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The UK Beach Tour Junior Championships took place last weekend at Sandbanks Beach in Bournemouth. Despite the unpredictable British weather, the event highlighted the burgeoning young talent within UK beach volleyball, offering a thrilling spectacle across various age categories.
Day 1: U15 and U19 Competitions
The championships kicked off on Saturday with intense competitions in the U15 and U19 categories for both boys and girls. Despite battling through less-than-ideal weather conditions, the young athletes displayed remarkable skill and resilience.
U15 Finals:
Girls: In a gripping final, Mikeighla Cabrejas and Erica Jane Soledad triumphed over Veronica Kornilova and Reika Hashimoto to clinch the gold medal.
Boys: Lewis Phippen and Ayaan Syed emerged victorious, defeating Patrick Towfighi and Monty Easton in a rain-soaked final.
U19 Finals:
Girls: Eleni Constantinou and Elisa Jarmon faced off against Anna Szentessy and Adela Rodrova in a thrilling three-set match, with Eleni and Elisa securing the win.
Boys: England nationals Lewis Bunton and Stuart Perry, showcased their prowess by defeating James Ingham and Corey Phippen.
Podium Results:
U15 Boys:
1st: Lewis Phippen / Ayaan Syed
2nd: Patrick Towfighi / Monty Easton
3rd: Tio Constantinou / Sidney Morgan
U15 Girls:
1st: Mikeighla Cabrejas / Erica Jane Soledad
2nd: Veronica Kornilova / Reika Hashimoto
3rd: Holly Skinner / Billie Moschopoulou
U19 Boys:
1st: Lewis Bunton / Stuart Perry
2nd: James Ingham / Corey Phippen
3rd: Zak Maghur / Luca Robinson
U19 Girls:
1st: Eleni Constantinou / Elisa Jarmon
2nd: Anna Szentessy / Adela Rodrova
3rd: Kate Mitchell / Lucy Hatton
Day 2: U17 and U13 Competitions
Sunday brought a change in weather as the sun made a welcome return, setting the stage for the U17 competitions and the U13 mixed category..
U13 Mixed:
The U13 Division was played round-robin tournament style, with each player playing with each other, before the finals where Micheal and Nicholas took home the gold.
U17 Finals:
Girls: In a repeat of the previous day's U19 final, Anna Szentessy and Adela Rodrova turned the tables, coming back from being behind and overcoming Eleni Constantinou and Elisa Jarmon in another close three-set battle. Matilda Hutton and Olivia Cross secured the bronze after a hard-fought match against Erika and Mariana.
Boys: Josh Cosgrove and Maks Makowski claimed the gold medal by defeating Lewis Bunton and Zak Maghur, while Albert Ruddick and Luca Robinson earned the bronze after a competitive match against Lucas and Tio.
Results:
U13 Mixed:
1st: Michael Kontopoulos / Nicholas Kontopoulos
2nd: Kimberley Cross / Izzy Harrison
U17 Boys:
1st: Josh Cosgrove / Maks Makowski
2nd: Lewis Bunton / Zak Maghur
3rd: Albert Ruddick / Luca Robinson
U17 Girls:
1st: Anna Szentessy / Adela Rodrova
2nd: Eleni Constantinou / Elisa Jarmon
3rd: Matilda Hutton / Olivia Cross
The UKBT Junior Championships would not have been possible without the invaluable support of Deep Dish Beach and Volleyball England. A special thank you goes out to our sponsors, Wilson and Dryrobe (helping keep everyone warm and dry on the rainy Saturday), for their contributions.
As the Junior Championships concluded, it was clear that the future of British beach volleyball is bright, with these young athletes showcasing exceptional talent and dedication.
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