News
U16 Richmond Boys Return Empty Handed Nationals
20th January 2007
The u16 Richmond Juniors Boys travelled last Saturday to Weston-Super-Mare (Somerset) in the hope of qualifying for the quarter finals of the U16’s Boys National Volleyball Championships.
The team was fortunate to have received a bye in the first round and so the 2nd round was to be their first major volleyball competition. The boy’s were selected from the successful Competitive Edge volleyball programme held last term, and some of them have been playing for just 3 months. They now faced competition from boys who have been playing for over 2 years and u16 Richmond Juniors competed with great spirit and enthusiasm and showed some excellent raw potential.
Below are the statistics and the players who scored most of the points in the matches:
1st match against Kings VC from West Midlands (L: 25-16; 25-11)
•Best scorers - Max Irwin and Mike Buck
2nd match against Newbury VC from Berkshire (L: 25-16; 25-22)
•Best scorers- Andreas Pritchard and Max Irwin
3rd match against Priory School from Weston-Super-Mare (L: 25-24; 25-19)
•Best scorers - Nick Sharp and Ashley Roberts
4th match against Wessex from Dorset (L: 25-15; 25-15) Richmond met last year’s u15’s National Champions and were favourites to win the u16’s.
•Best scorers – Mike Buck and Mike Hones
The special coaches’ award went to Kurt Gledhill (the setter) for the most consistent play during the day.
Vera Kenyon (Richmond Juniors Coach) commented that everybody in the squad worked hard for the last two weeks to progress to the level of the National competition. We managed in the shortest time to move to a more advanced system of play and resist the opposition with a competent front line defence. We have a better understanding of our strengths and issues and have to put a lot of effort and discipline into further development. The team must now focus on the u17’s Inter-Regional Championships (May – representing London) and the u17’s London Youth Games (June/July – representing Richmond).
Richmond's Club Chairman commented that what has been achieved in the last 12 months with junior volleyball in Richmond has been unprecedented and a fantastic success. Junior volleyball did not exist 12 months ago and now Richmond has one of the fastest growing junior development programmes in London and is recognised as one of the four junior development strongholds.
Richmond would like to thank Vera Kenyon for putting together Richmond’s junior teams and would also like to thank Goldeneye Executive Resourcing for their support. We would also like to add that without the encouragement and support from Gary Palmer and his 'Competitive Edge' team, Michael Shepherd (Whitton Fitness and Sport Centre), James Thorpe (Whitton School) and Maggie Morrell (Christ's School) this event would not have been the success that it was.
TEAM LIST:, Alex Wilson, Andreas Pritchard, Michael Hones – captain (all Teddington School), Ashley Roberts, Troy Price (all Christ School) , George Hutchinson (Hampton Community College), Joe Matthews, Liam Clancy, Max Irwin, Mike Buck, Nick Sharp (all Whitton School), Kurt Gledhill (Grey Court School). Vera Kenyon (Head Coach).
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