The Broughty Ferry tournament saw a welcome return for the Tay dolphins. Players were treated to the sight of them swimming just a few yards from the river’s edge.
Unfortunately, the creatures could almost have swum right up onto the beach, so wet was it. A downpour through the night had settled into a gentle but continual drizzle by morning.
Such are the perils of beach volleyball in Scotland, however, and for every rainy tournament we’ve endured, there’s been half a dozen sunny ones.
There were a couple of call-offs, but most players displayed an admirable fortitude and got stuck into the day’s play.
The women’s event was a three horse race, won by the pairing of the recently returned from down under Carina Hemmers and her partner Ulla Barnick. They pipped Stirling University students Dora Janotska and Alyson Dylan, with youngsters Lucy Wishart and Nicola McKenzie coming in third.
Eleven men’s teams fought it out in Division One. Tournament favourites Barry McGuigan and Graham Riddle finished first, but not without being given a scare.
In a nail biter of a final, Colin Paterson and James Jensen took the first set 21-19, dropping the second 21-18 before holding a lead over the younger men through most of the final set.
Beach veteran Paterson recaptured much of the form that made him Scottish Champion for two years running, while the rangy American Jensen played probably his best ever beach volleyball, dominating at the net and pulling off some backcourt plays many observers thought were beyond him. The top seeds had to dig deep to pull off a razor thin 16-14 victory.
Third place was taken by Jack McKeown and Callum Moir, beating Barry Robertson in an up-and-down game that saw the victors emerge with scorelines of 21-8, 20-22, 15-10.
In the mixed event, Transatlantic beat Jets and Spike the Beaver to secure the win.
Although never sunny, conditions dried up after lunchtime and the day was brightened by good tunes, thanks to a heavily discounted PA system by tournament supporters Rainbow Music.
Thanks to Roman Li for running admin throughout the day, and to the helping hands of Tim Humphry, Jess Docherty, Iain and Seain Cook, Fiona Reid, James Jensen, Freddie Fairbairn, Davey McEwan, and Konrad Krawzyk. And an extra thanks to Graham Spowart and Colin Paterson, without whose help the tournament wouldn’t be possible.
Jack McKeown
Broughty Ferry Tournament Organiser
(pictures courtesy of Davey McEwan)
