Kyan Vercauteren and Joppe Van Langendonck in the men’s competition and Britt Ruysschaert and Jade Van Deun in the women’s competition were crowned Belgian beach volleyball champions in Nieuwpoort on Sunday. Both teams won their Belgian Beach Finals title match in straight sets.

Vercauteren and Van Langendonck fully lived up to their status as favourites in the men’s competition. The 2023 U21 world champions proved too strong for brothers Louis and Gilles Vandecaveye in the final, convincingly securing the Belgian title with a 21-16, 21-12 victory.

In the semi-finals, Vercauteren and Van Langendonck had already defeated Casper Willems and Arne Darras in straight sets: 21-17, 21-15. The Vandecaveye brothers reached the final after beating Dries Koekelkoren and Tom van Walle 21-17, 21-18.

Willems and Darras claimed the bronze medal. In a closely contested third-place match, they defeated Koekelkoren and Van Walle in three sets: 22-20, 16-21, 18-16.

Ruysschaert and Van Deun claim women’s title

In the women’s competition, the Belgian title went to Britt Ruysschaert and Jade Van Deun. They defeated Simone Vervloet and Lente Thant in straight sets. The opening set remained close until the end, with Ruysschaert and Van Deun taking it 23-21. They then completed the victory by winning the second set 21-14.

Ruysschaert and Van Deun qualified for the final with a 21-15, 21-17 victory over Youna Coens and Anique Tavenier. Vervloet and Thant won their semi-final against Louka Maertens and Lisa Van den Vonder 21-17, 25-23.

Maertens and Van den Vonder secured third place by defeating Coens and Tavenier in straight sets: 21-11, 21-18.

The Belgian Beach Finals marked the sporting conclusion of ten days of beach volleyball at the sports beach in Nieuwpoort. Alongside the Belgian Beach Tour matches, the programme also featured youth competitions, various side activities and the Beach Volley Proms.

Top three – Belgian Beach Finals

Women

1. Britt Ruysschaert and Jade Van Deun
2. Simone Vervloet and Lente Thant
3. Louka Maertens and Lisa Van den Vonder

Men

1. Kyan Vercauteren and Joppe Van Langendonck
2. Louis and Gilles Vandecaveye
3. Casper Willems and Arne Darras