Margate Masters

Thousands watch sixth event despite rain

Kent team Jake Sheaf and Chris Gregory claimed the Margate Masters in an action packed weekend on the golden sands.

Despite the weather more than 7,000 spectators turned out over the weekend to watch the six tournament to be held in the town.

Ten countries were represented by 130 players who took part in the tournament’s elite men’s and women’s events.

The semi-finals were all close affairs and were watched by 800 enthusiastic spectators. The women’s final took place in a torrential rain shower that temporarily emptied the two grandstands on centre court as the spectators took cover.

But Denise Austin and Mel Coutts dealt best with the conditions and beat Helen Brown and Eva Czinegeova two sets to love to take the women’s title for the third successive year.

In the men’s competition, surprise finalists and tenth seeds, Ivan Vatolik and Renato Silva took on number one seeds, the Kent-based team of Jake Sheaf and Chris Gregory.

Vatolik and Silva had knocked out the number two seeds in an epic semi-final match but unfortunately couldn’t continue in the final and eventually lost in a tight three-set match.

The event also hosted the Junior Beach Volleyball Tournament. Sam Walrond Joel Roberts emerged winners in a close final game against Haydn Lawson and Ben Torrens 2-0 (15-13, 15-13).

Dave Miller, Tournament Director, from Volleyball England said: “Once again Margate proved to be a top venue in all regards. It was the biggest field of athletes we have had on the 2012 series so far and we hope we were able to put on a great show for the local crowd.

“One player who has been on the world tour likened the 12-court set-up to a beach in California, one of the meccas of beach volleyball, which is praise of the highest sense.”

The Margate Masters was sponsored by Hornby Hobbies, Kent County Council culture and sport service, Giorgios restaurant, Generation Sports and McDonald’s Margate, and was organised with help from Thanet District Council.