Twenty-one teams across boys, girls and mixed took part in a groundbreaking first ever UK PADEL Schools Championships on Sunday 29th September 2024 at Rocket Padel Bristol.

The focus of the day was a celebration of all things UK PADEL: bringing together players from around the UK,  a format that was competitive and fun for the players, as well as exemplary camaraderie.

The competitions were played in timed matches in the group stages leading to one set to 8 games in the knockout stages final stages, and alongside that the UK PADEL coaches hosted clinics throughout the day to help the young players prepare for their next round of competition. There is always fast improvement for new players,  and the standard of competition got better each round.

Girls Competition winners were CLIFTON COLLEGE who won two strings to nothing against an ever-improving HURST.

Mixed padel events continue to provide drama and entertainment , as MILLFIELD 1st pair won a tie break taking their match 8-7 and the title.  

MILLFIELD again featured in the boy’s final which this time did need a championships tie break to decide the winners, who were WHITGIFT.

Well done to all the UK PADEL Schools Champions, here’s a link to all the competitors and results https://ukpadel.org/schools-championships/

Padel v Tennis? Well, there is room for both of course, but our social media team had some fun with the WHITGIFT Boys events winners as they collected their trophies https://www.instagram.com/p/DAgio0iIq65/

We hope this event could be a catalyst for the beginning of a major school’s movement to get behind Padel. Competitors were highly engaged in a memorable day of Padel, played in great spirit with first class support from the school masters and coaches and parents.

Thanks to all the UK PADEL event team that made it possible, the venue Rocket Padel, sponsor Portico Sports and the headline Sponsor Evelyn Partners. It was thanks to the sponsorship by Evelyn Partners, the wealth management and professional services group, the event was completely free to all secondary schools in the UK to take part.

The first edition of the Schools Alumni Championships were also hotly contested. Eight teams played out the event. Competition was strong, but the sense of fun and of being involved in the grass roots of what will undoubtably become a very large event was more important on the day. It was clear from the first matches that the Millfield team was the one to watch. They beat a strong Charterhouse team in the semis, leaving the Stowe side to play Clifton College in the other semi. This turned out to be a nail-biter, with the Clifton pair coming from behind to win the deciding “shootout” tie-break by 10-8. The final was won by Millfield, though the Clifton team battled valiantly.

Tournament director Pete Jarvis presented The Jarvis Cup to Millfield captain Stuart Farrar and his team of Tim Jarvis, Albie Gibbs and Joe Talbot.