Aylesbury Vale Volleyball Club
Volleyball Tournaments
Where we play
In 2005 we took part in Bath (mixed), Gloucester (men) and Poole (men & mixed) outdoors and the Surrey Volleyball Association tournament (men) at Ashcombe indoors, often with ladies playing in the men's teams. Unfortunately Poole will not take place this year. We gave the one-day Cambridge tournament a miss but expect to be back for the normal 2-day tournament this year. Last year Sara's fast entries ensured we had a team at Bath and played in the desired divisions in Poole. As ever, players need to commit early and definitely to ensure we enter appropriate teams at the right levels.
See the tournament kit list and tips for people who have not been before.
Contact the named Vale organiser against each tournament for more details.
London Challenge Trophy
9 April 2006, Crystal Palace. Organiser: Rebecca
Vale entered a team (Anett, Annette, Chris, Gemma, Nicolas, Paul C, Rosie, Tim) in the mixed outdoors division with Anett and Gemma making their competitive Vale debuts. The bad weather held off until the end of the day, Vale won 2 matches out of 5, and enjoyed watching the top class action indoors afterwards.
London Challenge Trophy page on LVA Website.
EVA Area Cup & EVA County Cup
7-8 May 2006, Norwich. Organiser: for information only but contact Nigel if interested in playing
At the Norwich UEA Sportspark and organised by Brentwood Volleyball Club on behalf of the EVA - see EVA webpage for more details.
The Area Cup is for non-NVL players but neither Buckinghamshire nor Hertfordshire are entering this county representative tournament this year.
Peterborough Veterans
Sat 13 May 2006, Peterborough. Organiser: no Vale team owing to mountain biking commitments but contact Alan Wilkins if interested in taking part in HVA teams.
At Bushfield Sports Centre, Orton Centre, Peterborough, PE2 5RQ this year. Veterans: Men 40+, Ladies 35+.
This is the successor to the Eastern Volleyball Federation County Veterans' Tournament and still includes many county/area teams as well as clubs. A Herts team including Nigel came second out of 9 teams behind Tees Valley West. This was an enjoyable well organised tournament although with 8 timed matches interspersed with gaps there was a lot of warming up and down.
Peterborough
24-25 June 2006, Peterborough. Organiser: anyone interested?
Believed to be a new tournament for 2006 at the Perkins Sports Association.
County level: 6-a-side men and ladies plus 4-a-side mixed (at least 2 ladies on court)
Local league/novice: 4-a-side men, ladies and mixed (at least 2 ladies on court)
Peterborough Volleyball Tournament Website
Volley in the Woods
Midsummer, Wendover Woods. Organisers: Graham/Debbie
Venue unavailable in 2006 - booking problems
Barbecue and recreational outdoor volleyball for all the family
Forest Enterprise summary of Wendover Woods
Tring Council details of Wendover Woods
Bridlington Beach
15-16 July 2006. Organiser: for info only - no club entry.
Bracing 4-a-side mixed beach tournament, 2 men and 2 women per team; pairs competition on Saturday evening.
Bridlington Beach Tournament Website.
Whitefield (Bath)
22-23 July 2006. Organiser: Sara.
At The Recreation Ground, home of Bath Rugby Club, in the centre of Bath.
Great setting, lots to do, and good volleyball to watch indoors.
Vale entered a team (Anett, Ivan, Jem, Rebecca, Rosie, Sara (capt)) in the mixed outdoors division 2.
With only 2 men and some less experienced ladies, the team did well to win 2 and lose 2 on the Saturday,
narrowly missing qualifying for the cup. In the plate on the Sunday they unfortunately lost both official matches
before beating old rivals Selly Baskets in a friendly.
Whitefield Volleyball Tournament Website.
Cambridge
5-6 August 2006. Organiser: Sara
Back as a 2 day tournament at Cambridge Rugby Club this year; punting and falling in the Cam optional.
Vale entered 2 teams - The Flying Bagoadi Brothers' Summer Tour 2006 (Anett, Rosie, Dave, Tim, Jem & Sara)
and The Real Flying Bagoadi Brothers (Brian, Bruce, Chris Belson, Gordon, Neil & Roger) in Men's Division 3
despite the former having to field 3 ladies.
The weather was consistent over the two days, if only the same could be said about the standard of play.
Although showing a steady rate of improvement and a growing cohesion as a team,
TFBBST 2006 lost each of its games on the Saturday, including against TRFBB, although it was a hard-fought battle,
and against a Cambridge Old Boys team including Nigel. After an excellent evening punting and enjoying the culinary delights
of Cambridge, the Sunday in the Plate went much better. TFBBST 2006 won its first 2 matches, including gaining revenge against
Welwyn Horenets and a somewhat depleted TRFBB, and then lost the final match against Wimbledon Warriors 17-16 in a capped final set.
And as for the antics of TRFBB: omerta - "what happens on tour stays on tour".
2004 tournament details and pictures
Cambridge Volleyball Tournament Website
Cambridge Volleyball Tournament directions.
Gloucester
12-13 August 2006. Organiser: Sara
A new name and venue for 2006: directions to Gloucester City Festival of Volleyball at Oxstalls Indoor Tennis Centre, Gloucester.
Vale entered a mixed team (Sara, Anett, Brian, Jem, Rosie, Tim) in Men's Division 2. The tournament was a triumph of organisation yet again. The new venue at Oxstalls Indoor Tennis Centre was a great improvement, with camping closer to the courts, plenty of clean showers and a glass sided conservatory-style disco. Entertainment was superb with a good disco and live music from Vince and also from Liz, a player with Bourneside Volleyball Club.
For Vale the tournament was also very good from a performance point of view, as we won half of our games on Saturday and again on Sunday. It was good to come up against old adversaries in teams such as 'Countrymen', 'Taxi' and 'We're with Her'. We look forward to playing them all again at Gloucester in 2007.
Poole
Cancelled for 2006 according to e-mail from tournament organisers Kevin Frame and Andy Jones.
Good tournament on the Bank Holiday weekend at Hamworthy Recreation Club just outside Poole.
Directions.
Surrey (Ashcombe Dorking)
Unconfirmed - probably early September. Organiser: TBA
Indoor pre-season tournament, men & mixed (2+ ladies), lower level county league standard. Directions
Where else?
EVA-registered tournament listing.
