English teams fly the flag at Easter Cornacchia event in Italy

Teams from Germany, Austria, Spain, Portugal, Poland, Switzerland, Hungary, Belgium the Netherlands, Romania, USA, Canada, Brazil, Russia and, of course hosts Italy, were among those competing in the Pordenone-staged event, held between Friday and Monday. 

The Boswells School U19 Girls, who have just qualified for the Volleyball England U18 Cup Finals, where they will take on Leeds Gorse, were in Group A. 

They did not advance in the main competition as ATA Trento and Club Voleibol Esplugues finished above them, but they did record a 2-1 victory over Union West Wien. 

The Chelmsford-based school also had a team in the U19 Boys section, where they found life tough in Group A following defeats to finalists AZS Stoelzle Czestochowa, Ok Zuzemberk and Volley Prata Academy. 

Also in the U19 section were London Boys, representing the London Volleyball Association, who were placed in Group B. 

They secured an excellent 2-0 victory over Rome City, but were beaten by Haasrode Leuven and Eagles Vergati. 

Richmond entered at U17 level and they struggled against a very high level of teams in facing eventual winners HVA Performance, Montecchio Volley and Reach Flow. 

However, they did beat Canadian opponents to make it through to the semi-finals of the silver pool. 

For all concerned, it was a welcome developmental experience ahead of Cup Finals and Inter Regionals and ahead of the 2026-27 season.