Sitting Grand Prix review - Hants show they are serious contenders with round two victory

In 2025-26, the two sides who eventually reached Cup Finals dominated the circuit to claim all round wins between them, as Hants claimed third place. 

But last season's Ken Edwards Trophy winners showed that there is now a third team in the mix for end-of-season honours by finishing with a 100% record from their four matches. 

It was the perfect preparation for Richard Osborne's side as they head to the Copenhagen Cup in Denmark this weekend, where they will bid for further success

At New Victory Hall, Loughborough University on Sunday, it was old rivals Sitting Bucks and Help For Heroes who were first on court as the round was played as a straight pool of five with a couple of the teams who normally enter unable to compete. 

The Milton Keynes-based side too the first set, but Heroes hit back to level before Bucks found an extra gear to secure a 25-20, 21-25, 15-10 triumph. 

Next up, South Hants entered the fray and they laid down a marker with a confident 24-14, 25-8 victory over Lincoln Imps. 

It was the same outcome as they also featured in the next match, this time proving too strong for Nottingham Casualties (25-13, 25-9). 

Bucks then made it two wins from two, as they overcame a Lincoln side who were much improved from their first match, particularly in the second set (25-14, 25-22). 

Casualties put their first victory on the board as they got the better of the Imps, winning the all-East Midlands affair by a 25-17, 25-12 margin. 

South Hants posted a significant success in match six as they powered past Help For Heroes 25-7, 25-12, but the forces-based team bounced back immediately with a comfortable victory over Lincoln Imps (23-13, 25-17). 

That left Sitting Bucks needing to beat Casualties to set up a winner-takes-all match with South Hants, which they duly achieved with a 25-17, 25-18 scoreline. 

The battle of the top two went the full distance as Hants drew first blood, but Bucks showed why they have been champions for so long by responding to draw level. 

However, on this occasion, they were unable to keep that momentum going, as Osborne's side held firm to close out the match and, with it, Grand Prix victory, closing out a 25-16, 21-25, 15-3 triumph. 

The next Grand Prix round will take place on Sunday 6th December. 

Images by Malcolm Beadle 

Find out more about the Sitting Grand Prix here. Find out how to get involved in sitting volleyball here.