Sunday at the SCA Zonal Tour in Ayr presented a typical Scottish day with sunshine and showers, yet the on-court action proved far more compelling. The competition culminated in a series of thrilling matches, including six semi-finals and four medal matches, concluding with the host nation, Scotland, securing an impressive near-clean sweep of the podiums.
Heading into the final day, Scotland had five teams among the top four in both men`s and women`s categories. However, formidable opponents from Monaco, Northern Ireland, and Wales ensured no easy victories.
The women`s semi-finals kicked off with an all-Scottish clash between Melissa Coutts and Alexandra Clegg-McKeown (Commonwealth and Youth Commonwealth athletes) and the experienced Beach Pro Tour duo, Alexis Crusey and Kathryn Barbour. In a dynamic match, Barbour/Crusey overcame a match point in the second set to clinch a tense decider and secure their spot in the final. Meanwhile, Scotland`s most seasoned pair, Lynne Beattie and Mhairi Wallace, demonstrated their prowess by defeating Tara Mooney and Grace Allen from Northern Ireland in straight sets, setting up an all-Scottish women`s final.
In the men`s competition, Euan Fraser and Ben McHardy faced a resolute Welsh team, Conor Robins and Matthew Pollock. Aided by enthusiastic home support, the Scottish pair won both tight sets 2-0 to reach the final. They were joined by James McHardy and Ross McKelvie, who mounted a comeback after losing the first set against Monaco`s Ferry brothers, Pascal and Vincent. After a dominant second set to equalize, the Scots took control of the decider, holding their composure even after a late-game collision, to win and ensure an all-Scottish men`s final, featuring the two McHardy brothers.
Beyond the finals, classification matches offered other teams an opportunity to conclude their tournament positively. Monica Zammit Munro and Jana Kenkovski of Malta defeated Fiona Lamont and Lara McNichols of Ireland in straight sets, while their compatriots Tamara Kenkovski and Mikaela Galea narrowly beat Scotland`s Samantha Fowler and Charlotte Morgan. In the men`s bracket, Lluc Macia de las Heras and Sergi Navas from Andorra, participating in their first SCA event, secured a strong 2-0 victory over Ewan Ramsay and Cole Turnbull (SCO). Iceland`s Emil Mar Diatlovic and Tomas Davidsson also marked a successful debut by overcoming Murray Paterson and Keir Paterson (SCO).
In the bronze medal contests, Clegg-McKeown and Coutts demonstrated remarkable resilience after their semi-final loss, earning Scotland`s first medal of the day. For the men`s bronze, Monaco`s Ferry brothers showcased their consistency, navigating the challenging Ayrshire weather to secure a well-deserved bronze in straight sets, amidst a first-set downpour and second-set sunshine.
The women`s final saw Beattie and Wallace begin with strong control, comfortably winning the first set through effective blocking and strategic shot placement. Barbour and Crusey countered in the second set with powerful serves and dynamic play, narrowly winning a tight 25-23 finish to force a decisive third set. This final set was a test of nerves, with points traded back and forth, until Beattie and Wallace ultimately secured the championship 16-14 on their third match point.
A thunderstorm, complete with lightning, caused a 40-minute delay even before the men`s final warm-up could commence. Once play resumed, Fraser and McHardy quickly found their rhythm and secured the first set. However, McHardy and McKelvie mounted a fierce comeback in the second set, displaying impressive power and precision to tie the match. In the deciding set, McHardy and McKelvie`s experience was evident as they established an early lead and expertly managed the game to clinch the gold, culminating in a triumphant weekend for Scottish Beach Volleyball.
With Scottish teams claiming five out of six medals and both gold medal matches contested exclusively by Scottish pairs, the 2025 SCA Zonal Tour in Ayr was an undeniable triumph for the host nation. Scottish athletes, ranging from young debutants to experienced internationals, performed exceptionally on home soil, inspiring future generations and signaling to smaller European nations that Scottish Beach Volleyball is rapidly gaining prominence.
Jasper Thornfield 
Finley Blackwood