BAHRAIN will host next year's Inter-Gulf Netball Championships, it has been confirmed.

The decision was made after a unanimous vote from all the participating teams in last weekend's Riffa Views-sponsored event, who chose the kingdom as the venue for the second successive year.

"The Riffa Views competition was a resounding success and the standard of play was outstanding," tournament manager Michaela Milne said. "I've already spoken to our title sponsor, Riffa Views, who are as delighted as we are that the final will remain in Bahrain for another year.

"This gives us great scope to further improve the tournament and to raise its profile even further throughout the international netball community."

The competition, held at the Bahrain Rugby Football Club in Saar, was declared a triumph by all 20 participating squads from around the Gulf, including two-time defending champions and winners Dubai 'A'. Visiting England squad Hucclecote Netball also voiced their pleasure with the success of the event, which featured 128 matches and 256 umpire slots.

"We would like to thank Bahrain for an amazing weekend on and off the court," Dubai 'A' player and Dubai's netball league chairwoman Kelly Cook commented. "Our main aim this year was to win the cup, but it proved to be a much more difficult task than we anticipated with the standard of netball in the Gulf improving every year."

Riffa Views chief executive Richard Browning added: "This year's tournament was the latest in a series of sporting events which are adding to Bahrain's reputation as an outstanding organiser, both regionally and internationally.

To find out more about Bahrain netball, visit www.netballbahrain.com.