Margate's volleyball tournament, the Margate Masters, has been named as the Best Beach Volleyball Event of the Year 2009.
Thanet District Council's Sport Matters team, who organised the event, received the award from Volleyball England, which is voted for by the players who take part in the various tournaments around the country. Margate was congratulated for being a well-run tournament with excellent beach facilities and great support from volunteers during the event.
The Margate Masters took place in June on the town's Main Sands and saw some of the top players in the country, including players representing Team GB, playing on the courts. The weekend also included a local schools competition.
The event beat off stiff competition from Great Yarmouth, Skegness, Weymouth and Blackpool, the other stops on the Volleyball England tour.
Cllr. Shirley Tomlinson, Cabinet Member for Environmental Services, said: "This result proves what an excellent sports development team we have at Thanet. They are dedicated to promoting all kinds of sport, not only within the community, but as with the Margate Masters, at a national level as well. Their approach has really paid off with this excellent result. Obviously, we are extremely lucky in having some of the best beaches in Britain on which to host this prestigious event, which obviously helps. But without the dedication of our hard-working sports development team and all the volunteers who gave up their time over the weekend, we would not have achieved this award."
Sports Development Manager, Martyn Cassell, said: "We're delighted with this result, especially as we were competing against favourites Weymouth, who have been running their beach volleyball tournament for 24 years and they had Sky Sports attending this year. By comparison, we're only in our third year, which makes winning this award even more special. The event brings top quality sport to the area, but just as importantly, gives local people a chance to take part as well."
No comments:
Post a Comment
Please note comments that may be libellous, comments that may be construed as offensive and anonymous derogatory comments about real people will be deleted. Also note the facility to leave anonymous comment will be turned of during periods when I am unable to monitor comment, this will not affect people commenting who are signed on to their blogger accounts.
Note: only a member of this blog may post a comment.