Scottish Junior Open 2025
Every year, in the quiet lull between Christmas and New Year, when most people are relaxing with family or recovering from festive feasts, Oriam comes alive with one of the busiest and most vibrant events on the junior squash calendar: the Scottish Junior Open.
What’s normally a calm week on Heriot-Watt University Edinburgh Campus, transforms into a hub of international competition. This year was no exception. In fact, it was one of the most global editions yet, with players from 31 countries travelling to Scotland to compete on our courts.
From as far afield as South Africa, Zimbabwe, Colombia, Japan, Peru, Canada, the USA, India, Malaysia, Egypt, Pakistan, Qatar, the UAE, Kuwait, China, Kenya, Hong Kong, Singapore, Mauritius, Australia, New Zealand, and even Papua New Guinea, the tournament brought together an exciting mix of cultures, playing styles, and rising talent.
And that’s not even the full list. We also welcomed junior athletes from Switzerland, Germany, Spain, Wales, Northern Ireland, the Netherlands, England, Ukraine, and of course, Scotland, each adding to the tournament’s rich international flavour.
Heriot-Watt Squash Stars
We were especially proud to see two Heriot-Watt University Squash Scholars competing in the fiercely contested Boys U19 category.
For both athletes, the tournament was a fantastic opportunity to challenge themselves against top junior players from across the world and gain invaluable international competitive experience.
Congratulations to:
- Archie Niven (Scotland) – finishing 9th, showcasing impressive determination and resilience.
- Darcy Hayes (Australia) – finishing 11th, delivering strong performances throughout the event.
Both athletes represented HWU brilliantly, and their results reflect the hard work they’ve put into training on and off the court.
The Scottish Junior Open continues to be a standout event in the Squash calendar, bringing global sport to Edinburgh, creating unforgettable experiences for young players, and showcasing the world-class squash facilities here at Oriam.
Congratulations to all competitors, and a special well done to Archie and Darcy. We’re excited to see where this experience takes them next!