Hi, We have put some pictures on the blog page, taken of the GB teams in action, this week in Adelaide.

It was the first Tournament of the SWATCH FIVB season and at last we have a proper WEBSITE ADDRESS! www.gbbeachboys.com

See you in the summer

Jody and Robin

There is a Level 2 Coaching course being run by Countrymen VC, taking place at the Cornwall College, Pool (Redruth) on the 23, 24 & 25 May. Cost approximately £50 + exam, tutor Jim Wright.

I have just uploaded four videos from the University of London (ULU) Volleyball Club's trip to Klagenfurt in Austria. The team has had a fantastic season, winning the BUSA Championships without dropping a set all season, coming 2nd in the Student Cup and reaching the Volleyball England Cup Final which will be played on the 26th of April in Bath. We are also undefeated and several points clear at the top of the London Premier League. A few more videos of ours are on YouTube and more are to follow!

Days 1 and 2 of the University of London (ULU) Volleyball Club's trip to Klagenfurt in Austria. Featuring the flight to Treviso (Italy), the drive to and arrival in Klagenfurt, match vs the local team and a walk around town on day 2. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0T47a-POwfQ

Day 2 Featuring a walk around the local area, a match in nearby Slovenia vs Jesenice (Slovenian 1st league team) and dinner back in Klagenfurt at the restaurant that sponsors the local volleyball club. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=INTJJMu5gG4

Day 3 Featuring a morning match in Klagenfurt against another Slovenian first league team and post-match lunch. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KQXPMEfNlxw

Day 3 Featuring the drive to Ljubljana in Slovenia via the Karnische Alps and sightseeing in Ljubljana before the team's return to London. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pHLIa-GRL90

NVL Men Div1 Riga v Sheffield 29th March 2008 & NVL Ladies Div1 Riga v CoWs 29th March 2008

More photos at: www.mcgugan.co.uk/volleyball

Riga Ladies faded after just losing the second set and Cows never looked to be much troubled in the last two sets.

Despite Riga men claiming to be weakened by missing players and after Sheffield got it to 2 all the younger (much) team faded despite taking an early lead in the fifth and Riga won an unexpected victory.

Plymouth Activate is a team that has been turning heads this year and attracting quite a bit of local interest in the Southwest. They are currently on route one for promotion in the EVA National League, from Division 3 West to Division Two. As well as an unbeaten league record they are also through to the National Shield Final.

Please visit the Volleyball Video Channel to view / Download.

A few video clips taken from the recent GB Women exhibition training event at Weymouth. The two hour session took place in front of a packed sports hall of 200 plus. The match commentary is by Lorne Sawula the GB Women Head Coach, guest players from Wessex and Jersey also took part in the scrimmage match.

The Northern Ireland Volleyball Association today launched the "Get Into Volleyball" Programme. "This programme will seek to increase the number of people participating in volleyball in Northern Ireland" said NIVA Development Officer Nick Wright.

"We are providing large A3 posters and leaflets giving people details and contact information for how they can get into volleyball whether they are a school pupil, school teacher or just looking for a local club".

Northern Ireland Volleyball are providing free posters and leafets. If you would like Northern Ireland Volleyball to post you some posters or leaflets for your school or organisation you can contact Nick Wright on 02890366373 or by email on nick@nivb.com

Northern Ireland Volleyball have also developed a downloadable poster with an editable region to place your own event info right on the poster.

Click the images below to download either poster.

Northern Ireland Volleyball President Patrick Murphy was honoured as a special guest among selected Northern Ireland sports officials at a reception hosted by Her Majesty Elizabeth II , Queen of the UK.

The reception at Hillsborough Castle Co Down was the first of its type this century as a celebration of sport in the smallest region of the United Kingdom. Murphy's invitation was to celebrate his contribution to volleyball in Northern Ireland and the UK. Her Majesty thanked him for his work and noted that the 2012 Beach Volley would be near her Buckingham Palace on London's Horseguards Parade but gave only a guarded smile when he asked if she would grace the event.

Murphy has been active in Nortehrn Ireland volleyball since 1973 and was an International Referee from 1981 to 2000. His Presidency covered many of the dark days of the Province and is now basking in the light of a new peaceful Northern Ireland. Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II meets Patrick Murphy President NIVA (2nd from left in glasses) and other sports dignitaries. (Photo by: HARRISON Photography Belfast)

The 2008 BUSA Volleyball Finals were held in Sheffield as part of thefirst British University Championship, where by 20 sports held theirfinals in the same city over four days. Nearly six thousand athletes converged on Sheffield for a veritablefeast of sport.

Volleyball had a shock start when Sheffield men announced that they were unable to field a team for the weekend, and for feited their four matches. Unprecedented in Finals history, and the matter was referred to BUSA Disciplinary Committee.

The Men's Championship pools produced some very competitive matches. Bath beat Cambridge first up and then also saw off Edinburgh. Cambridge also beat Edinburgh to secure the second semi final slot. Both Hallam and Manchester defeated Cardiff and Bristol setting up awinner take all clash. Manchester played an exceptionally controlled match and took an upset 2-0 26-24, 25-23 win to top the group.

London women had few difficulties in their pool matches and joined Loughborough, Manchester and Napier in the semi finals. Big talking point was the elimination of Bath by Manchester and Napier, both of whom were 2-1 victors over the defending champions, who were missing many players as they were Beach training in Australia.

Semi finals on Sunday morning saw Cambridge fly out of the blocks and control the game against Manchester, winning in straight sets. Bath had a strong start against Hallam, and Prince Punnackl was unstoppable, helping Bath to the first set. Hallam upped their game but Bath still in control at 17 all, but apassing error, a hitting error and Joel Miller closed the set for them. Bath never recovered and Hallam eased through. London women were too strong for Napier, and Loughborough's experience and firepower saw them overcome Manchester.

In the women's final Loughborough competed until the mid teens but could not hold the stength and depth of the London attack, succumbing 25-18,25-19.

Mens final, played in front of over 200 saw Hallam pile on pressure withbig serves and fantastic defence. All too much for Cambridge and thefirst set down 25-17. Second set and Cambridge give it all. Stephen Sarkozy hitting everything got Cambridge back in it, but Miller and Wayne Davies answered and secured the win 25-22.

MVP Awards were presented to Jevgenija Livca (London) and Mike Melbourne (Sheffield Hallam). In the Trophy, for second league teams, Kent men and Aberdeen women secured victories in a busy weekend of competitive, entertaining and committed volleyball.

Men's Championship
1. Sheffield Hallam 2. Cambridge 3. Manchester 4. Bath 5. Edinburgh 6. Bristol 7. Cardiff 8. Sheffield

Women's Championship
1. London 2. Loughborough 3. Napier 4. Manchester 5. Bath 6. Oxford 7. Bristol 8. Durham

Women's Trophy
1. Aberdeen 2. Reading 3. Leeds Metropolitan 4. Imperial College

Men's Trophy
1. Kent 2. Leeds 3. Cranfield 4. Birmingham

Men's Shield
1. Sheffield Hallam 2. Kingston

Manchester based extreme sports clothing manufacturer, Blue Wahoo, is to sponsor British Beach Volleyball. In a deal brokered by sport promoter, Beach Volleyball UK Ltd, it will be providing all the player, referee and court staff uniforms for ten Volleyball England Beach Tour events and for the Nestea European Championship English Masters which BVUK is promoting in Blackpool this September.

The English Masters is the first time a major international championship series has come to the UK and will give Blackpool over 100 hours of TV across more than 180 countries, leading its programme to reposition as a premier beach sport destination for Europe. Working with Beach Volleyball UK, and backed by the North West Development Agency, the prestigious European series is confirmed for two years with an option on a third.

Said Beach Volleyball UK Marketing Director, Freddie Guilmard: "Beach Volleyball is the only sport to combine fun, music, party, glamour and lifestyle with serious and highly competitive athletics. It is the fastest growing Olympic sport attracting a key target audience; mobile, affluent, fashion conscious, above average education, active lifestyle and equal male/female aged 16 to 34."

The company is now inviting sponsors to help grow the sport in the UK including IT, cosmetics, automotive and lifestyle. Added Freddie Guilmard: "The run up to 2012 promises to be an exciting time for UK sport, so lets have some fun!"

On the last Sunday of March, one of the leading volleyball clubs in the country hosted a Sitting Volleyball event as part of their disability awareness week. Richmond Volleyball Club invited both East London Lynx and Withernsea Wild Sitting Volleyball Clubs and both sides put on great show in order to promote the sport and encourage more people to get involved in the lesser known form of Volleyball.

The afternoon began with an extended warm-up session in which both Lynx and Wild coaches took time to introduce the basics of the sport to the Richmond squad before heading into the first match of the day which was Withernsea Wild against a Richmond/Lynx select team. The match went the distance and Wild finally came out on top with a 19-25, 25-4, 15-12 victory.

After this, the exhibition match took place with both East London Lynx and Withernsea Wild, the country's top two teams, looking for a win. The Lynx looked much the stronger side, and despite some fantastic three touch sitting volleyball by both sides Lynx managed a convinceing win with a 25-17, 25-7 score line. The most important thing about this match was that it allowed the Richmond players and supporters the chance to see how the game is played and ignited some enthusiasm in possibly creating a club at Richmond.

The Richmond players were then back on court for the final match of the afternoon, taking on the East London Lynx. The game was played in great spirit and the Lynx allowed Richmond the opportunity to play the game and the benefits of this were apparent as the game went on with Richmond showing real signs of improvement and understanding.

Finally, thanks must go to the players of both East London Lynx and Withernsea Wild for making the trip to Richmond for the event and also to Richmond Volleyball Club - whose commitment and enthusiasm made the day a great success.

Beach Volley Marathon it is the most known and spectacular sport event of international importance concerning this discipline. It is aimed to professional and amateur players of every age and level. This initiative brings together 5000 participants from all over Italy and Europe, ready to challenge each other with jumps, dives and smash hits, in other words: pure fun on the beach. When: 18-19-20 May and 7-8-9 September 2007 - Bibione (beach sector opposite to the Villaggio Turistico Internazionale).

Beach & Ball, the most important junior beach volley event - organized by the Italian Volleyball Federation Federazione Italiana Pallavolo (2700 participants last year!) - presents the novelties for the 2007 edition offering to its participants – young girls and boys between 9 and 20 years old, representing here schools and volleyball associations – the chance to chose among 3 different and interesting sport vacation packages. When: from Saturday 30th June to Saturday, 7th July 2007 - Bibione (beach sector opposite to the Villaggio Turistico Internazionale).

ParkVolley 4x4: the Centro Sportivo Polivalente of Bibione, with its 15000 square meters of green and pinewood will be hosting hundreds of lovers of summer volleyball. Play and win, but most of all a chance to celebrate all together on spritz parties in the evenings and spend nights out at the several disco clubs. All this in the name of fun. When: 23rd-24th June 2007 - Bibione (Centro Sportivo Polivalente - Via Cellina, 2).

Park Volley Junior is the new captivating summer tournament of junior volleyball aimed towards all schools and sport clubs in Italy that want to offer to the players - belonging to the categories Under 10, 12 and 14- the chance to spend a long week-end dedicated to sport, vacation and fun in one of the most beautiful seaside resort of the Adriatic coast. When: 28-29-30 April 2007 – Bibione (Centro Sportivo Polivalente - Via Cellina, 2).

Volleyball and Beach Volley Summer Camp: aimed towards sport associations and volleyball clubs to promote sport vacations at the seaside at convenient prices. This initiative wants to give the opportunity to athletes, trainers and managers to continue with the training also over the summer months as well as to reinforce the relations among the group and underline the importance of being a team-player. When: from May to September 2007 - Bibione (Centro Sportivo Polivalente - Via Cellina, 2).

Check out the videos from last years events:

• Video: Beach Volley Marathon (10,4 MB)
• Video: Beach Volley Marathon (3,2 MB)
• Video: Trofeo Beach&Ball (8,9 MB)
• Video: Trofeo ParkVolley Junior (2,6 MB)

Two more stamps from our collection of 23 volleyball stamps from around the world, an excellent example of period art work and past volleyball events. More stamps in the next issue...