VOLLEYBALL champions who put Barnstaple on the sporting map more than 20 years ago, dug out their knee pads and shorts for a veterans' tournament this weekend.

Some hadn't worn their outfits for 23 years.

It was back in 1986 that a girls' and boys' team from North Devon College became the national college champions.

The girls went on to repeat their success the following year.

Back then they were teenagers in their second year at college.

Now their average age is 40 and they're just as likely to be swapping parenting tales as strategy tips.

Six of them got back together this weekend for the South West Volleyball Association's veterans' tournament in Plymouth.

Mum-of-one Denise Austin, of Croyde, who is still active in the sport and has just played for Great Britain in Blackpool, said afterwards: "Everybody was hitting the floor and throwing themselves around.

"Wendy Hawkins (a mum of five from Bratton Fleming) played through her shoulder injury.

"We didn't lose by a terrible amount.

"We scored points consistently and we improved with every game to the point we were drawing in the semi-final and the opposing team called a time out."

The fact they called for a temporary halt showed the North Devon team was "doing really well," she said.

It was all the more commendable as they were up against male players, something they didn't realise until their entry was confirmed.

They were given a 12 point handicap for being an all-women team.

Even though they were in their 40s other players there were quite a bit older.

One team fielded a 71-year-old.

The North Devon girls were so pleased with their first team outing for 23 years, they are going to do it all over again.

Denise said: "We are already planning to compete in the South West Championship for women and in a couple of other women's tournaments."