CLEOBURY Mortimer Volleyball Club's under-12 and under-15 boys proved they were smash hits by grabbing national glory at the Pontins Festival of Junior Volleyball in Southport.

The under-12s only lost one set all weekend as they triumphed in their age group, while the under-15s overwhelmed North East opponents 3-0 in the final.

Their successes completed an impressive weekend for the club who took 43 children to the tournament, enterting 10 teams in eight competitions.

The under-15 boys were second and third in a three-a-side event with the under-13 boys sixth out of 15 teams and the under-11 mixed team third in their section.

There was a ninth place finish out of 18 teams for the under-12 girls, while the under-13 girls were fourth out of 13 and the girls under-15s' A and B sides finished fifth and 11th respectively.

Club secretary Carl Brookes said: "Overall the weekend was a great success with everyone gaining some valuable experience because a lot of the players had never played competitive volleyball out of school.

After the tournament a presentation was held to recognise the achievements of Cleobury Mortimer's junior section.

The girls finished runners-up in West Midlands Ladies Division Two and made it to the last eight at National under-15 level for the first time.

The junior boys also qualified for the last eight at National under-16 level for the first time and Matt Bate has just been selected to join the England Junior Squad.

Awards

Matt Bate (under 16/18 boys player of the Year, junior boys most valuable player).

Rebekah Gallagher (under 16/18 girls player of the year).

Rachel Pugh (junior girls most valuable player, joint junior girls players' player).

Charlotte Froggart-Keeble (junior girls coaches' player, joint junior girls players' player).

Luke Baldwin (junior boys players' player, junior boys coaches's player).