Scotland hosted and showcased overwhelming dominance at the Europe’s Small Countries Association (SCA) Beach Volleyball Championships held in Ayr. The Scottish women`s teams achieved a remarkable clean sweep of the podium, with Lynne Beattie and Mhairi Wallace securing the gold medal, Kathryn Barbour and Alexis Crusey taking silver, and Alexandra Clegg-Mckeown and Melissa Coutts claiming bronze. In the men`s tournament, Scottish pairs also secured both gold (James McHardy & Ross McKelvie) and silver (Euan Mackenzie Fraser & Ben McHardy). The only non-Scottish medal was the men`s bronze, won by Monaco`s Pascal Ferry and Vincent Ferry.
This remarkable performance was partly fueled by significant support from FIVB Volleyball Empowerment. The Scottish Volleyball Association has received USD 126,000 for national beach volleyball team coach support, enabling training under the expert guidance of Rachael Gunn from New Zealand and Seain Cook. An additional USD 6,000 has been allocated specifically for a national team coaches` development and knowledge transfer program, highlighting a commitment to long-term growth.
Women`s Tournament Highlights
Home favorites Lynne Beattie and Mhairi Wallace demonstrated impeccable form throughout the women`s tournament, reaching the final in Ayr without conceding a single set across four matches. Their dominant run included a decisive 2-0 (21-9, 21-18) victory over Northern Ireland`s Tara Mooney and Grace Allen in the semifinal.
Kathryn Barbour and Alexis Crusey also advanced to the semifinals undefeated. However, they faced a tough challenge there, winning 2-1 (15-21, 23-21, 15-11) against fellow Scottish pair Alexandra Clegg-Mckeown and Melissa Coutts, marking their first dropped set of the tournament.
The all-Scottish gold medal match proved to be a thrilling three-set encounter, with Beattie and Wallace ultimately prevailing 2-1 (21-9, 23-25, 16-14) in a hard-fought battle. Completing the Scottish dominance, Clegg-Mckeown and Coutts secured the bronze medal by defeating Mooney and Allen 2-0 (21-15, 21-11) in the third-place playoff.
Men`s Tournament Highlights
The path to gold for James McHardy and Ross McKelvie in the men`s competition was more challenging. While they won all four of their matches in Ayr, three of them required tie-breaker resolutions due to intense competition. In a hard-fought semifinal, they staged an impressive 2-1 (16-21, 21-17, 15-8) comeback victory against Monaco`s Pascal Ferry and Vincent Ferry.
Conversely, Euan Mackenzie Fraser and Ben McHardy enjoyed a flawless run to the gold medal showdown, securing four consecutive straight-set victories. Their semifinal saw them comfortably defeat Wales` Conor Robins and Matthew Pollock 2-0 (21-19, 21-17), showcasing their consistent performance.
The all-Scottish men`s final was a closely contested three-set battle, mirroring the women`s final`s intensity. McHardy and McKelvie ultimately claimed the zonal title with a 2-1 (17-21, 22-20, 15-10) turnaround victory. For the bronze medal, Ferry and Ferry triumphed over Robins and Pollock with a 2-0 (21-17, 21-18) win, ensuring Monaco secured a place on the podium.
The SCA Beach Volleyball Championships in Ayr successfully brought together 12 women`s and 14 men`s teams, representing nine nations: Andorra, Iceland, Ireland, Liechtenstein, Malta, Monaco, Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales, fostering strong regional competition and camaraderie.
Finley Blackwood