THIRD CONSECUTIVE WIN FOR POHL/RAU!

NESTEA European Championship Tour 2006

Luxembourg/Valencia, July 24, 2006. The Spanish Masters of the NESTEA European Championship Tour 2006 concluded last weekend with Dutch Nummerdor/Schuil claiming the men’s title and Germans Pohl/Rau seizing their third final win in the women’s 2006 season.

With their victory in Valencia (ESP) Stephanie Pohl and Okka Rau made history, having booked their third consecutive NESTEA European Championship Tour 2006 title following their wins in Hamburg (GER) and Moscow (RUS). In the final the 2003 European Champions beat Simone Kuhn and Lea Schwer from Switzerland in three sets (21-17, 16-21, 15-10), not only securing 8’500 Euro prize money but also 650 ranking list points. Thus, Pohl/Rau have increased their lead as ‘smart European ranking leader’ to 660 points - a comfortable advantage which will be difficult to catch up on for the Germans’ opponents during the last two tour stops in Lucerne (SUI) and The Hague (NED).

The ranking list leaders will be rewarded with two ‘smart forfour’ at the end of the season. Okka Rau smiled at the idea to drive home from Spain in a pair of brand new cars. “So much can still happen”, she commented, “An injury or something similar and the big lead will be gone.” Instead of leaning back the two Germans want to keep the momentum in their favour and keep on winning: “To be honest”, Okka Rau said after the victory in Valencia, “we would love to break some new records and win our fourth and fifth tournament in a row.” Third place went to the German duo Sara Goller and Laura Ludwig, who beat Dutch Rebecca Kadijk and Merel Mooren in the bronze medal match in straight sets (21-16, 21-18).

The men’s competition featured a premiere top spot with Dutch Reinder Nummerdor and Richard Schuil who defeated Austria’s Clemens Doppler and Peter Gartmeyer in the final in straight sets (21-19, 21-17). It was the first victory at a big international tournament for the two veterans. Until a short while ago they had earned a living playing indoor ball in the first league in Italy but decided last winter to try their luck on sand. Schuil, who won the Olympic gold medal with the Dutch national team in Atlanta in 1996, is enjoying the new challenge: “As an indoor diagonal player I was responsible for the offence, but on sand I need my all-round game.” Nummerdor and Schuil have had a tremendous first season and are still improving. Still, Schuil thinks that he still often plays like if he was indoors, but “it’s getting better each tournament”. Third place in Valencia went to the ‘smart European ranking leaders’ Markus Egger and Martin Laciga from Switzerland. The duo beat Italy’s Riccardo Lione and Andrea Tomatis in the bronze medal match in three sets (19-21, 21-7, 15-8).

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For more information please view www.cev.lu/BeachVolleyball or www.eurobeachtour.com 

The tournaments of the NESTEA European Championship Tour 2006:

17 - 21 May 2006: Turkish Masters in Alanya
31 May - 3 June 2006: German Masters in Hamburg
15 - 18 June 2006: Russian Masters in Moscow
20 - 23 July 2006: Spanish Masters in Valencia
5 - 8 August 2006: Swiss Masters in Lucerne
24 - 27 August 2006: NESTEA European Championship Final in The Hague (NED)

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Background information on the NESTEA European Championship Tour

The NESTEA European Championship Tour is the highest ranked series of European Beach Volleyball tournaments that promotes the sport and its star players on a European level. The series of tournaments culminates into the European Championship Final as the season’s highlight. 

For further information please visit www.eurobeachtour.com and/or contact the Communication Managers of the NESTEA European Championship Tour Klaus Wegener and Felix Meininghaus at communications@eurobeachtour.com.

Background information on the Confédération Européenne de Volleyball

The CEV is the FIVB supporting institution responsible for governing 54 National Volleyball Federations throughout Europe and is recognised as such by the Fédération Internationale de Volleyball (FIVB) for Volleyball and Beach Volleyball. The CEV has the authority and responsibility for organising all European Competitions, especially the NESTEA European Championship Tour (Men & Women). 

For further information please contact the CEV Head Office in Luxembourg, Olivier Mottier at olivier.mottier@cev.lu or + 352 25 46 46 25.

Background information on Global Sports Marketing Ltd. (GSM)

GSM is dedicated to the development and implementation of innovation in sports and entertainment. The company positions and markets international sports and entertainment properties on behalf of the respective rights-holders. Besides, it offers all services related to the marketing of commercial rights - media, sponsorship and licensing/merchandising rights as well as development of sports brands. GSM, based in Zurich (Switzerland) develops, promotes and markets the NESTEA European Championship Tour within a long-term partnership with the European Volleyball Confederation CEV. 

For further information please contact Global Sports Marketing, Christian Scholbrock at
christian.scholbrock@gsmglobalsports.com or +41 43 244 8970.