iPadel finals: the most competitive yet?
The most competitive – and biggest so far – iPadel Club Summer League is drawing to a close, with 36 teams preparing to descend on Rocket Padel, Bristol, to battle it out for top honours.
The league, now in its fourth year, has this season featured a record 165 teams, with players from across the country getting the chance to compete for national titles.
Organised on a regional structure, the comp format features two men’s competitions – Premier and Club – as well as women’s and mixed categories.
This summer finals, being held on October 5/6th in Bristol, will feature some familiar clubs returning for a crack at the titles as well as newcomers. First-time entrants, The Padel Club from Wilmslow, have shone in the qualifiers, securing finalist places in all four categories – the only club to have achieved this.
The first day of the finals will focus on the Men’s Premier and Club tournaments with 10 teams competing in each.
In the Premier section, top seeds Rocks Lane Chiswick return to defend the title they won last year. They will be going for a hat-trick, having also won the inaugural iPadel Summer League in 2021. Last year’s beaten finalists Oxshott 1 are also back but miss out on being one of the top four seeds. Middlesbrough 1 are the second seeds, newcomers The Padel Club are third seeds with David Lloyd Bushey 1 seeded fourth.
Other teams competing in the Men’s Premier section are Kenilworth, David Lloyd Bushey 2, Epsom 1, Padel Shift 1 and Padel4All Basset Down 1.
In the Men’s Club category there are opportunities for double success for the two northern clubs with Middlesbrough 2 (seeded fourth) and The Padel Club 2 (seeded second) also having men’s teams in this section, while Oxshott has two teams competing.
The number one seeds are Chichester 1, with Winchester 1 the third seeds. Aiming to upset the odds are UK Padel @ Holmer Green 2, Padel Hub Slough 2, Padel4All Lockleaze and Rocks Lane Polzeath.
The Women’s and Mixed events, which feature eight teams in each section, centre stage on finals weekend Sunday. There’s huge incentive for teams as there will be new names on both titles, with last year’s ‘double’ winners Chelsea Harbour Club not in either section.
Roehampton are the women’s top seeds with The Padel Club seeded second on their tournament debut. Completing the line-up are OTRO, Epsom, East Glos 1, David Lloyd Bushey, Surbiton 2 and Padel Hub Crawley.
In the Mixed event, there are again some familiar names. Rocks Lane Chiswick are top seeds with The Padel Club, seeded second. Middlesbrough Padel Club, Padel Hub Slough, Roehampton, Surbiton, Ezee Padel Weybridge and East Glos 1 also qualified.
Ian Colligon, who established and co-ordinates the iPadel Leagues, said: “This has been the biggest one yet. I’ve had 165 teams playing. There are a few new teams and the one that’s done really well is The Padel Club in Wilmslow. They’ve qualified in every division and they’re looking like contenders.”
Winter registration open
Registration has opened for the iPadel Club League Winter tournament, with 100 teams already signed up. Last year’s competition featured 130 clubs and Ian expects to at least reach that total before registration closes at the end of September.
One positive change will see the introduction of qualifying leagues for the North East and the North West regions. Previously, it was a weekend tournament due to the number of entrants.
Ian added: “This is a real demonstration of the growth of the sport. Previously our teams were as far apart as Blackpool and Hull and that wasn’t possible for a league structure. Now there’s enough in both areas of the North to be able to organise two different leagues.”
To enter a team/for more details click here or email ian@ipadel.co.uk 🎾
