NEVZA Youth Beach 2026 day one round-up - all five countries have reasons to be satisfied

England, Norway, Sweden, Denmark and Finland battled it out in Pool Play action contested across four categories – U20 women and men and U18 women and men – utilising four courts. 

And with the event acting as a qualifier for the European Championships at those age groups, the motivation to put wins on the board was all the stronger.

The hosts' best performances came in the men's section, where at U18 level, Luca Robinson – who reached the semi-final at this level last year with Lewis Bunton – this time teamed up with Emmanuel Oretoye to finish the day unbeaten with three wins from three. 

That said, their toughest match is likely still to come as they will play the also-unbeaten Kalle Mikkelsen and Julius Hansen, of Denmark, which will likely decide who tops the Pool A. 

Finland's Martti Talvia and Julius Uusitalo could consider themselves very unfortunate to finish the day pointless after losing all three of their matches 2-1. 

There are two high-class teams competing in Pool B, too, and the match between them, which has likely decided who will finish top of the pool tomorrow, went to the wire. 

In the end, Ludvig Ringøen and Liam Karlsen came back from a set down to beat the shell-shocked Swedish pair of Casper Tjernqvist and Henrik Brus (11-21, 22-20, 17-15). 

Both are likely to either progress straight to the semi-finals, or have a play-off to reach the last four, having beaten the other teams they have faced. 

In the men's U20 category, England's Lewis Bunton and Bailey Harsum also have a good chance of making progress, but ran into a superb Norway team who boast one half of the 2025 U18 World champions, in the shape of Sebastain Kjemperud. 

He and Johannes Ringøen – brother of, Ludvig, the other half of the global title winning partnership – swept all before them, not only beating the English duo in straight sets (21-13, 21-14), but their other opponents from Finland and England as well.  

Their biggest threat to achieving Euros qualification may come from Pool B, which still looks to be wide open after some competitive first day matches. 

Three teams finished on four points with two wins, but it was Norwegians Amund  Brundtland and David Stenberg who were the only ones to remain unbeaten, securing a crucial narrow win over Finland's Kaapo Vanhatupa and Konsta Viljamaa (21-16, 18-21, 13-15), who defeated fellow challengers Viktor Oldenborg and Asger Due of Denmark (21-11, 21-18). 

The U18 women's section is the biggest, with 11 teams making up three pools. 

Finland's Maisa Kyröläinen and Nelli Waldén, who both played – but with different partners –  at last week's NEVZA Beach England for senior players topped Pool C overnight, with victory in both their matches. 

Pool B was headed up by Norway’s Johanna Krane and Sina Straumstøyl, who also remained unbeaten, as did their teammates and defending champions Oda Elise Skarlund and Stine Finholth in Pool A. 

But there is still plenty of opportunity for the other teams to make an impact, with all teams having at least a play-off match via which they can progress. 

With seven teams entered into the women's U20 section, it is being contested as one big pool, with the top two teams going through to the final and third and fourth progressing to the third place play-off. 

Denmark's Mila Lyø and Clara Skovsgaard are currently top the standings on set difference, but Hermine Fosmark and Maren Våge of Norway also have three wins from three, meaning their meeting tomorrow will draw plenty of interest. 

Cathrine Hjeltnes, who played in the Beach Pro Tour Futures event at the weekend, and Tiril Skjold will also hope to be in the mix for Norway, along with FInland's Anna Laaksonen and Sole Juuri-Oja. 

It was a disappointing day across both women's sections for England, but they will hope to bounce back positively on day two. 

Images by Simon Clarke

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If you can't make it, you can also watch the action live on the Volleyball England YouTube Channel.