06/05/11
*** UPDATE ***
Not content with an already fantastic performance, number 29 seeds Shauna Mullin and Zara Dampney had another superb result today by beating the number 14 seeds, Kuhn-Zumkehr from Switzerland, 22-20, 23-21. They then went on to narrowly lose out to last years winners in Shanghai, Kessy & Ross from the USA, 21-19, 16-21, 14-16. Zara and Shauna finished in 13th place – a great start for Olympic qualifying year!
05/05/11
*** UPDATE ***
Today Grotowski and Garcia-Thompson, having already made a fantastic start to the 2011 season, failed to go further in the competition, losing to the number 16 seeds from Switzerland, Heuscher-Bellaguarda, 11-21, 16-21. However 17th place is a great result and will boost them up the rankings.
Shauna Mullin and Zara Dampney, having made the main draw yesterday, came up against the number 4 seeds from Germany, Goller-Ludwig. They lost this encounter, 17-21, 14-21. However recovered well for the next round to beat the number 13 seeds from Spain, Liliana-Baquerizo, 21-18, 23-21. This keeps them in the competition for tomorrow and will also guarantee them a 17th place at least. Tomorrow they play the number 14 seeds from Switzerland, Kuhn-Zumkehr.
GB having a great tournamant!!
04/05/11
*** UPDATE ***
Grotowski and Garcia-Thompson were given a lesson against beach legends Emanuel-Alison from Brazil in the first round of the main draw today, losing 9-21, 10-21. In the loser’s bracket, however, they recovered well to beat the number 15 seeds Skarlund-Spinnangr from Norway 21-17, 21-19 to guarantee them at least a 17th finish. They play Swiss pair and 16th seeds Heuscher-Bellaguarda tomorrow.
In the women’s competition, the 2 GB teams got byes through to round 2 of qualification. In round 2, Shauna Mullin and Zara Dampney beat Japanese team Urata-Take, 24-26, 21-14, 15-6. Denise Johns and Lucy Boulton also had a three-setter, however they lost to Hochevar-Fopma from the USA, 21-18, 10-21, 10-15.
Mullin and Dampney went on to qualify for the main draw tomorrow by beating the number 4 seeds, Khomyakova-Vozakova from Russia, 21-19, 21-17.
03/05/11
The FIVB World Beach Volleyball Tour moved to Shanghai this week and first up were the men with 4 GB teams in action.
Steve Grotowski and John Garcia-Thompson were first up in the qualification round, easily beating Uruguay, 21-4, 21-8.
Robin Miedzybrodzki and Tom Lord went through to the second round of qualifying by way of a forfeit by their Venezuelan opponents.
Brothers Jake and Luke Sheaf fought hard against a good Brazilian pair, Fabio Luiz-Maciel, however lost 21-19, 14-21, 9-15 to go out of the tournament.
Jody Gooding and Gregg Weaver also had a tight match, however also went out in the first round to Hatch and Schachter from Canada, 21-18, 15-21, 12-15.
In the second round of qualifying Miedzybrodzki and Lord came up against the 5th seeded Estonian pairing of Vesik-Jaan and narrowly went out, losing 18-21, 21-23.
Grotowski and Garcia-Thompson had another tremendous result in the second round of qualifying, beating the number 1 seeds from Latvia, Samoilovs-Sorokins, 21-19, 21-17. They then went on to beat Reader-Schalk from Canada, 21-14, 21-11 to make their first main draw together in their new partnership.
Keep and eye on their progress on the FIVB website, where they meet Brazilian legends Emanuel and Alison in the first round! Also check the women’s event which also starts tomorrow.
