Summary of Tournament Jubilee weekend 2nd July 2002.
Feast of volleyball 2002
VOLLEYBALL players from all round the United Kingdom and the Faroe Islands converged on Perth over the Jubilee weekend 1st and 2nd of July 2002 for the seventeenth Scottish Open Volleyball Tournament and what a spectacle it was for the crowds who congregated in Bell’s Sports Centre on Sunday afternoon to witness both the men’s and women’s division of honour finals.
Nicknamed “the friendly tournament” the Scottish Open once again proved to be the largest in the United Kingdom with one hundred and twenty two teams taking part this year in nine different categories of competition.
The tournament certainly brought a carnival atmosphere to the fair city with a number of teams opting for the fancy dress approach with the top two undoubtedly being the St. Trinian’s style men’s team and a team of “Popes” complete with “smoke.”
The three mixed divisions were once again the most popular making up approximately half of the total entry
A number of local teams were involved in these sections which provides one of the few opportunities for mixed competitive volleyball during the season.
Teams from north east England were again prominent throughout the sections as regular supporters of the Scottish Open year in year out.
Although no major sponsor was to be found for this year’s tournament, Strathmore water was once again provided free of charge to the participants and the Royal Bank of Scotland stepped in to provide the beautiful Caithness Glass trophies to all section winners and runners up.
Special mention this year must go to the Kelty Chiefs team who re-formed specially for the tournament after a lapse of close on twenty years, registering twenty players for the weekend and co-ordinated by the indefatigable Bill Ryan, now in his seventies. The former Fife District League Organiser was delighted with the response of the Kelty lads who in their day had many a tussle with both Perth and Kinross teams in the Fife League before turning to the national leagues. The Kelty lads were ably supported by sponsorship from local firms with new strips being provided by CR Smith.
The Kelty Chiefs went through the whole competition undefeated to win the Men’s Division Three title. The only other local team to receive a mention in the trophies was Inchy Feet led by David and Liz Angus who finished as Consolation winners of mixed division one.
Three times winners of mixed division three, Kintronics decided to try their luck in mixed division two this year but results on Saturday saw them enter the consolation tournament on the Sunday.
Three extremely close matches which all went to three sets saw them eventually lose out to Forres House who went on to be the consolation winners for this division.
Pilton Volleyball Club’s women’s team competed in division two and performed well over the two days, deservedly lifting the winners’ trophy on Sunday after two long days of competition.
In the indoor competitions for the top teams, former Crieff High School pupil David Copeland featured in the Bon Accord men’s team from Aberdeen who were hoping to do well.
After the Saturday competition Glasgow Irish finished top of their section winning all three games with Scottish League and Cup champions, Kilmarnock finishing in runners up position winning two and losing one. In the other section it was extremely close with both Bon Accord and Glasgow Mets winning two and losing one with Bon Accord having the better set points difference.
In the division of honour men’s competition KiImarnock and Bon Accord met in the final and what a performance young David Copeland put on in front of his home fans.
He spiked the opening point of the match in an attack through the left and played extremely well throughout the first set as Steven Milne’s Aberdeen side tore into Kilmarnock to win the first set 25-13.
The second set was fairly close early on but again the Aberdeen side took control and it was fitting that Copeland served the two final points which led to their 25-18 victory in the second set creating a local record as the first Perthshire lad to win a winners’ medal at a national final – well done David and the rest of the Bon Accord side.
In the women’s division of honour, Su Ragazzi and Falkirk finished in the top two places in section one with Scottish Champions Troon and London side Tuskers finishing in the top two slots in section two.
Troon and Su Ragazzi progressed to the final and what an enthralling encounter it turned out to be. A repeat of the Scottish Cup Final held at Bell’s a few weeks ago, this match looked like going the same way with Vince Krawczyk’s Troon girls easily winning the first set 25-12.
Su Ragazzi’s women have always frozen when it counts in the past although they have plenty of talent in their ranks. The second set saw a 25 minute thriller with Su just pipping Troon 25-23 to set up a third set decider.
The large crowd were kept on edge all the way through the third and final set as the score line proceeded to 14 points each. It was Su Ragazzi who scored the two vital points to lift the Scottish Open Championship from arch rivals Troon in front of an appreciative audience.
Local councillor Alexander Stewart presented the Caithness Glass trophies along with special Jubilee Medals to all the winners.
At the conclusion of the awards’ ceremony tournament director David Munro thanked the band of volunteers who give unstintingly of their time and energy to prepare and run this annual tournament which brings a great deal of revenue to the Fair City of Perth over the weekend.
This is borne out in part with the fact that over 250 volleyballers booked into guest houses over the weekend with another 700 being accommodated in the tented village on the North Inch.
By Dave Munro.
Results Sunday 2nd June 2002
The Scottish Open Volleyball Tournament, largest in UK, held on the North Inch Perth Saturday and Sunday – winners as follows.
The Perth weekend of volleyball was dry, warm and sunny on the Saturday changing to light showers and overcast on Sunday with the last few minutes of the outdoor finals caught by heavier rain. The division of honours finals were indoors with a great atmosphere generated by the record number of spectators. The women’s final in particular was exciting as Su Ragazzi looked likely to lose but rallied towards the end and went on to win.
*Men’s Division of Honour
Winner Bon-Accord – team from Aberdeen
second Kilmarnock
consolation trophy Bellshill
*Women’s Division of Honour
Su Ragazzi – team from Glasgow
second Troon
consolation trophy Richard Irvine Hazelhead
*Men’s Division 2
Winner Assorted Grange – team from Falkirk
second Chorus v Chorus
consolation trophy Troon
*Men’s Division 3
Winner Kelty Chiefs – team from Kelty
second – –
consolation trophy Dalmahoy
*Women’s Division 1
Winner Hebburn Harlequins – team from Tyne and Wear
second Fleyr Foroyar from the Faroes
consolation trophy AB – Saints
*Women’s Division 2
Winner PVC Ladies – team from Edinburgh
second Metz
consolation trophy Cakes n’ that
*Mixed Division 1
Winner Sunderland Storm – team from Sunderland
second Sumonuvoc
consolation trophy Inchy Feet – local Perth team.
*Mixed Division 2
Winner Team Spirit – team from Banffshire
second Glenfinnan
consolation trophy Forres House
*Mixed Division 3
Winner Stirling Spikers – team from Stirling
second Dodgy diggers
consolation trophy Mr G Allstars
Consolation trophies are for the best non qualifying teams from the Saturday competitions.
All placed team members received a Jubilee medal.
A special thanks.
A special thanks to the dedicated bunch of volunteers who organise the tournament every year without pay and thanks to them the tournament is entirely self supporting. Their contribution does a power of good for Perth, a major event like this is a great boost to the local economy.
A thank you to the competitors too, for leaving the camp site as they found it, taking part in good spirit, having a sense of fun, good manners and for keeping the litter in the bins.
So lets hear it for the Scottish Open Volleyball Tournament Players and Volunteers. Great guys and girls. Good looking too – aren’t all volleyballers?
