Messenger Volleyball Tournament 2024

The founders of the Messenger Volleyball Tournament did not intend the competition to be a one-off, a flash in the pan or a mere blip in the history of RP sport. On the contrary, the inaugural competition ended with the promise of the chance to do it all again in a year's time.

So, as 2024 rolled in, the organisers began to consider where and when they should attempt to replicate the competition's initial success.

With Easter falling at the end of March, some concerns were raised about the bleak conditions that would accompany the tournament scheduled at such a time. Although the organisers thought that the wind and the mud experienced during the 2023 tournament added a certain drama and jeopardy to the event, a number of competitors appeared not to be wholly satisfied. However, it was hard to make out the exact nature of their grievances as they spoke through chattering teeth and were interrupted regularly by the howling wind. That was April; the same competitors would have shuddered with even greater intensity at the thought of a tournament in March.

It would have to be the summer. But the summer was a minefield of summer holidays, go teams and camps. Would any date suit more than a handful of people? If only there was a place where RPs would be gathered together in a sunny location with wide open green spaces. What about the Share Holiday Conference? The conference was returning after the 8-year hiatus, and some had memories of a volleyball court completely consisting of mud in amongst the squalor of a campsite where players did battle. This completely fitted the ethos of the Messenger Volleyball Tournament.

So, with the permission of the Share committee, the tournament was scheduled for the afternoon of Wednesday, 13th August.

Shortly after the publication of these dates, a message was received from the captain of TULIP, Ieuan McDonnell, relating that it was unlikely that any of the members of the holders would be available to compete this year. Although this was an early blow for the organisers, it provoked much licking of lips among other teams – could 2024 be their year for glory?

It also meant a trophy handover would have to occur before the tournament commenced. The difficulty experienced by the organisers in retrieving the trophy indicated its value. Trinity RPC must have wanted to bask in its glow for every second that was allotted to them. Who can blame them? Eventually, the cup was handed over in a service station car park on the evening before teams would fight over it once again.

The Tournament was subject to a degree of uncertainty and rumour during the early days of the Share Conference. This was not helped by a rogue announcement on Tuesday evening, which was communicated while the organisers were away retrieving the trophy. It was announced that the tournament would take place over two days, an innovation that flew in the face of tradition. In discussions with the Share committee, it appeared that the tournament had been a victim of its own success. It was becoming so popular that conference attendees were cancelling other activities to compete, to the consternation of the Share committee. After discussions, it was agreed that a later start time on Wednesday afternoon would allay these fears.

Some teams entered fully formed, while provision was also made for individuals to put themselves forward to be placed in a team as the organisers saw fit.

So the day arrived with splendid sunshine, and players emerged from their tents and chalets and made their way to the top of the campsite, where a net came into view. The net was situated on a sloped grassy area, and the slope was deemed significant enough that teams would switch sides halfway through each match.

Teams arriving at different times proved to be a challenge to the organisers. The proposed running order of matches was ripped up, and opening fixtures were determined by which teams were present.

The coverage of the tournament was on another level to the previous year. The only evidence that the inaugural tournament took place was the oral recollection of players and an extremely well-written report. However, a new generation brought the demand for more extensive coverage through the medium of video. The instigators were cameraman and director Campbell Quigley and media personality Christopher Jemphrey. They asked penetrating questions to players and supporters alike, which provoked responses of differing levels of sanity. Christoper Jemphrey's catchphrase "very true" will live long in the memory, although there is some doubt that it applied to every response. His questions opened up a channel of feedback to the organisers, of which they were previously blissfully unaware; the interviews provided an opportunity to vent frustrations about the quality of the refereeing, the inadequate running of the tournament and even derogatory comments about the trophy.

Group A

Group A began with the only two complete teams that had arrived at the time the tournament was due to start.

The first of these was the Fallows, the only returning team in the competition. Having fallen at the final hurdle the previous year, the Fallows had reshuffled their pack by bringing in reinforcements from England. Graham and Stephen were all that remained from last year’s team, while Erin, Ruby, Peter and John were in.

Linda’s Lads also had a familiar look. This team brought together many of the stars from teams that had acquitted themselves well last year. Matthew Magee and Zara Hegarty had been part of the Renwick Renegades that had reached the semifinals last year, while Joshua Murphy had been a star of the Southern Presbytery Team and had also reached the semifinals, losing narrowly to the eventual winners from Trinity RPC. Joel Wallace had also played for the North-West Team, which was less successful.

These players came together under the name of Linda McKelvey, who, although the team was named after her, was conspicuous by her absence from the field and seemed to take on more of a managerial/mascot role.

This made for what was starting to become a tournament tradition – a humdinger of an opening match. The Fallows came out victorious 15-11, winning the opening game of the tournament as they had done a year ago. Was this their year?

One word from Erin Fallows summed up the reason for the success – Chemistry. This was true on two levels, as well as having a family connection; the team also possessed a chemistry teacher and several advanced-level chemistry qualifications.

While chemistry was a strength for the Fallows, it was suspected that the chemical processes involved in the digestion of a large lunch had affected the mobility of Joshua Murphy. Despite losing early, there was hope that the team could turn it around. The stats would tell them that 100% of tournament winners had lost their opening game.

The Hawthornes Team, who were led by Ellen Hawthrone, looked like a strong side, and they began their competition against a team referred to as HHH, a name derived from the first letter of the surnames of players who had been brought together on account of having signed up as individuals for the tournament. Amidst some confusion, Jonathan McKelvey took it upon himself to captain HHH, and so the ragtag group took to the field and performed admirably well, losing narrowly to the Hawthornes 15-11.

This became even more impressive in retrospect, as the Hawthornes beat the Fallows in their second game 11-8. Pundit Paul Wallace highlighted Yuri Fleming as the “standout player” and the key to their victory. Readers may have noticed that the points needed to win a game dropped after the first round of fixtures; this was due to time constraints and the unforeseen tightness of most of the games.

The final team the fans were introduced to was the youngest in the competition, and they bizarrely decided to call their team Barry Styles. They played a hurting Linda’s Lads in their first game and lost by a margin unequalled in the competition. It seemed Linda’s Lads had found their rhythm, and Joshua Murphy had rediscovered his serve. What he had been served earlier that day at the lunch table was seemingly forgotten. Barry Styles, however, were left to lick their wounds.

But lick them they did and took the field once more to face the Fallows and Barry Styles, a team that included three Wright brothers flew into an unassailable lead, leaving the Fallows in their wake as they won 11-8.

More shocks were to come, as Jonathan McKelvey’s HHH defeated Linda’s Lads also 11-8, leaving fans rubbing their eyes in disbelief. You could not write such drama!

Although this thrilled the fans, it also gave the organisers a headache. The time allotted for the group stage had expired, and apart from the Hawthornes (the clear group winners), the rest of the teams were tied on three points. A word in the ear from Linda’s Lad captain Matthew Magee suggested that points difference might be a way to differentiate the teams. After a totting up, it was found that coincidently, Linda’s Lads had the highest points difference on account of their opening victory against Barry Styles. Matthew Magee admitted that he suspected this would be the case, although it must be said that this was always going to be the way the organisers were going to make such a determination.

So the Hawthornes and Linda’s Lads progressed to the semifinals.

Group A Table

Group B

Group B commenced with the collision of two heavyweights. Mark McCavery’s self-titled outfit was made up primarily of players hailing from Knockbracken RPC. A team hardened by years of competing within the Eastern Presbytery entered this competition with dreams of achieving the highest honour. But Pete McKelvey had scoured the land in search of talent and assembled a team of stars from as far afield as Stranraer and Galway. In a ding-dong battle, it was Mark’s Team that laid down an early marker with an 18-16 victory. Playing downhill in the second half, conference speaker Andy Lytle produced a surge of formidable serves that were too much for Pete’s valiant all-stars. Unfortunately, the victory was soured somewhat post-match by a hurtfully disparaging comment by Irene McCaughan about the trophy.

Mark’s Team backed this victory up with another narrow win (11-7) against Ben’s Team, a youthful side with a lot of raw ability, although prone to the odd silly shot that proved costly in this one.

The last team to take to the field in Group B was also blessed with the exuberant optimism of youth, which was reflected in their name – Olympics 2028? But that question mark would grow exponentially as their tournament progressed. Their opening game saw a Messenger Volleyball first, as offspring faced parent. Warren Peel appeared to have no qualms as he dispatched his two daughters, although not without significant resistance. Pete McKelvey All-Stars were on the board after winning 11-7, showing that there really is no substitute for experience.

And so, Ben’s Team and Olympics 2028? would have to do battle to keep the smouldering wick of their progression chances alive. Olympics 2028? put their opening defeat down to their dizzying rotation system, causing a lack of team cohesion; this was not helped by a bust-up between Timothy Jemphrey and Abe Johnston being caught on camera. Ben’s Team seemed a lot more philosophical, although their post-match comments were confusing and long-winded.

The teams clashed in an entertaining spectacle which displayed the health of grassroots volleyball within the RP church, perhaps giving the fans a glimpse of the future stars of the sport. These plaudits aside, it was Ben’s Team, which won the day 11-7, which was becoming a popular score.

This set up an all-or-nothing playoff match to determine which of Pete McKelvey’s All-Stars or Ben’s Team would progress to the semi-finals. In a brutal contest, Ben’s Team just fell short, although the score has been lost to history. A post-match interview revealed that the match may have gone on longer than necessary, as victory had apparently been secured sometime before players left the court. We can only put this down to a healthy love of the game; it seems fitting, therefore, that the score was not recorded. What was less appetising was Ben’s Team venting to the media and casting doubt on the officials. The officiating team was mainly made up of members of the Fallows family, who went above and beyond in their commitment to neutrality, even going out of the competition early to ensure they were beyond reproach.

Matthew Heron was touted as one of the best players in the RP church on his day, but that day was not Wednesday 13th August, as the warm appreciation of his performance by opponent Stephen Steele made clear.

Due to time constraints, the irrelevance of the result, and ethical concerns about allowing a potential massacre, Mark’s Teams match with Olympics 2028? was dropped from the tournament schedule. Despite these three unanswerable reasons being given the tournament organiser was surrounded and harassed by members of the Olympics 2028? This was despite being the only team not to win a game, a fact that this report would not have mentioned had it not been for this incident.

Mark’s Team and Pete McKelvey’s All-Stars progressed to the semi-finals.

Group B Table

The Semi-Finals

The first of the semifinals brought together Mark’s Team, who had swept all before them in Group B, and Linda’s Lads, who had edged through Group A on a technicality despite losing more games than they won. Few gave them a chance, but they brought their best showing in the competition, giving Mark’s Team a real run for their money. They just couldn’t quite get over the line as Mark’s Team won 21-17.

The build-up to the other semifinal was dominated by mind games in the form of name changes. Pete McKelvey, in an act of modesty, felt that he could not claim possession of his fellow All-Stars and felt that the name Middle-Aged Men better reflected the nature of his team. This must have come as a shock to Christopher Jemphrey when he calculated his life expectancy if this was true.

Hawthornes responded in a similar fashion. Given that there was only one Hawthorne in the team, the Hawthornes was also deemed an inaccurate team name. They changed their name to the Underdogs, piling the pressure back on Pete McKelvey‘s Middle-Aged Men.

It turned out, however, that the mind games were the only thing the Hawthornes won, as the Middle-Aged men romped home with a 21-11 victory.

While everyone was engrossed in the action, the trophy was stolen, and it transpired that it had been nicked for the purposes of an illegal trophy lift. A wild goose chase ensued, after which the trophy was eventually retrieved and Linda’s Lads, the perpetrators, were disqualified.

The Final

The trophy was returned to its place in time for the final. In a remarkable turn of events, like last year’s tournament, it would be played out by teams who had played each other in their opening game. On that occasion, Mark’s Team came out on top against Pete McKelvey’s All-Stars. But this time, they were playing the Middle-Aged Men.

Under the leadership of Pete McKelvey, Warren Peel emerged as one of the stars of the tournament, utilising his stature with efficient movement and aggressive shot-making. Christopher Jemphrey had shown himself to be more than just a media persona; he was also adept on the field. Combined with the athleticism of Neville Kerr and the competitive spirit of Stephen Steele, this was a team to be reckoned with.

Meanwhile, Mark’s Team had looked invincible at times. Mark McCavery’s performances were of such a level that opponents questioned whether the enhanced performances were the product of synthetic substances rather than hard graft on the practice court.

Phil Dunwoody had proved himself an asset at the net despite the odd net violation. Ian and Irene formed a duo that was unplayable at times, while Steve McCollum showed setting and striking ability to which opponents had no answer. Andrew Lytle served up some magnificent serving runs that got the team out of a few holes.

It was a fitting showdown to end the tournament.

Mark’s Team raced into an early lead playing downhill they were 12-4 up at the change of ends. But they knew there would be a response in the second half. The Middle-Aged Men fought back to be within three points (16-19). But Mark’s Team would not be denied, and a powerful smash by captain Mark McCavery ensured that they would be taking the trophy home.

The Messenger Volleyball Cup now resides at Knockbracken RPC, where it will remain.

Until next year ….