Great Yarmouth Beach Volleyball Classic

Britain’s top two men and women beach volleyballers are amongst 140 players taking part in the inaugural Great Yarmouth Beach Volleyball Classic on Central Beach over the Bank Holiday weekend.

Play will start around 10.00 am on Saturday 26 and Sunday 27 August.

Promoted by the UEA Sportspark and Great Yarmouth Borough Council this is the latest addition to the Volleyball England Beach Tour, that has events all through the summer along the South and South West Coasts.

Top 2 GB women taking part

Denise Austin the GB No 1 ranked player who has previously played on the World professional Beach circuit and Natali Deftereous GB No 2 will be playing with their respective partners in the Women’s Pairs. Competition will be tough as nine of the top 15 GB ranked women players will be taking part. Players receive ranking points depending on their performance at each of the events on the Volleyball England Beach tour. Players can choose their own partner for each event.

Austin and her partner Medrika will be coming to Great Yarmouth after playing in the final round of the GB Urban Beach Tour in Cardiff. Leading that tour after the first two rounds in Edinburgh and Birmingham they are the in form pair after winning the previous event in Birmingham.

Entries have also been received from Lucy Boulton and Zara Drobney who will be competing in the World U/21 Beach Championships in Poland this week. Subject to flights they hope to be back in Britain in time for the Great Yarmouth Beach Classic.

Top GB Men’s pairing entered

In the men’s pairs the top GB pair Jody Gooding and Morph Bowes who have been playing on the NESTEA European Beach Tour this summer have entered. BOWES is coaching Boulton and Drobney in Poland and will also be hoping there are no flight delays.

The men’s pairs include eight of the top 15 GB players. Mike Constantinou (GB 4) and Andy Gapinski (GB no 5) will form a formidable pairing.

As the last of the three “Major” events on the tour it is the final chance for players to win big ranking points that will determine which players make the Championship final in Poole in September.

On Sunday local teams will be taking part in 4 v 4 men’s and mixed events.

Beach Volleyball is an Olympic Sport attracting huge crowds around the world. The existing GB major events at Weymouth and Poole attract hundreds of spectators. It is intended that with the superb beach and setting at Great Yarmouth the Classic will over the next few years in the run up to 2012 attract players from Europe as well.

For further information
Keith Nicholls
UEA Sportspark
01603 592380

Additional information

Volleyball England Beach Tour