Sitting volleyball tournament in Portsmouth

The Hampshire Volleyball Association (HVA) will host its first sitting volleyball mini-league meeting at The Harbour School, Tipner, on Sunday.

Teams representing Portsmouth, Southampton, South Hants and Guernsey will compete against each other.

They will comprise a mix of men and women, both disabled and able-bodied.

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Some members from both the GB men and women’s team will also be participating, including Johnny Parker, who began playing sitting volleyball 15 months ago after being spotted at the LimbPower Games at Stoke Mandeville Stadium.

He began training in Portsmouth, progressed quickly and was invited to a GB Talent ID day in Kettering where he was identified as future talent.

The mini-league is being organised by Richard Osborne, head coach at Portsmouth Sitting Volleyball Club.

He said, ‘Sitting volleyball is a fantastically fun and fast-paced game that can be played by anyone irrespective of whether they are disabled or not.

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‘The game is still evolving in Hampshire and across the UK and so events like this are essential in mobilising interest and, in turn, hopefully encouraging others to give it a go.’

Members of the public are welcome to spectate and anybody who is interested in playing sitting volleyball can contact Osborne via Facebook.

He added: ‘The sport is an excellent way to keep fit and for those who are recently disabled, particularly amputees, it offers reassurance in coming to terms with a life-changing event by showing that there are other people in a similar position but who maintain an active sporting and social lifestyle.’

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