Grand Slam volleyball action by the sea

AT THE NET: Players get airborne in beach volleyball action from the sprint track next to Churchill Park in January this year. The 2016 Gisborne Beach Volleyball Grand Slam takes place at the sprint track, a short walk from the Olympic Pool complex and Midway Beach, on January 2 and 3. Picture by Rebecca Grunwell

THE summer seaside game, beach volleyball, gets the new year off to an athletic start in Gisborne.

The Tourism Eastland Beach Volleyball Grand Slam will be held at the beach-sprint track next to Churchill Park on Saturday and Sunday, January 2 and 3.

Organised by Firefly Events, the tournament will comprise two competitions.

The AA competition will attract New Zealand’s top beach volleyball athletes, including top-ranked New Zealand female duo Shauna Polley and Gisborne’s Julia Tilley.

The Satellite competition is aimed at encouraging new participants.

Kate Sherriff of Firefly Events said the New Zealand Beach Volleyball Association had granted this tournament the status of a national event — it would be the last of the four “grand slam” tournaments taking place in the New Zealand beach volleyball season.

“We are very proud to bring such a prestigious event to Gisborne and to provide such a great opportunity for the local community to get involved,” she said.

“We encourage everyone to take part in or support the event — as a player or a spectator — to ensure we are able to hold this event annually.”

Spot prizes and giveaways would be handed out during the event, she said.

Sponsor support made the tournament feasible.

Anyone wanting more information or to register should contact Kate Sherriff at kate.sherriff@gmail.com or visit the Facebook page @fireflyeventsgisborne.