Wearing flannos, cowboy hats and sheriff badges the ‘Wild Wild West’ team looked more suited to gun slinging in a saloon than ruling the beach volleyball court but today, that is exactly what they did taking out the A Grade final at Coota Beach.
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This year marked the sixth consecutive A grade victory for the side, which has taken various names over the year, making them arguably the most talented side to take to the sand at Coota Beach.
After a tough semi-final they were convincing champions over Vicious and Delicious by more than 20 points.
Wild Wild West spokesperson Steve Dyason of Temora said the team is made up of mates mostly from Melbourne and Sydney.
Most attended school together and the annual Coota Beach carnival provides a chance to meet in the middle and enjoy a fun-filled weekend.
Their background involves indoor volleyball and while some rules are different and of course sand is more difficult to move on than the smooth indoor court, Dyason said the basics are the same.
He committed to the team returning next year to defend their title.
“It is a fantastic atmosphere here,” he said following the A Grade final.
“This is a well-run carnival; everyone does their job well,” he added.
Other winners on the day were:
- A Reserve: Super Dragons
- B Grade: Magic Mike
- C Grade: The Power Rangers
- D Grade: The Jokers
- E Grade: RSL Titans
- F Grade: Happy 21st Brittney
- G Grade: Served Hot
- H Grade: Sets in the City
Following the final was one of the weekend’s most anticipated moments with Geoff Finnigan named the winner of a queen-size ensemble bed thanks to Sealy and Furniture One.
The presentation of a bed is an annual tradition for the local player who best embraces the spirit of the game.
Coota Beach committee members Julisia Cross and Janine Ricketts were thrilled with the weekend, which was the biggest carnival ever as 125 teams played on eight courts, including a newly-installed second permanent court.
“I do want to thank our hardworking committee – it is small but it is mighty,” Mrs Ricketts said.
She also paid tribute to those people who helped all last week to ensure the smooth running of the carnival when it opened to the public on Saturday morning.
As always, Pop Trinder from Pop’s Plumbing volunteered his expertise to ensure the water hoses and bubblers were set up along the courts.
There couldn’t be a beach volleyball carnival without sand and this year Eulonga Quarries near Jugiong delivered the sand to Murray Street to create the all-important beach in the bush.
In total, 650 tonnes of sand was used to transform the ordinary street into Coota Beach.
With the carnival done and dusted for another year, Mrs Ricketts and Mrs Cross encourage others to put their hand up to join the Coota Beach committee.
Each member of the current committee is over 30-years of age.
Mrs Ricketts and Mrs Cross started on the committee when they were in their early 20s and have committed more than a decade to the event.
They would like to see other young people join so when they are ready to put away their committee shirts for good there are others to step up.