Scottish teams lead the field in Bridlington

The UK Beach Tour is set to make a splash in Bridlington this weekend as the highly anticipated Northern Open takes centre stage.

Hosted by Skyball Beach Volleyball Club, this tournament is set to be one of the most significant events in the North, attracting the tour's top talent and promising an exhilarating weekend of beach volleyball action.

MEN'S TOURNAMENT

Scotland’s paring of Ross McKelvie and Callum Stewart will reunite this weekend as the number 1 seeds; after a brief separation whilst competing internationally in the Nations Cup, the bronze medalists from last year's Weymouth Grand Slam are back together and looking to make their mark up north.

Hot on their heels will be Cardiff Open Champion JJ van den Bogert, partnering up with Mark Garcia-Kidd to try and repeat their success in Bridlington from last season. In addition, the UKBT will see the return of South African legend Richard Payne this weekend, who has been awarded a wild card alongside partner Shane James. Payne returns to the tour for the first time since 2016; spectators can be sure to keep an eye out for his signature sky ball in the windy Yorkshire conditions.

WOMEN'S TOURNAMENT

In the women’s division, Lynne Beattie and Mel Coutts will be looking to add to an impressive string of victories this season, after taking the title in St Andrews at the Scottish Open just a few weeks ago.

They won’t be having it all their own way though; Rachel Morrison and Katie Barbour will be looking to avenge a semi-final defeat to the number 1 seeds, as will Aitana Schlie and Kennedy Mason.

The Northern Open will also see England national team player Alana Snow take the beach for her UKBT event of the season, partnering alongside Lucy Knott. Snow has already had some great success in the north of the UK, winning the Scotland Grand Slam with Victoria Palmer last season, and will be looking to hunt down more medals this weekend.

Thanks to the support of the local council, the Northern Open promises to provide a high quality event for athletes and spectators alike, featuring a fully branded centre court, live commentary and player/fan zones throughout the weekend.

The Northern Open is one of the last opportunities for players to earn crucial ranking points in the run up to the Weymouth Grand Slam; with the entry deadline looming on 26th June, this tournament could be the difference between the main draw or the qualifier for all involved. It promises to be an exciting event!