Ponds Forge 3/4 July 2010 CEV Euro League
K2 Crawley 19th June 2010 CEV Euro League
EIS Sheffield CEV League EIS 5/6th June 2010
CEV Euro Championships Ponds Forge Sheffield 29th/30th May 2010
Regionals Kettering CC 23rd May 2010
GB Men v Azerbaijan EIS Sheffield 15th may 2010 GB 3-0 AZE (25-18,25-12,25-18)
Inter-Regionals 1-3 May 2010 Kettering Conference Centre
Crystal Palace National Finals 24/25 April 2010
Sitting England beat Wales 3-0 (25-14, 25-22, 28-26)
U16 Girls final, Lots of them.
Saturday 24 April 2010
U15 Finals 20/21st March 2010 Camp Hill School Birmingham
Truly wonderful venue, long may it be available.
Lighting very good and the school staff I met were outstandingly friendly. Sadly no cappuccino but the coffee was very good and the catering showed what can be done at very reasonable prices.
Due to another huge number of photos taken it will be a while before they are up.
C&W Riga v Polonia Men. Very close first two sets but C&W Riga threw away opportunities to win them both.
C&W Riga v Polonia Women. Close first set but Polonia then took control and made it look easier and easier.
University of Birmingh Women v Dulwich Tuskers at Aston University. Friendly staff and excellent cappuccino at very good price. Sadly the colour of the walls causes problems for photographs.
UKSG 2009 Volleyball NIAC Cardiff 4-6 September 2009
Ponds Forge 11/12th July 2009
All galleries 2008 and older have been taken down. If anyone wants something from then let me know.
This is an image so don't try to copy or click it (in an
attempt to stop appearing on spam lists).
Got here very early as offered a lift (thanks) so was able to sample the food and drink at Ponds Forge again. still very edible and drinkable at a very reasonable price. Even tried a latte this time.
Due to no more matches for a while I have cropped, to my tastes, these photos.
CEV Euro League GB Women v Serbia 0-3 (19-25 20-25 23-25) 4th July 2010
The men's second match was a very straitforward win for Spain with GB only looking close in the third set.
CEV Euro League GB Men v Spain 0-3 (12-25 17-25 22-25) 4th July 2010
GB Women v Serbia showed a determination and the fighting spirit of GB Women but wasn't until set three they managed to get it all together to really worry Serbia.
For all you (ex-)international playes and very high level coaches perhaps you can answer this question:
The first photo is a composite showing two sets by Serbia. Can the players read this in advance and if they can can they do anything with the information. For what it is worth GB didn't/couldn't. follow up question does anyone believe players can be taught to read this and be quick enough to use the information.
As I take lots of sequence photos it has become apparent, even at GB men's level, you can tell a tip is coming, as yet I haven't analysed the timing info in the photos to work out how much time ahead of the actual contact there is to try and work out if it is usable. Of course I am talking about viewing from the side which isn't a viewpoint the opposition get but the arm swing is also different which may be discernable from across the net. It is certainly true that photos of attacks from the back end of defense court don't show anything.
CEV Euro League GB Women v Serbia 0-3 (15-25 11-25 20-25) 3rd July 2010
GB Men not able to get a set despite pushing hard. Spain claimed it was virtually the side, bar 1, that would represent them in the finals so on that basis a good performace.
CEV Euro League GB Men v Spain 0-3 (23-25 20-25 17-25) 3rd July 2010
Some photos of the line judges from both days
CEV Euro League GB Line Judges 3-4th July 2010
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Women's match sadly very one sided. I think reflected by the photos.
CEV Euro League GB Women v Bulgaria 0-3 14-25 14-25 14-25) 19th June 2010
First visit to K2 but failed to sample the cappuccino, other than that it is a good venue (well it would be if they had more lighting).
GB Men started indifferently losing the first set but then played the next 3 much more as we expect from them now.
CEV Euro League GB Men v Romania 3-1 (21-25 25-18 25-18 25-16) 19th June 2010
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Lots of "what happens next" shots here some even showing how good the GB Men's block is.
A very impressive demolition job by GB men giving them on overall points win over Slovakia
CEV League GB Men v Slovakia 6th June 2010 3-0 25:23 25:21 25:22
Despite the 1-3 end score GB Men are looking good and getting to 23 in the other sets is something they could only have dreamed of a year ago.
To speed up upload these photos are much smaller than normal (well there are a lot of them) so if anyone wants any of them email me and I will put the large version up.
CEV League GB Men v Slovakia 5th June 2010 1-3 23:25 25:19 23:25 23:25
Even hotter than yesterday, over 29 deg C. A lot of photos even though it was 0-3 but a much better performance by GB as reflected in the scores
CEV League GB Women v Romania 6th June 2010 0-3 22-25 20-25 20-25
I am trying a fast crop tool here so images have been cropped. Stil takes time so probably won't do it very often.
Very hot but EIS now have hot drinks available at desk, because, as helpful lady said, drinks machines keep breaking down.
CEV League GB Women v Romania 5th June 2010 0-3 19-25 15-25 15-25
Here is a gallery that won't interest most as it is photos of mainly line judges.
EIS 5/6th June 2010 Line Judges
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People with flags
Ponds Forge 29/30th May 2010 Line Judges
The Israel v Slovakia match has been cropped.
CEV Euro Championships Israel v Slovakia Ponds Forge 30th May 2010 3-0 25:21 25:21 25:22
CEV Euro Championships GB Women v Ukraine Ponds Forge 30th May 2010 0-3 10:25 18:25 15:25
CEV Euro Championships GB Women v Israel CEV Ponds Forge 29th May 2010 1-3 17-25 12-25 25-19 22-25
CEV Euro Championships Slovakia v Ukraine Ponds Forge 29th May 2010 3-2 21:25 25:20 23:25 25:20 15:11
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Another pleasant day at Kettering. Even good weather going and returning. Both finals went the distance so day was a fair bit longer than anticipated. Just for Denis I have included photos of officials doing things, hopefully correctly.
Regionals KCC 23rd May 2010 9:30-10:30
Regionals KCC 23rd May 2010 10:30-11:30
Regionals KCC 23rd May 2010 11:30-12:30
Regionals KCC 23rd May 2010 12:30-13:30
Regionals KCC 23rd May 2010 13:30-14:30
Regionals KCC 23rd May 2010 14:30-15:30
Regionals KCC 23rd May 2010 15:30-END
The best performance by GB Men I have witnessed (so far). Needing to win 3-0 and not let Azerbaijan get 60 points the whole team played with confidence and maturity making very few unforced errors and with a demonstration of how to serve that all teams in England (as I haven't seen Irish or Scots teams play) would do well to learn from. Even when Azerbaijan pulled back to 14-14 in the third set they kept it together and made it one of the shortest matches I have been to. Coach Harry Brokking said the season's experience in pro leagues by the players had improved their play considerably. Of particular note was the success of the GB block.
EIS have installed some automatic doors so I kept trying to push them open as they retreated from me. Must be a sign of advancing age. Other than that EIS was looking good.
European Championships GB Men v Azerbaijan EIS 15th May 2010 GB 3-0 AZE (25-18,25-12,25-18)
Sadly the Womens game was cancelled due to ash and played a "friendly" against Middlesborough Men.
3 days of multi court volleyball. When I put the photos up they will in time order with no hope of idenifying individual matches. Luckily teams have their names on shirts.
The galleries on done on a time basis. Saturday I was only there until 17:00. The Sunday and Monday are just about complete.
The lighting is not only dim at Kettering it varies a lot (faster than the eye can pick up but the camera does, also the it varies around the hall so a few images are very yellow and some are darker than the rest. These can be corrected if anyone particularly wants a specific photo). Rumour has it VE are going to improve the lighting at Kettering. I really hope they consult with someone who knows what they are doing.
Boys Inter-Regionals Monday 3rd May 2010 16:00:-END
Boys Inter-Regionals Monday 3rd May 2010 15:00:16:00
Boys Inter-Regionals Monday 3rd May 2010 13:40:15:00
Stopped for coffee.
Boys Inter-Regionals Monday 3rd May 2010 12:00:13:00
Boys Inter-Regionals Monday 3rd May 2010 11:00:12:00
Boys Inter-Regionals Monday 3rd May 2010 10:00:11:00
Boys Inter-Regionals Monday 3rd May 2010 9:00:10:00
Boys Inter-Regionals Sunday 2nd May 2010 19:00:20:00
Boys Inter-Regionals Sunday 2nd May 2010 18:00:19:00
Boys Inter-Regionals Sunday 2nd May 2010 17:00:18:00
Boys Inter-Regionals Sunday 2nd May 2010 16:00:17:00
Boys Inter-Regionals Sunday 2nd May 2010 15:15:15:55
Girls Inter-Regionals Sunday 2nd May 2010 13:20-END
Girls Inter-Regionals Sunday 2nd May 2010 12:00-13:20
Girls Inter-Regionals Sunday 2nd May 2010 10:30-12:00
Gilrs Inter-Regionals Sunday 2nd May 2010 9:00-10:30
Girls Inter-Regionals Saturday 1st May 2010 15:30-17:00
Girls Inter-Regionals Saturday 1st May 2010 14:00-15:30
Girls Inter-Regionals Saturday 1st May 2010 13:00-14:00
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Lots of photos to process so will take a while.
Only downside of venue is lack of cappuccino. Other than that the food and normal coffee very good and everyone I came across helpful and friendly.
Lighting good.
Definitely need more practise at sitting, it all happens so quickly.
To make life easy for me here are the results (stolen from VE of course):
Sunday 25 April 2010
U18 Mens another 5 setter so almost same number of photos as the U18 Women. For those who look at them I do know that a lot of photos look very similar. Reason is simple it takes too long to cut out the almost identical photos and the more consistent the player is the more likely pictures of them will look the same.
U18 Men Newcastle Staffs beat Wessex 3-2 (25-16, 23-25, 25-16, 24-26, 15-5)
Problem with 5 setters is you end with lots of photos. Late on in gallery are 3 images much the same just so I can see what cropping does to them.
U18 Women Ashcombe beat Wessex 3-2 ( 25-20, 20-25, 20-25, 25-21, 15-12)
U16 Boys Wessex beat Boswells 3-0 (25-18, 25-16, 25-22)
Tameside beat Newcastle Staffs 3-0 (25-15, 25-15, 25-20)
Some of the Womens Final photos have been cropped. This takes a lot of time so is the only match where I have done it. If you want specific photos cropped let me know.
Sitting Final East London Lynx v FDSW Celtic Dragons 3-0 (25-10, 25-5, 25-10)
Sitting 3/4 East Midlands Lions beat Portsmouth 2-0 (25-15, 25-11)
Sitting East London Lynx v East Midlands Lions 2-0 (25-16, 25-16)
Sitting FDSW Celtic Dragons v Portsmouth 2-0 (28-26, 25-19)
Women's Shield Middlesborough College v Team South Wales 3-1 (22-25, 25-14, 25-10, 25-22)
Men's Final Malory Eagles v Polonia 3-0 (25-17, 25-17, 25-22)
Women's Final Polonia v Leeds Carnegie 3-0 (25-19, 27-25, 25-13)
Men's Shield University of Birmingham v SGTV Solent 3-0 (25-18, 25-22, 25-15)
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It was interesting to observe how often coaches were calling balls out on the end line that landed in.
Most now up. As before if anyone is particularly interested in a photo(s) but doesn't like the exposure, colour balance or cropping please let me know.
Warning: Boys Gallery 5 is very large. Finished Boys, Gallery 6 is even bigger.
All done. I really liked some of the kit, sadly some of the kit is not good to look at.
Presentation photos are here:
U15 Finals Camp Hill Presentations 21st Mar 2010
U15 Girls Camp Hill 21st Mar 2010 Gallery 8
U15 Girls Camp Hill 21st Mar 2010 Gallery 7
U15 Girls Camp Hill 21st Mar 2010 Gallery 6
U15 Girls Camp Hill 21st Mar 2010 Gallery 5
U15 Girls Camp Hill 21st Mar 2010 Gallery 4
U15 Girls Camp Hill 21st Mar 2010 Gallery 3
U15 Girls Camp Hill 21st Mar 2010 Gallery 2
U15 Girls Camp Hill 21st Mar 2010 Gallery 1
U15 Boys Camp Hill 20th Mar 2010 Gallery 6
U15 Boys Camp Hill 20th Mar 2010 Gallery 5
U15 Boys Camp Hill 20th Mar 2010 Gallery 4
U15 Boys Camp Hill 20th Mar 2010 Gallery 3
U15 Boys Camp Hill 20th Mar 2010 Gallery 2
U15 Boys Camp Hill 20th Mar 2010 Gallery 1
Sitting Mile for Sport Relief
Finished, Hopefully a sample of what happened and the enjoyment, with a bit of pain thrown in.
Very impressed by the players and the staff etc who make it all possible.
Sport Relief Sitting Mile 13th March 2010
U16, U18 and Senior Semis Kettering 27/28 Feb 2010
First visit to KCC, Very pleasant experience. Cappuccino very reasonable price and very drinkable. Staff very helpful.
Only slight downside (for me) is dim lighting but luckily I have bankrupted myself with Canon's latest and greatest.
Due to the large number of games (32 Saturday and 28 Sunday) putting the pictures up will take a while and happen chronologically. It is very unlikely I will have individual match folders, at least to start with.
U18 done. White balance can be improved in some photos and as stated below will do this if requested for specific photos.
Eighth and final.
U18 Last 8 Kettering 8th gallery 28th February 2010
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Seventh.
U18 Last 8 Kettering 7th gallery 28th February 2010
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Sixth.
U18 Last 8 Kettering 6th gallery 28th February 2010
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Fifth.
U18 Last 8 Kettering 5th gallery 28th February 2010
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Fourth.
U18 Last 8 Kettering 4th gallery 28th February 2010
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Third.
U18 Last 8 Kettering 3rd gallery 28th February 2010
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Second.
U18 Last 8 Kettering 2nd gallery 28th February 2010
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First.
U18 Last 8 Kettering 1st gallery 28th February 2010
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Senior Semis finished
Senior Semi 3rd gallery.
Senior Semis Kettering 3rd gallery 27th February 2010
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Senior Semi 2nd gallery.
Senior Semis Kettering 2nd gallery 27th February 2010
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Senior Semi 1st gallery.
Senior Semis Kettering 1st gallery 27th February 2010
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At last the U16s are "finished". Now for the Senior Semis and U18s. It is taking so long I have decided the Senior semis and U18 will not be cropped. If you see a photo you are interested in but think there is too much "nothingness" in it let me know and I will see what I can do. I can get the photos down to about a quarter and still have a reasonable image.
Eighth.
U16 Last 8 Kettering 8th gallery 27th February 2010
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Seventh.
U16 Last 8 Kettering 7th gallery 27th February 2010
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Sixth.
U16 Last 8 Kettering 6th gallery 27th February 2010
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Fifth.
U16 Last 8 Kettering 5th gallery 27th February 2010
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Third.
U16 Last 8 Kettering 4th gallery 27th February 2010
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Third.
U16 Last 8 Kettering 3rd gallery 27th February 2010
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Now the second.
U16 Last 8 Kettering 2nd gallery 27th February 2010
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Going very slowly so here is first.
U16 Last 8 Kettering 1st gallery 27th February 2010
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EVA NVL 1 Men Coventry & Warwick Riga v London Polonia 0-3 (23-25 28-30 21-25) 23rd January 2010
EVA NVL 1 Women Coventry & Warwick Riga v London Polonia 0-3 (25-27 15-25 17-25) 23rd January 2010
EVA NVL 1 Women University Birmingham v Dulwich Tuskers 3-0 (25-10 25-9 25-16) 5th December 2009
Food still very good at Ponds Forge.
GB men can certainly play well in spells but keeping it going for whole sets needs more experience at this level. Spain are a very good team and showed it on the Sunday as the scores reflect.
Jurys Inn is best hotel I have stayed at in Sheffield so far, staff good and friendly and hope they keep this standard.
GB Men 0-3 Spain (18-15, 16-15, 15-25) 12th July 2009
GB Men 0-3 Spain (20-25, 20-25, 22-25) 11th July 2009
SportsPark UEA, Norwich 27/28th June 2009
A great venue, possibly best in England for volleyball (pity they changed the rules in 1999).
Best choice of food so far, and since when have potatoes not been vegetables (must be an eastern thing).
I guess the scores tell it all. The most telling set for the men was the first on the Sunday, at this point in their development they have problems keeping it together right till the end.
GB Men 0-3 Turkey (28-30, 23-25, 20-25) 28th June 2009
GB Men 1-3 Turkey (25-21 18-25 21-25 17-25) 27th June 2009
GB Women 0-3 France (21-25, 11-25, 9-25) 28th June 2009
GB Women 0-3 France (19-25 18-25 16-25) 27th June 2009
Edinburgh, Meadowbank Stadium 13/14 June 2009
An almost 40 year old stadium built in the "brutal" style (quote from man leading campaign to save it).
Despite it's age everything old working very well. People very friendly and food good.
Edinburgh itself is worth a visit, but beware the road works as they appear to be digging up most of the streets to put back a tram system they took out in 1956.
GB Women 1-3 Romania (21-25, 23-25, 25-20, 20-25) 13th June 2009
GB Women 0-3 Romania (17-25 13-25 21-25) 13th June 2009
GB Men 3-0 Croatia (25-16, 25-22, 25-23) 14th June 2009
GB Men 3-1 Croatia (24-26, 25-18, 25-16, 25-18) 14th June 2009
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EVA Cup Finals Ponds Forge Sheffield 18-19 April 2009
I do not understand how they can claim Ponds Forge is an International venue, no working scoreboard and lighting that looks like they aren't replacing bulbs as an economy drive. The spectators were better lit than the court. On the plus side the food was excellent as were the staff.
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EVA Men's Cup Final Sheffield bt London Malory 3-0 (25-21, 25-16, 25-14)
EVA Men's Shield Final Middlesborough College bt Sheffield II 3-1 (22-25, 25-22, 25-21, 25-18)
EVA Women's Final Swiss Cottage bt City of Wolverhampton 3-0 (25-15, 25-13, 27-25)
EVA Women's Shield Final IMKA London Polonia bt Polonia Ladies 3-2 (25-17, 12-25, 25-22, 21-25, 15-12)
EVA U16 Boy's Final Newcastle Staffs bt Wessex 3-0 (25-23, 29-27, 25-18)
EVA U16 Girls's Final Tameside bt Ashcombe 3-2 (25-19, 15-25, 25-14, 25-27, 15-7)
EVA U18 Men's Final Boswells bt Wessex 3-0 (15-25, 25-13, 25-21, 25-21)
EVA U18 Women's Final Tameside bt Wiltshire Mavericks 3-0 (25-12, 25-16, 25-13)
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EVA Senior Cup Semi-Finals University of Nottingham 7th March 2009
Another dim venue, sadly with no cafe.
EVA Men's Cup Semi: London Malory v London Polonia 3-0 25:22 25:22 25:20
EVA Women's Cup Semi: City of Wolverhampton v Coventry & Warwick Riga 1 3-0 25-18 25-14 28-26
EVA Men's Cup Semi: Sheffield v Newcastle 3-0 Won 3-0 25-19 29-27 25-20
EVA Women's Cup Semi: Swiss Cottage v Ashcombe Dorking 3-0 25:18 25:15 25:18
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NVL Mens 1 London Docklands v Coventry & Warwick Riga 3-0 25-21 25-15 25-22 31st January 2009
NVL Womens 1 Swiss Cottage v Coventry & Warwick Riga 3-0 25-18 25-23 26-24 31st January 2009
Truly rubbish lighting at Docklands.