This is an article from the Nelson Mail (28/12/2009)
Kaiteriteri hosts warmup for tour
Top-class volleyball may be coming to Tahunanui this weekend but another of the region's beaches hogged the volleyball limelight yesterday, as Kaiteriteri hosted its first tournament for a decade.
The conditions, despite a few spots of rain, met with the players' approval. "The sand is solid but soft, great for beach volleyball," said Motueka's Brent McGlashen.
The success of the event has prompted Tasman Volleyball's Allan Brodie to make preliminary plans for another tournament at Kaiteriteri late next month.
"It was encouraging to the point of serious talk about running another very soon. It was a small start but a bloody good start for beach volleyball at Kaiteriteri," he said.
More than 50 players took to the golden Kaiteriteri sand in two grades – the men's pairs and mixed fours.
The pairing of Ben Wilkinson and Marco Duthie took out the big prize at the Beach Bash tournament, beating Nick Ball and Alex Low in the men's pairs final, taking the first set 15-12 and the second 15-9.
Nelson team Lazy Bones won the mixed fours title over Abel Tasman Sailing 25-22 in the one-set final.
Mr Brodie said the tournament was a great lead-in for the Tahunanui Grand Slam this weekend, a tournament featuring some of the country's top players, including former Nayland College player Ben Glue and his partner Jay Brand.
The Tahunanui Grand Slam event offers top players valuable points, which could give them an edge in seeding when the international McEntee Hire New Zealand Beach Volleyball Tour kicks off in Christchurch the following weekend.
"We are hoping quite a few of the country's best players will come along and enjoy the Nelson tournament and help their chances in Christchurch," said Mr Brodie.
He said the growing popularity of the sport in the Nelson region meant more tournaments were needed.
"We now have tournaments in Tahunanui, Brightwater and Kaiteriteri, and the latter came about because local Motueka players were keen to have one in their own backyard. The sport is growing, so it's great that we now have tournaments spread all over the region."
Last Modified on 29/12/2009 16:10