Cup Final Weekend (by Steve Bailey)
I congratulate you all who participated in this event in Crystal Palace, we did not disgrace ourselves. We played extremely well and we definately put the wind up Celtic Dragons (the overall winners), in fact we almost extinguished their flames. Again I was told on quite a few occasions on how we have improved over the four Grand Prix Series events and again in the finals.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank both Dave Willoughby and Laurent Faville for their time and effort in getting us to where we currently are, and also Helen for her efforts in obtaining sponsorship for our tracksuits and shirts.
Also congratulations has to go to David Williamson on his selection to train with the GB squad and Kat (if she accepts) to become the GB women's physio.
This now means we have now four members of the club playing and associated with the GB squad, these are:
Emma, Charlotte, David and Kat.
From Club Chairman (Ray Sharpe): This is a great achievement, for you to be in this position in your first year(ish) of competitions, apart from the learning to play volleyball, training and setting up the section of club, you are a credit to the Portsmouth Club and especially yourselves - Congratulations
If you continue to improve at the same rate who knows what next season will bring
Teams Results in Grand Prix Series
http://www.volleyballengland.org/National_Cups/sitting-grand-prix-series.php
Sheffield Team - 21 Feb 2010
The team are still going in the Grand Prix Series and gaining valuable experience - and still learning volleyball !. But every game they are playing they get better and at Sheffield on Sunday this was no exception. They started sluggish - for various reasons, but as the tournament progressed they all improved.
This series of games they won two (an improvement) and only lost to Surrey 26 - 24, so that could have been another win after a close fought match.
They still stand 4th in the overall Grand Prix Series and this will take them to the Crystal Palace National Finals on 24th April.
This all from a team/club which only started 15 October 2009.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++
The club has now been nominated as a 'Sitting Volleyball Centre' for the South by Volleyball England. This, in the very short life of the sittting section is excellent, and, is in recognition of the effort that has been put in by all concerned. With this recognition it will also be helped by UKSport and other organisations.
Now, having this recognition allows money being available to further train coaches in sitting volleyball and assist with the finances of the section. Being new, has not hindered some members already being asked to attend for both the GB Mens & Womens team training and hopefully selection for better things including up to the Paralympics.
Training is on every Thursday (wef: THURSDAY 15th October) and will be at Mary Rose School, Gisors Road, Southsea. PO4 8GT between 6 - 8pm, so come along and see what 'sitting volleyball' is like.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Competition - (29 Nov 2009) The sitting team took part in the Sevenoaks Competition - (actually submitting 2 individual teams) - but WON the outright competition on our first attempt at any competition. The final was a hard fought game and did not start well for the Portsmouth team (going 7 points behind early on) but they fought hard and gained alot of confidence and became the winners at their first ever event. (they will now be a marked team who people want to beat !)
