Beach Volleyball in Weymouth

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GREAT Britain's number one pairing of Steve Grotowski and Greg Weaver are favourites to land the Weymouth RAF Careers Classic men's beach volleyball title this weekend, but will face stiff competition in what is expected to be an enthralling event.

The spectacle will attract most of Britain's top players and with several entrants expected to fly in from the continent the tournament promises to deliver a high standard of play. Grotowski and Weaver, who have been plying their trade all over the world in recent months, will be taking part in their first competition on home soil in over a year but they are unlikely to have everything their own way.

Not only will last year's runners-up, Steve Fee and Albrecht Glitz, be standing in their path but Great Britain's number two pairing of John Garcia and Robin Miedzybrodzki will also be looking for success.

Unfortunately, the women's event will lack all of last year's finalists due to a World Tour event in Marseilles. However, there will still be a quality field on show with the experience of Denise Austin and Melissa Coutts and the potential of the Great Britain development squad duo of Helen Brown and Gabi Medricka being regarded as two of the top teams to watch out for.

Many local sides will also compete in the event with Rob Semmance and Dom Cosserrat aiming for a place in the last 16 of the men's competition and Leanne Studley and Louise Bugler hoping for an even better run in the women's section.

Spokesman Graham Sawyer said: "The 27th Weymouth RAF Careers Beach Volleyball Classic begins tomorrow on Weymouth Beach and will build towards the finals on Sunday afternoon. The event is the most important stop on the Volleyball England Beach tour and most of the top players in Great Britain will be taking part. It is played on 11 courts in total but the best action is around the centre court which has purpose built free seating for 500 people to watch from and a marquee for all the players and officials. There will also be music, full commentary and dancing from pazaz dancers before the final. The event starts at lunchtime tomorrow with a qualifying competition which will carry on throughout the afternoon."

"Those teams that qualify will then be joined by the very top sides for the main draw on Saturday. Sunday will then witness the semi-finals, the women's final at 3pm, and finally the men's final at approximately 4pm with both finals being filmed for two Sky Sports programmes to be broadcast on August 16."