Beach Volleyball Comes to Bath
17th May 2006Olympic Beach Volleyball is coming to Bath in a big way following an announcement today that the British Volleyball Federation is to make the University of Bath home to its national beach volleyball squad.
The top players will train in the city under the watchful eye of Atlanta Olympian Audrey Cooper. There will also be performance camps and talent identification programmes.
"We're very excited about this prospect", said TeamBath's Director of Sport Ged Roddy today. "I'm sure that beach volleyball will benefit from our multi-sport environment and all the players and support staff will be able to use our cutting edge sports facilities and support services staff".
"This is one of the first impacts of the 2012 Olympic decision on Bath², added Roddy. "We're really enthusiastic about this project and hope to make a big difference to Britain¹s chances".
TeamBath already boasts a number of volleyball connections. Simone Lewis, head of the support services team in the University of Bath¹s Sports Injury Clinic, retired only recently after playing setter for England in the indoor version of the sport for many years.
Kerry Olding, a student at Bath, learnt this week that she will be playing for Great Britain when this year's World University Games takes place in June in Cyprus. Vicky Palmer, another young, Bath-based player is reserve for the event. Both must now be considered 2012 potential.
Kerry is part of a larger national group of TASS (talented young sportspeople) athletes who will be training at the University over the summer. This is the same programme which helped Shelley Rudman Olympic Winter Games silver medallist.
Morph Bowes, a teaching fellow in the Department of Sports Development of the University, is away in Turkey today playing on the European men¹s beach tour with Jody Gooding.
Angela Clarke, a fitness coach for TeamBath, played indoor and beach volleyball for Australia from 1996 2005. Amanda Glover, ninth at the 1996 OIympic Games in beach volleyball, lives and works in Bath and is already a volunteer coach with TeamBath.
"This is a major step in our Olympic preparation² added Richard Callicott, BVF Chairman of the overall announcement made today by the Britiish Volleyball Federation which includes a similar base for the indoor game in Sheffield. "Working with UK Sport, volleyball has demonstrated that it can rise to the task of producing Olympians for the world stage", he added.
The new Beach Volleyball Centre in Bath will be a true local team effort. Hartham Park near Corsham is swiftly developing a beach volleyball court for the first wave of arrivals until facilities are available at the University. They have plans eventually to create a multi-sport indoor beach hall as a regional development centre".
"The people at Hartham Park have been a vital part in this equation. It's been a case of a great local partnership, delivering a national aim", said Lewis today. "They have been very enthusiastic and dynamic and their help in the early part of the programme will be essential".
Existing facilities for this sport in Bath are also to be supplemented with links to venues on the South Coast including Bournemouth, Weymouth and Brighton to provide for outdoor training and competition.