Scottish Power and Russian Resolve!

The May weekend of the 29th 2005 witnessed a tremendous festival atmosphere in and around the North Inch as 1,073 volleyball players descended on Perth from all over Europe for the twentieth Scottish Open Volleyball Tournament.

A late sponsorship deal from Scottish Power renewables started the weekend on a positive note but the cold and wet weather on Saturday put a slight dampener on the standard of volleyball which could be played outdoors due to the fact that players were unable to gain a grip on the slippery surface of the North Inch. This of course did not detract from the fun as teams adjusted their game to suit and tactics changed accordingly.

Sponsors.
The Scottish Power cash injection along with support from Ramada Jarvis, Strathmore Water, St Johnstone Football Club and the Trophy Shop helped keep this year's tournament afloat financially.

The organisation by a small group of local volunteers was again commendable with almost all games being underway by the back of 10 o'clock on the Saturday playing on thirty four outdoor courts on the North Inch.

Local teams.
A number of local teams were again in the fray with the Ben Nevis Beaters, Kintronics, Perth Pool, See Me Scotland and Motley Crew all competing in the mixed divisions with Campus Sports, Net Chaos Crieff, Rodney's Trotters and Kelty competing in the men's divisions.

Best Dressed.
The best dressed team was undoubtedly The Saggy Aggies with their "granny costumes" complete with baffies, cardigans and shopping trolleys.

International.
Foreign interest was mainly in the women's sections with the Faroe Islands women's side along with Pskov Academy for Tourism from Perth's Russian twin town. Many other nationalities were represented throughout other teams with Americans, Dutch, French and Belgian all playing their part.

Men's Division 2.
Of the local teams only Campus Sports and Kelty qualified for the final stages of men's division two on Saturday only to be drawn together in the same section for Sunday's games. The opening fixture paired the two and the game went to three sets with the Kelty lads just pipping Campus 18-25; 25-22; 15-6.

Both Kelty and Campus lost in close three set encounters to Nuvoc of Edinburgh who went on to win the men's division two trophy.

Men's Division 3.
In men's division three, Net Chaos Crieff qualified for the final stages only to be pipped by the narrowest of margins losing 25-23; 21-25; 17-19 to Team Shameless. Rodney's Trotters also lost out in very close encounters with X-Men and Bob Selecta on the Sunday after qualifying well on Saturday.

Men's division three consolation tournament saw four Fife teams qualifying for the semi-finals with Leuchars beating Sydney Shambles 25-11; 25-12 and Fife Olympiad (Glenrothes) beating Dunfermline side "Six Men from All Angles" 25-1; 25-22.

In the final it was Leuchars who triumphed 25-13; 25-17.

Women's division 2.
In women's division two the Pskov team completed the weekend undefeated to win the trophy.

Mixed Division 2.
In mixed division two the Ben Nevis Beaters made up mainly of the tournament committee, qualified for the final stages on Sunday only to lose out to Liquid Sunshine who themselves lost in the final to Hot Doggies.

Mixed division two consolation saw Kintronics win one and lose one to 'Ave It who eventually won the consolation trophy for that division.

Mixed Division 3.
In the mixed division three consolation qualifiers Motley Crew, Perth Pool and See Me Scotland qualified for the knockout stages with both Motley Crew and Perth Pool being paired against each other in the semi-finals.

In what was a very close match the Motley Crew ran out eventual winners 25-23; 25-22.

Motley Crew then met Mr G's All Stars in the final with the Crew running out consolation trophy winners 25-21; 25-19.

Another successful tournament, despite the weather with one spin off being the possibility of new teams participating in the Perth District League when the season re-starts in September.

Let's hope we have a real "beach volleyball" summer ahead of us!

David G. Munro

Tournament Organiser 2005.

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Additional Information.

Scottish Open Volleyball Tournament.

The largest Volleyball event in the UK now reaching its 22nd year at Bell's Sports Centre, Perth, Scotland.

Perth will again plays host to the Scottish Open Volleyball Tournament, the largest volleyball event of its kind in the UK. Over one thousand competitors usually take part on over 30 outdoor courts on Perth’s North Inch and compete over the Saturday and Sunday for prizes in the mixed division, recreational and the national team leagues.

The top national league teams play on the five indoor courts in Bells Sport Centre with the finals taking place on a Sunday. The standard of play is always excellent, entry is free and there is seating for spectators.

Saturday-
Perth North Inch, next to Bell’s Sports Centre. Over 30 outdoor courts - 12 competitors per court plus spectators, camp followers and referees. 5 indoor courts in Bells for division of honours team. All courts in use with matches all day from 9.30 am till 5.00 pm. Large tent city on south edge of Inch. Some teams in fancy dress.

Sunday -
3.00 pm in Bells Sport’s Centre, deciders of division of honours competition, less activity outdoors but most courts will still be busy with finals, especially early in the day.
4.00 pm in Bells, presentation of prizes.

130 teams plus.
34 outdoor courts on Perth's excellent North Inch.
5 indoor courts (Division of Honour only).
Fixtures on both days for all teams.
Ceilidh and Disco for all.

The open is grouped into divisions ranging from top national league players to beginners, youth groups, and those playing only for recreation. The Division of Honour tournament takes place in the five indoor courts in Bell's Sports Centre.

INCH
Perth has two Inches, one to the South and one to the North. Close to the city centre they are large areas of flat grassland and mature avenues of trees with the river Tay bounding them to the east. The term inch comes from the Scottish word for island, each inch having at one time been bounded on all sides by water. They're used for all manner of events - shinty, hockey, football, golf, rugby and cricket as well as individual use by the people of Perth in skateboarding, dogwalking, jogging, crazy golf, boating, cycling and just general enjoyment of open space.

THE NORTH INCH.
Part of the history of Perth's North Inch was when the then King of Scotland decided a Clan feud was getting out of hand in terms of bloodiness and declared that it should be resolved once and for all. The two sides would enter a team of thirty men armed only with swords to settle the issue on the North Inch.

The confrontation took place in 1396 and was to be a spectator sport with the king and nobles to the front. The opposing parties fronted up and it was discovered that one side was a man short. The opposing side to a man, in honour, refused to drop a team member. So for a handsome fee a local Perth man was drafted in to make up the difference.

The battle proceeded at great fury clash after clash with the Perth man, a stout strong blacksmith to trade, giving an exceedingly good account of himself until in the final round the blacksmith and nineteen others in various state of repair were arrayed against only one. That singular competitor took to the freezing River Tay and it is not recorded whether he made it or not.

In competitive terms in relation to Scots and Clans the ongoing feud in question above was over which of the two parties was entitled to the place of honour (right flank) in whatever battle that might be going on at whatever time. They were both on the same side (normally).

*F.I.V.B. International Federation of Volleyball.

**The Divisions of Honour are for top National league teams. Both men's and women's divisions are played in accordance with F.I.V.B. rules. Entries to this part of the competition are assessed by the Scottish Volleyball Association Referees' Commission and for this purpose all entries should be accompanied by team lists identifying the players with their honours where appropriate.

***A Ceilidh is a hospitable Scottish evening of traditional drink, food, music and dance. Dancing Scottish dances can get you fit enough to tackle an army assault course and on the floor training is available from many willing helpers.

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e-mail contact: dave.munro@sovt.info

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