Scotland’s young beach athletes made a big impression this summer at the SCA Zonal U17 and U19 Beach Volleyball Championships, coming away with silver medals in both boys’ age groups and securing Main Draw qualification for the 2026 CEV U18 and U20 European Beach Championships. The competitions, hosted by the CEV Small Countries Association, brought together top youth teams from across the region, and Scotland showed up in style.
Aaron Gillies and Gabriel Caesar had a standout week, competing in both the U17 and U19 competitions. In the U17’s, they looked composed and confident from the start, taking down strong teams from Iceland and the Faroe Islands on their way to the final without dropping a set. They faced an excellent Icelandic side in the final and, despite a solid performance, had to settle for silver. Their second-place finish secured Scotland a Main Draw place for the U18 Europeans next summer.
A few days later, they were back in action in the U19’s, joined by Fraser Amundrud and Cailean McAllister. Both Scottish teams worked hard through their pools, won decisive quarterfinals and made it through to the semi-finals, guaranteeing a medal before even stepping on court. In the all-Scottish semi-final, it was Amundrud and McAllister who edged through to the final, with Gillies and Caesar going on to take a well-earned bronze after a three-set battle with Andorra. Amundrud and McAllister’s run continued in the final, where they pushed Iceland all the way before finishing as silver medallists; a result that qualifies Scotland for the U20 European Main Draw next year.
Across the girls’ competitions, there were more positive signs. Grace Campbell and Sehr Baig represented Scotland in the U17’s and, after a tough group stage draw, finished their tournament with a gutsy 2-0 win over Ireland, with both sets going right down to the wire at 23-21. It was a deserved reward for their resilience and determination. In the U19’s, two new pairings — Lucy Campbell and Sasha Clegg-Mckeown, and Kirsty Hall and Holly Scott — got their first taste of international competition. Both teams showed periods of real potential, with Campbell and Clegg-Mckeown picking up a solid win in the group before falling to Iceland in the quarter-finals.
Speaking after the tournament, Scotland Beach Head Coach Rachael Gunn said: “This generation of athletes has shown they can compete with the best in the region. To come away with multiple medals and two European qualifications is a huge achievement, and more importantly, a sign of what’s possible when we invest in development, give our athletes opportunities, and create a high-performance environment.”
Head of Performance and Coaching Ally Jack added: “What’s most encouraging is seeing how our athletes respond to this level of competition. From the medal-winning performances to the tough battles in the group stages, our players showed character, growth, and a belief that they belong at this level. This is exactly the kind of progress we hoped to see through our investment in Beach Volleyball.”
A huge thank you goes to Jamie Salvin, who attended both events as a referee, to Sean Hendry, who has worked alongside Seain and Rachael as a beach coach this summer, and to Andorra and Ireland for hosting both events.