The country’s best beach volleyball players have descended on Manly for VolleyFest 2019. Incorporating the Australian Beach Volleyball Tour Championships and a 3 Star FIVB World Tour stop, the event has enticed athletes from around the world as they work towards the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

Among the list of competitors are six West Australians flying the flag for the state. Headlining the group are Helloworld Travel Beach Volleyroos Cole Durant and Paul Burnett. Durant and Burnett were among the 32 players who competed in the Men’s Division One of the Australian Beach Volleyball Tour Championships over the weekend.

Durant’s partnership with Commonwealth Games Gold Medallist Damien Schumann has proven to be a winning combination. The duo looked strong over the weekend and were unfortunate to not make it through to the Gold Medal match. Facing fellow Australians in the Bronze Medal match, Durant and Schumann won the game in two sets, 21-11 and 21-18.

Paul Burnett’s star continues to rise on the national stage with the 21 year-old West Australian partnering with South Australian Max Guehrer. Burnett enjoyed a solid end to 2018 with a bronze at the 1 Star FIVB World Tour Stop in Ljubljana, Slovenia. Burnett and Guehrer looked to replicate their success and made the most of the competition over the weekend finishing equal fifth.

WA was also represented in the Men’s Division Two competition with Griffin Bateman, Ky Landers, Ryan Penno and Dylan Phillips playing. Young guns Bateman and Landers produced the goods working their way into the Round of 16 and finishing equal ninth, while Penno and Phillips were unable to make it out of the pool round.

The focus now switches to the 3 Star FIVB World Tour stop. Stacked with competitors from around the world, both Durant and Burnett are set to play in the five day event.

To follow all of the action from the 3 Star FIVB World Tour stop in Manly click HERE.

To find the results from the Australian Beach Volleyball Tour Championships click HERE.