18 Jul 2024
Weymouth Grand Slam founders to take step back after creating a host of memories
As they prepare to take a step back after this year’s tournament (from 26th to 28th July) following 41 years at the helm as Event Directors, the pair are understandably proud of what they have built and achieved during that time.
Starting out as a game played between friends and then as summer entertainment for some of the country’s National League teams, it evolved to become the UK’s first recognised beach volleyball tournament and is still renowned as one of the best.
Around 1,000 people now pack into the stands to watch the latest set of champions be crowned each July on what is always an occasion to remember and savour for those fortunate to witness it.
Seeing the pleasure it gives to so many have what kept Graeme and Pete motivated for so long, but now they believe it is time for things to move in a new direction.
As such, the reins will be handed over to the UK Beach Tour, who will, no doubt, be keen to keep the event at the forefront of the domestic beach scene in England.
“We used to play National League indoor volleyball in Division 1. Being on the coast and seeing images of beach being played in America – we had never heard of it before then – we decided to give it a go,” said Graeme.
“After playing among ourselves that first year, we invited some of the National League teams along in 1983, I think there were 20 or 24 at first, starting with men’s teams and then opening it up to women’s teams two years later.
“It was in the early to mid-90s that it really caught on and a small tour was established at four or five venues around the country.
“It was then that we started having the grandstands, specific beach volleyballs and beach-specific nets and courts.
“We have been growing ever since and have had some really good players play on our sand, including some Olympians. It’s been great to see the standard develop.
“Now we are only one of only two grand slam events in England, along with Bournemouth, and we are very proud of where the event has come from and what it has become.
The 2024 event, as has become the norm in recent years, will be contested by 16 pairs in each of the men’s and women’s competition, with 12 pairs competing in the qualifiers on the Friday ahead of the weekend.
The number of teams taking part in the qualifying could have been easily doubled, but space and time limits require a capping on numbers.
The fact that it has maintained an enduring popularity has, believes Graeme, been down to a desire to innovate and push boundaries.
He said: “Every year after we have finished each event we have always asked ourselves “how can we improve for next year”?
“We always try to make it feel like a special place to play, particularly on centre court with the atmosphere it generates, and a lot of people have come back and told us that is the case.
“To keep it that way, we have tried to take things from other events in the sport and also other sports. We had been playing music for a long time in between points before it became commonplace in things such as (T20) cricket, for instance.
“There’s the commentary too and other things we have tried, like the honours board with the lists of past winners that people really like... it we have the money to do it, we will give it a go.”
As for the highlights, there have been a few moments that have stood out from the rest, some not directly connected with the Weymouth tournament itself.
“We were introduced to the Queen in 2005 in the lead-up to the tournament with some young players playing behind us,” said Graeme.
“She asked about the game of beach volleyball and how it worked and said how great it was to see people being active and enjoying the sport.
“Pete and I were also lucky enough to be at Horse Guards Parade as part of the team that delivered the Olympic Beach Volleyball tournament at London 2012.
“We saw Shauna Mullin and Zara Dampney represent GB in that games and it was great to meet (US player) Kerri Walsh, who is a legend of the sport.
“Above all though, my best memories are when there has been great volleyball being played at the event, the weather has been good and there have been some big crowds, with the seats full, there to enjoy it.
“You feel a great sense of satisfaction once you have delivered a successful event and it’s given us the chance to meet some fantastic people.”
Graeme admits he does not know what will come next and what will fill the void left by the huge amount of time and effort put into the tournament each summer.
He is adamant, however, that the time is right for Pete and himself to step aside and let others take the lead.
“We have kept saying we are going to make this our last one and then we do one more year, but this time will definitely be our last leading the event,” said Graeme.
“It is a big job pulling together all the sponsors and finding the help needed to stage it, but Weymouth Beach Volleyball Club have been fantastic, with about 20 volunteers giving up a week each year to make it happen, so we’d like to say a big thanks to those people.
“We will still be around to help out and offer advice, but it will be someone else who will do the big stuff. We have spoken to UKBT about their plans moving forward and we’ve been pleased about how they plan to develop things.
“For a long time we have always had to think about holidays around the fact that we can’t do anything in June and July because we need that time for the event, but now we will at least get a bit more flexibility around that!”
Find out more about Weymouth's beach events by clicking here and more about the UK Beach Tour by clicking here.
