Open Volleyball Silver Celebration 2009

The Scottish Open Volleyball Tournament celebrated 25 years of the annual volleyball extravaganza which has grown to be the largest in the United Kingdom. This year 108 teams entered the tournament with players coming from a range of countries including U.S.A., Poland, Germany, Holland and Italy. The weather too was kind to the competitors who enjoyed a cool calm Saturday and a warmer windy Sunday making it the driest tournament for a number of years.

The division of honour teams playing indoors at Bell's Sports Centre had a full weekend of games with the U.S.A. Athletes and Scottish League Champions Troon reaching the women's final. Dundee reached the men's finals pipping Team Fife at the semi-final stage to meet ZAL Poland on Bell's centre court.

Sponsor:

Division of Honour Women
For Troon it was their fourth consecutive final and they were determined to finish on the winning side after three losses. The U.S.A. Athletes' side had already lost to Troon in the opening round of fixtures on Saturday but had battled well to reach the final with improved performances on the Sunday. It was the Scottish champions who eased ahead in the first set with the Americans always chasing the game. The 25-17 scoreline in Troon's favour showed that the Americans would have to up their game if they stood any chance of lifting the championship trophy. It was a close fought second set poised at 24 points each before the Troon lasses edged the two vital points to give them the Scottish Open Championship for the first time.

Division of Honour Men
The men's division of honour final started with ZAL Poland in fine form being cheered on by a vociferous local support. ZAL had a fairly comfortable first set win by 25 points to 17 and although Dundee did all they could it wasn't enough and ZAL won the second set 25-20 to become the Scottish Open champions for 2009.

Outdoor : Men
The men's division one competition on the outdoor courts was a close thing with Polonia Jets just edging local side Kinross Scotrange into second place. Dodgy Servers from Perth won the consolation competition. In men's division two it was Edinburgh side Nuvoc XXXL who finished as champions defeating the Croatian All-Stars in an exciting final which finished 25-16; 30-28. Northumbrian side Tynedale Wentworth finished as consolation winners of men's division two.

Outdoor : Women
Women's division one winners were Wonton Women who defeated The Devil Wears Prada 25-22; 25-21. In the women's consolation competition it was Dolly Mixtures who defeated two north east England sides Hebburn and Tynedale ladies to secure victory.

Outdoor : Mixed
In the popular mixed sections of the competition the Alcopops defeated the Littlest Hoboes 25-23; 19-25; 15-12 with Glasgow University taking the consolation trophy. In the other mixed section Irmabel beat the Team with No Name with Been and Gone taking the consolation trophy.

Best Dressed Team
Congratulation go to the team Dig This who won the prize as the best dressed team, and will recieve free entry to next years tournament on the 29th and 30th May 2010.

All in all it was a superb weekend of volleyball with each team to be congratulated for again making it all possible through their continued support over the many years. It was also fitting that a small civic reception was hosted by Perth & Kinross Council prior to the indoor finals as a gesture of thanks to existing and previous members of the volunteer committee which does a wonderful job in organising and running the tournament.

Thanks are also due to local sponsors for their support of the tournament – Famous Grouse Whisky, and St Johnstone Football Club.

David Munro

Tournament Director

| Summary of 2002 | Summary of 2003 | Summary of 2004 | Summary of 2005 | Summary of 2006 | Summary of 2008 | Summary of 2009 |

Additional Information.

Scottish Open Volleyball Tournament.

The largest Volleyball event in the UK 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.

| entry form | rules | maps | history | be a sponsor | press information |

e-mail contact: dave.munro@sovt.co.uk

| Summary of 2002 | Summary of 2003 | Summary of 2004 | Summary of 2005 | Summary of 2006 | Summary of 2008 | Summary of 2009 |