YORK Volleyball Club have good reason to celebrate a memorable Millennium season both on and off the court.

The club, in existence for around 25 years, saw their men's and women's premier teams win their respective Yorkshire Premier Leagues.

It was the first time in several years that the men have lifted the title, while for the women, who are unbeaten in the league since 1997, it was their fourth successive championship crown.

The club's players also formed the backbone of the North Yorkshire sides that entered the Area Cup for county teams across the UK.

The men won their respective competition again, while the women's team were runners-up.

The club's third team also competed strongly in West Yorkshire League division one in their first year after promotion.

And to cap a fine year, the club received a generous grant from Millennium Festival Awards for All of £1,246 to start another team.

The team is made up of players new to volleyball who have joined the club in the past year and they play in division two of West Yorkshire Volleyball League.

The grant was used to buy new kit and practice balls for the team and to hire a sports hall for practice.

It was also used to buy new posts for York College, where the club trains and plays some matches.

The new team have acquitted themselves well, winning several of their games in their first season.

Coun Ken King, of City of York Council's leisure committee, attended the club's training session at Oaklands Sports Centre to present a certificate commemorating the award granted to the club.

He also presented shirts to members of the team and met club representatives to celebrate their achievements in 2000.

The club run an annual outdoor tournament at the Civil Service Sports Ground for teams across the region and take part in many other tournaments.

A website is being developed to spread the word across the area, and around the world.

The club are hoping to expand even further with the setting up of a junior section.

Updated: 11:50 Saturday, March 03, 2001