Teams fresh from the Beijing Olympics are playing in Blackpool until Sunday as the NESTEA Beach Volleyball European Championship Tour comes to the UK for the first time. 

There are 9 British Teams competing in the Championships:

Womens Competition:
Mel Coutts & Denise Austin
Zara Dampney & Lucy Boulton
Rachel Turner & Helen Brown
Victoria Palmer & Liane Herbert
Shauna Mullin & Denise Johns

Mens Competition:

Robin Miedzybrodzki & Jody Gooding
Steve Grotowski & Gregg Weaver
Tom Lord & Jake Sheaf
Graham Riddle & Barry McGuigan

In the women's competition, top Scottish Tour player Mel Coutts and partner Denise Austin had to play a country quota match yesterday against Helen Brown and Rachel Turner, which they came through 21-18, 21-12. Today, however, they came across stiffer opposition in the second round of the qualification tournament, losing to the No. 2 Estonian pair 21-16, 21-19. Liane Herbert and Vicky Palmer also went out in their first round to Norway 21-11, 21-19. Regular FIVB and CEV teams, Shauna Mullin (formerly of Team Edinburgh) / Denise Johns and Zara Dampney / Lucy Boulton begin their challenge in the main draw tomorrow.

In the men's competition, top Scottish Tour players Graham Riddle and Barry McGuigan had an all GB match for their first round against VEBT English Finals winner Tom Lord with a new partner, Jake Sheaf, fresh from competing at the World Under-21 Championships in Brighton last week. Sheaf and Lord took the match and progressed to the second round 21-18, 21- 14 before losing out to the top French pair. Former City of Edinburgh player, Robin Miedzybrodzki with partner Jody Gooding and Gregg Weaver / Steve Grotowski beging their campaign in the main draw tomorrow.

To keep an eye on their progress, check out the CEV pages here.