The off-season has been very busy for our Gorse volleyball athletes, with exciting developments both on the court – and more notably, on the sand!
England Beach Volleyball Selections & New Courts at TFA
Just a week after becoming indoor national champions, Gorse students made a quick and impressive transition to beach volleyball, taking part in the England National Team Selection Trials in Kettering. The trials tested athletes’ beach-specific skills, technical ability, and mental toughness on the sand.
We are incredibly proud to announce that six Gorse athletes have been selected to represent England at the upcoming Beach NEVZA Tournament in Bridlington, an official qualifier for the European Championships:
- Joshua Cosgrove (EHC)
- Maks Makowski (EHC)
- Emmanuel Oretoye (EHC)
- Krystina Ngatcha (TRGA)
- Lauren Thorn (BA)
- Daniella Tchandeu (LMaS)
The athletes will be supported in their preparation and throughout the event by England coaches Elaine Brown, Piotr Makowski, and Nelson Murangwa.
Training in the preparation for England trails has been intense, requiring frequent trips to Bridlington – a physically demanding and time-consuming journey. However, a major new development will soon ease this burden.
Beach Volleyball Courts Under Construction at TFA!
On Tuesday 27th May, construction began on brand new beach volleyball courts at The Farnley Academy (TFA). This development is a major milestone for our programme and the wider Leeds community.
The new courts will:
- Provide regular access for training and development
- Support our elite athletes in their competitive preparation
- Open up the sport to students of all levels
- Foster a vibrant, inclusive, and high-quality beach volleyball community in Leeds and beyond
We can’t wait to see the impact these facilities will have!
Indoor Inter-Regional Championships (24–26 May)
Over the bank holiday weekend, more than 20 Gorse athletes represented Team Yorkshire in the Inter-Regional Championships, delivering fantastic results despite the off-season break and limited preparation:
- U15 Boys – Captained by Finley Wake (BSA), finished 6th
- U15 Girls – Featuring 12-year-old standout Oritsemoyowa Itse (TRGA), finished 7th
- U17 Girls – Led by Daniella Tchandeu (LMaS), secured 2nd place, narrowly losing the final to London
- U17 Boys – Captained by Maks Makowski (EHC) and coached by Nelson Murangwa, Piotr Makowski (TGAT) and Scott Cosgrove (TFA), also claimed 2nd place, falling in a tight tiebreak to London.
A phenomenal achievement across all age groups, particularly with no formal training leading up to the event!
Bridlington Reward Trip – 14th July
We’re eagerly looking forward to our annual Bridlington Reward Trip on 14th July – the UK’s largest school-based beach volleyball event!
This year, we’re aiming to break the record with over 300 students attending. For many, this will be their first time playing on sand by the sea, making it a memorable and inspiring day for all involved.
Stay tuned for more updates as our beach volleyball journey heats up this summer. The future of Gorse Volleyball – on court and on sand – is looking brighter than ever!
Coach Pete.
