The Guernsey Padel Club was buzzing this weekend as the great and the good of UK Padel descended on Guernsey to compete in the LTA National Grade One Event sponsored by SPF Private Clients and New Street Management. Over the three days, more than 120 players entered the event, with many playing in more than one of the seven tournaments on offer.
With six of UK’s Top Ten men and five of the Top Ten women travelling to Guernsey to compete for the £3,500 prize fund, the standard of padel was extremely high. The hundreds of islanders who turned out to watch were not disappointed as the tightly contested finals got underway on Sunday afternoon in the baking sunshine
The Men’s Event saw to local teams make it through to the semi-finals, both knocking out higher seeded pairings on the way. Jon Young and Rob West defeated the number 4 seeded pairing of Ali Anderson and Andrew Warren (6-3, 4-6, 10-6) in their quarter final, while Jersey’s Scott Clayton teamed up with Patrick Ogier and beat the number 3 seeds, Theo Garton and George Weller (7-6, 6-3). However, both pairs then lost in their semis to the number 1 and 2 seeded pairs respectively. In front of a large crowd, in an exciting final with exceptional shot making and long rallies, Francis Langan and Sam MacNeil defeated top seeds Chris Salisbury and Rafa Vega, 7-5, 6-4.
Sam MacNeil said afterwards “This is my first grade one level win, so I’m really thrilled that Frankie and I managed to beat such as strong pair as Rafa and Chris. It’s been such a wonderful tournament and everyone has been so welcoming, I’m already looking forward to returning next year to defend our title.’
Francis Langan added “I’m really pleased with how I played today, and its great to get the win, especially in front of such a big crowd - definitely one of the biggest we have seen at an LTA padel event. It’s been a great weekend in Guernsey - my first time on the island and I’ll be back for soon for sure.”
In the Ladies’ event, it was the top two seeded pairings who again reached the final with Aimee Gibson and Catherine Rose beating Helen Crook and Jo Ward, 6-0, 6-1. This event marked the first time that top teams from the UK have come to the island to compete in the ladies event which is something the Club hopes to build on in the future. Aimee Gibson echoed that sentiment and commented on the number of women playing and competing on the island. “Here in Guernsey it is so nice, the courts are great and the draws are so busy. Some weeks you don’t get that many women entering so it’s nice to see lots of people playing.’
In the Men’s Over 40’s Final, the Jersey duo of Bero Bobus and Jon Southern beat the home pairing of Lester Boscher and Matt De La Mare 6-0, 6-2. The victory saw Bero rise to become the UK Number one in the over 40s category, which is an enormous achievement. He said, “I am so excited to have reached the no 1 ranking, it’s something that I have been working hard towards for some time. I need to give credit to my partner, Jon, who has travelled with me to several events and helped me get the ranking points I need. I have been selected to play for Great Britain in the over 40s category at the European Championships in Alicante in a couple of weeks so this a nice way to go into that competition.”
In the Ladies’ over 40s event Jo Ward and Helen Crook found themselves in their second final of the day, and this time had a comfortable route to victory defeating Kate Hands-Digby and Kerry White 6-2, 6-3. In the Men’s Over 50’s event, Leonardo Gava and Richard Woodland eventually defeated Morgan Jubb and Ian Furness in a very tightly contested match 5-7, 6-4, 10-8.
The weekend also saw two junior events played in both U18 and 14 categories with 32 children entering the draws, one of the largest number at any LTA Youth event nationwide. In the U14 category Logan Cherrett and Freddie Furley beat Simon Hearne and Ed Morgan 7-6, 6-1 and in the U18 Final it was the super talented brother and sister pairing of Chloe and Liam De La Mare who once again stamped their authority at the top of the junior game in Guernsey beating the Gomes twins, Cameron and Luke, 6-2, 6-1. The LTA’s Padel Performance Manager, Matt Stanforth had travelled to island for the weekend and commented, “To see a thriving youth community here makes me very excited about the future.”
Men’s Open
Francis Langan & Sam MacNeil (2) def Chris Salisbury & Rafa Vega (1) 7-5, 6-4
Ladies’ Open
Aimee Gibson & Catherine Rose (1) def Helen Crook & Jo Ward (2) 6-0, 6-1
Men’s 40+
Bero Bobus & Jon Southern (1) def Lester Boscher & Matt De La Mare (2) 6-0, 6-2
Ladies’ 40+
Jo Ward & Helen Crook (1) def Kate Hands-Digby & Kerry White (2) 6-2, 6-3
Men’s 50+
Leonardo Cava & Richard Woodland (1) def Morgan Jubb & Ian Furness (2) 5-7, 6-4, 10-8
U18
Chloe & Liam def Cameron & Luke 6-2, 6-1
U14
Logan & Freddie def Simon & Ed 7-6, 6-1