Saturday 9th June saw Ballymoney Blaze host the largest senior beach volleyball event ever seen on these shores, with no fewer than 27 teams taking part, 16 men’s teams and 11 ladies.

Competition was fierce from the outset, with seedings based on last year’s results, some teams were out to show that they were better than their low position.

In the men’s section top seeds and blaze locals looked in top form as they easily made their way through the pack to the quarter finals, where they came up against Nick Wright & American import Anthony Spittle, in what proved to the be the closest pairing of the day as the deciding set ran to double the expected length with Wright & Spittle eventually coming out on top 31-29. However, the double elimination format threw the blaze pairing a lifeline as they went to the loser’s side of the bracket and after a scare against a very good Irish pairing in the semi-final, eventually made their way to the final where they once again came up against Spittle & Wright. The match again ran to 3 sets, this time the local pair were able to come through and claim the title for the second year running.

In the ladies section, top seeds and last year’s winners Irena Mihneva and Joanna Wiezowska found the early going tough as they came up against the American pairing of Erin Schreck & Erin Madden, who were seeded lowly after not playing in last year’s tour. The American pair became the first team to ever defeat Mihneva & Wiezowska on the Portrush beach. Again the double elimination format came to the saviour of the top seeds as Mihneva and Wiezowska made their way through the pack to once again meet the American pair in the final. Again, however, the Americans proved too strong and came away with a 2-0 victory to claim the Blaze Open Title. 

Special Mention should go to Blaze pairing Kerry Kirkpatrick & Alice Harkness who battled against their lowly seeding to finish third in the event, proving that the local girls can compete on the sand too!

MVP’s for the event were: Anthony Spittle and Erin Madden

Organiser Johnny McClenaghan said after the event “It was great to see so many people turn out for the event. This is just the first event of the tour this year and I hope it can only get bigger and better from here, especially with this being Olympic year. It would be great to show the public the opportunities there are out there to play volleyball in this country, including our second beach event on Saturday 25th August.”

“I would like to thank Nick Wright and Wilson Greenlee from NIVA for their help with the event, Alan Templeton for lending us some of the equipment for the day, David Park & Jonny Workman for helping to run the event on the day and Tara Cunningham & Christine McKee from Coleraine Borough Council for all their help before the event.”

Anyone wishing to get more info on volleyball, or who is interested in joining the local club can contact Johnny on 07817061634 or johnny@ballymoneyblaze.com 

Results from the event are as follows:

 Mens event:

 1. Jonathan Workman & Alan McKnight

 2. Nick Wright & Anthony Spittle 

3. Rimas Peciukevicius & Sergej Rodin

 4. Benny O'Regan & Jonathan Whitty

 Tied 5th

 David Park & Callum Currie

 Peter Stewart & Graeme Currie 

Tied 7th

 Connor Doherty & William Robb

 Peter Marshall & Richard Surgenor

 Tied 9th

 Kuba Kolos & Paddy Fleetwood

 Niall Madden & Enda Miley

 Jordan Stanev & Georgi Vasilev

 Stephen White & Aaron McKendry

 Tied 13th

 Niall Burton & Matthew Rodgers

 David Spence & William McKnight

 Matthew Scott & Johnny McClenaghan

 Jason Smith & Matthew Bertenshaw

Ladies Event

 1. Erin Madden & Erin Schreck

 2. Irena Mihneva & Joanna Wiezowska

 3. Kerry Kirkpatrick & Alice Harkness

 4. Lucy Moore & Zoe Moore

 Tied 5th

 Chloe Walkingshaw & Mel Traynor

 Tina Debeljak & Keissy Guerra

 Tied 7th

 Caroline Goodliffe & Caitlin de Jode

 Rebecca Archer & Zoe Wethers

 Tied 9th

 Judith Edgar & Sorcha Maguire

 Teanna Mills & Clare Scott

 Hannah Witherow & Nicola Cochrane