07 June 2008
A Riga mixed team attended the Nottingham tournament on 7 June. Hoping for similar weather to 2007 (which saw a glowing red team by the end of the team) as the players left their respective homes it was sunshine all round. However, by the time we were on the M69 the cloud cover started to come over and the day started to get darker!! We arrived at Widmerpool Rugby Club (South of Nottingham) and there was no rain, but it was definitely jumper weather!
Riga drew court 1 and 2 for its first pool games and a very tough pool. The Riga team consisted of Michele Peryer, Jayne Warman, Clare Francis, Julie Bromell, Dan Turnbull, Chris Jones, Andy Collins and Chris (Kiwi) Anderson. A new mix, but with times when we had three games in a row (consisting of two sets of 15 minutes each) we were glad to have the largest tournament squad for Riga ever!
The team was up refereeing first which gave an opportunity for extra cups of tea. However, by the time we stepped on court, the first rain drop was felt! During the morning Riga had some good games and game out on top in all except against Rainbow 1 who just pipped Riga to win each of the two sets. Now this is the strangest scoring system you will see at any tournament so we won't even try and explain it. Basically at lunch the organiser in a way only he will ever know how sorts the teams out into positions 1 - 30. Riga were placed 11th at this stage. You are then put in new pools for the afternoon sessions.
In the afternoon Riga continued to play well and narrowly lost out in the last game to Ave it. Riga did take a victory over one of the other Rainbow teams though!! If only there had been a rainbow in the weather! The weather finally started to brighten up just as the final games were being played!!! Riga finished the tournament in 9th position. The final saw Rainbow 1 against Rainbow 2!! (Rainbow 1 being defending champions from the 2007 tournament.
It was a great day enjoyed by the Riga team despite the weather. The tournament is well organised and offers a good standard of volleyball. It's a good venue with the rugby club bar serving plenty of drinks and food all day. Thanks to all the organisers for a superb day.
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