This is an article by Josh Reich that appeared in the Nelson Mail on 4/1/2010. Picture courtesy of Patrick Hamilton and the Nelson Mail.
Anna Chamberlain and Sarah Baldwin have continued their rich vein of recent form by winning the Biopaints Tahunanui Grand Slam beach volleyball tournament.
The Nelson pair, who won the Brightwater Beach Volleyball Classic just before Christmas, took out a closely fought final over Kim Wong and Peri Stenhouse 2-1 (21-18 19-21 15-11) yesterday.
"It could have gone either way," Tasman Volleyball's Allan Brodie said of the final. "But (Chamberlain and Baldwin) were consistent enough to come through and win a very close game."
In the men's final, Auckland pair Teryn Proraki and Johann Timmer won out over brothers Brendon and Daniel Heath 2-0 (21-12 21-13).
Proraki has played on the national tour for a number of years, and Timmer represented New Zealand at the under-19 world beach volleyball championships.
"The game was pretty comprehensive," Brodie said.
Former Nelson Giants basketballer Brendon Heath was the No2-ranked New Zealand player before the Tahunanui tournament.
Many of the country's top players made it to the event, using it as a lead-up to the first national tour tournament, in Christchurch tomorrow and Wednesday. Ranking points were also on offer.
Brodie said the wind made life difficult for the players at times.
"Certainly it was easier playing at one end than it was the other, but those courts are quite well sheltered, so it was still playable."
The next major local tournament will be the Tasman Open on February 6.
Last Modified on 04/01/2010 18:03