teams were presented with their 2013/14 awards at the SW Championships end of season event in May. However one team has eluded us until we finally caught up with the players this week (at two separate events and yes some people got their photo taken twice). Well done to everyone involved.

The Bavarians, winners of the Exeter Volleyball Festival fun fours and the Coaver Open 6′s. Bundesliga coach Daniel Koehn (orange shirt) spent 2012/13 working with Torexe VC, this year he brought over a few friends for the Exeter Volleyball Festival Weekend. Claiming the tournament title in both the fun 4′s and the Coaver Open 6′s.

It was another fantastic Sandbanks Beach Volleyball Festival this year. With 140 junior teams in 19 competitions and 40 adult 4′s teams in 3 competitions, entries were up by 33% this year. The biggest concern was potentially the weather. However, whilst dark grey clouds and heavy rain fell on Poole and Bournemouth, the Sandbanks peninsula continued serenely to be bathed in sunshine.

The team of volunteers had worked hard to make sure that all teams had an enjoyable time, including playing 4 to 6 matches a day, free water (donated by Asda and Fitness First), free suncream (donated by Boots) and free physio / massage services provided by Bournemouth University.

Tournament Director, Geoff Allen, said “Our organising team feel proud that many top British beach volleyballers have developed their skills as youngsters at Sandbanks over the years and want to continue to offer future generations of young players that opportunity. What was particularly pleasing this year was that 28 under 14 teams entered and that several schools / clubs said that having dipped their toe in this year with 1 or 2 teams will bring back 5 or 6 teams next year. It shows that there is a demand for beach volleyball. However, we don’t want to get too big again, because our volunteers are just that, volunteers. They give their time for free and we don’t want to overdo it. Even so, one long-term volunteer, Helen Tinker, still celebrated a very special birthday at the tournament.”

The cream of Britain’s young volleyball talent competed for eight British Open Junior Beach Volleyball titles, at Under 14, 16, 18 and 20. In addition there were Division 2′s at each age-group, Under 12 competitions, adult mixed 4′s, and a Men’s 4′s British Championship.

Junior Men
Two players who emerged with the great credit were 16 year-old Wessex’, Harry Jones, partnering 15 year-old Ryan Poole from Boswells. They won the British Under 18′s Championship, beating Sam Allen and Nathan Fullerton from Leaf Academy, Bournemouth in the Final, and reached the Final of the Under 20′s, losing to Sam Walrond (Leaf Academy) and Hayden Lawson (Croyde, Devon).

In the younger boys’ age-groups, Javier and Joaquin Bello from Richmond, showed their class by winning both the Under 14′s and Under 16′s, beating Noah Goalen / Yoan Kuzmanov (OPS) and Ed Van Wingerden / Tom Allen (Wessex) in the Finals respectively. Younger brother, Enrique Bello, partnering Nicolas Silon (Richmond), made it a family triple header by winning the Under 12′s Final against Edward Dawson and Harry Copestake (OPS).

Junior Women
In the girls’ British Championships, Paige Fullerton and Maria Georgopolou from Leaf Academy, won the Under 20 Championship, beating Jade Butcher (Bournemouth University) and Emma Crane (Leaf) in the Final. Yasmin Kaashoek (Leaf) and Anaya Evans (Croyde) showed their potential by winning the Under 18′s Championship, beating Grace Lazard and Maria Georgopolou (Leaf) in the Final. Nicole Short and Ellie Austin (Croyde) won the Under 16 Championship, overcoming Mattea Goalen and Martha Bullen (OPS) in the Final. However, Goalen and Bullen won the Under 14 Championship, beating Lauren Huggins and Chloe Traves in the Final. OPS won a title when Freya Aucken and Morven Calway beat Hannah Glatter and Charlotte Wittram (Wessex) in the Final.

Adults
After an absence of several years, the Men’s British 4′s Championship was reintroduced. After a series of long, tough matches, the Ashfield Vipers team of Musk, Clews, Melia and Bradley were crowned British Champions, beating the Reading University team of McMenamin, Bruno, Santos and Kubo.

The Mixed 4′s were highly popular, with entries on the reserve list. Saturday’s had 20 teams, won by Cheaney, Dalrymple, Miles and Sayer, beating Sandbanks VC in the Final, while Sunday’s had 16 teams, won by Elias, Elias, Elias and Tinker (Whitby) beating Funky Town Monkey Pimps in the Final.

The organisers would like to thank Sportset, Bomb Cosmetics, Animal, Nandos, Snowtrax, Compton Acres, Farmer Palmers, The Tank Museum, Beaulieu, Empire Cinemas, Proctor & Gamble, Rockley Watersports, Sandbanks Yacht Company, Larasian, Bowlplex, Palm Print, Leaf Academy, Bournemouth University, Poole Tourism, Asda, Fitness First, Boots and Volleyball England for their support.

Geoff Allen / Photos by Roger Tutt

Following the Inter Regional Championships, we asked three are our representatives about their experience. This time we focus on Rebecca Chamberlain.

Becca (No 8)  hitting through the outside

The inter regional competition is a great experience for young volleyball players, as it gives you a chance to play against teams from all over the country. I would highly recommend to any junior players that you go along to the training sessions as at the very least the high standard of the coaches will improve your skills so much.

The inter regional competition itself is such a fun weekend, made even better in my experience as in my final two years our South West under 16’s team came out as the winners. The atmosphere over the whole weekend is incredible and the competition is so fun for everyone involved that I would encourage as many juniors as possible to at least go along to the training sessions.

Becca Chamberlain

Newbury Volleyball Club would like to invite you to take part in Newbury Volleyfest 2014.

It is a two day grass tournament taking place on the weekend of 2nd and 3rd August in Newbury, West Berkshire, with women’s, mixed and men’s sections.  It takes place at an idyllic riverside setting with cheap parking and camping.  It is supported by West Berkshire Council; Newbury Town Council; Parkside Leisure who are offering a free indoor swim to all participants, and providing onsite catering; and, BarSport who are offering a free pint with every meal served and evening entertainment.

Newbury Volleyfest 2014 what the summer is made for.  See our website to enter www.newburyvolleyballclub.co.uk.  Just Google ‘Newbury Volleyball Club’ and follow instructions to prepay.  Where else will you get a weekend of volleyball, free swim and pint for so little?

We look forward to welcoming you in August.

Richard Cottle, Chairperson Newbury Volleyball Club.