This past weekend, the UK Padel Men’s Team made the trip to Rocket Padel Bristol for the highly anticipated iPadel Summer League Finals. This event brought together the regionals winners from across the UK, vying for the coveted title of national club champion. With 16 formidable men’s teams in contention, alongside women and mixed events, the weekend promised a showcase of top tier padel.

A special thanks goes out to Ian Colligon at iPadel for organising this impressive event. All went smoothly over the weekend and the buzz each day at the event was awesome. Thanks also to Rocket Padel Bristol for providing a fantastic venue – we’re already counting down the days until UK PADEL are back in Bristol for the County Championships in six weeks’ time – this event was a teaser of what’s to come!

Our tournament kicked off with an intense match against the always tough Chelsea Harbour Club in the first round. Trevor and James led the charge, battling through two closely contested sets. Unfortunately, it wasn’t to be, leaving us down 0-1 with one match remaining.

Nick and I took the court and got off to a fast start, clinching the first set in convincing fashion. The second set saw some high-level padel with both teams refusing to yield. At 5-5, the tension was high, but we ultimately fell short, losing the set 5-7. The third set brought us to a super tiebreaker, a nerve-wracking showdown to 10 points. With a 7-4 lead, victory seemed within grasp. Yet, despite a valiant effort, we narrowly missed the mark, concluding at 8-10. While disappointed with the result, the match was a testament to the exceptional standard of play and an absolute blast.

Undeterred, we moved into the plate stage, facing off against Limpsfield, Gloucestershire and culminating in a thrilling final with Surbiton. James and Trevor dominated with a 6-4 6-4 win, while Nick and I engaged in yet another heart-pounding three-setter which we narrowly lost.

The match came down to a decider, where one player from each pair formed a team, and a super tiebreaker would determine the match’s outcome. James and I stepped up, delivering some of our finest padel of the day. The result was a resounding 10-1 victory, securing the Plate Trophy for UK PADEL. THE beers at the end of the day tasted that much sweeter!

Feeling inspired by our journey at the iPadel Summer League Finals? There’s a place for you in the active world of UK Padel. Sharpen your skills with coaching sessions, forge lasting connections in club matches, and experience the thrill of competitive padel. We’re already gearing up for the iPadel Winter League and are thrilled by the enthusiastic response to the addition of a second men’s team. It’s fantastic to see the UK Padel community so eager for more thrilling padel action. Ladies, next year we hope to see you in the finals as well and let’s not forget the Mixed Doubles event which tests players versatility and teamwork.

If you would like to get involved, please reach out to any one of us at UK Padel. The league not only offers a platform to test your skills against challenging opponents but also provides an opportunity to connect with fellow padel enthusiasts across different clubs.

Thank you all, and we’ll see you out on the court!

Coach Jared