Britain’s best put on great show on new local courts
LOCAL padel enthusiasts were treated to some spectacular entertainment in the bright Jubilee sunshine over the weekend as top players from the UK battled it out on the island’s new outdoor courts.
The LTA National and Senior Tour came to Guernsey for the weekend, sponsored by Sheppards Estate Agents, and saw five of the UK’s top-10 ranked men compete for the title.
In the end it was Nikhil Mohindra and Chris Salisbury who lifted the trophy and £300 prize by defeating the Spanish pairing of Jorge Martinez del Campo and Julio Alvaro 7-6, 6-3 in a close match featuring long and scintillating rallies.
The final was played on the newly-completed outdoor court and included out of court play, where the players retrieve shots from outside the court, for the first time on the island.
‘We have all had such an amazing weekend in Guernsey, the facilities at the Guernsey Padel Club are some of the best we have seen in the UK and the hospitality and welcome we have received has been outstanding,’ said Mohindra, who will rise to number two in the LTA rankings after his efforts this weekend.
‘Guernsey is such a beautiful place and when we get home and tell the others about the weekend we have had, I’m sure entries for next year will be even higher.
‘To be heading home with the trophy in my bag is an added bonus.’
The women’s open final saw four locals compete, with Lauren Barker and Chantelle De La Mare proving too strong for Katie Inder and Sara Woolland, beating them 6-1, 6-1 in a match which featured some close games and long rallies.
In the senior events, Guernsey’s Lester Boscher and Matt De La Mare lifted the men’s 40+ trophy by beating Omar Ezequiel Cavallaro Britos Cavallaro and Claudio Caravaggio 6-0, 6-4.
In the women’s 40+ Chantelle De La Mare picked up her second trophy of the weekend with partner Helen Polli, having a comfortable win over Gail James and Diane Shaw 6-1, 6-2.
The final event of the weekend was the men’s over 50s, which featured the top seeds from the UK Simon England and Bjorn Schroder, who defeated Leonardo Gava and Richard Woodland 6-4, 6-4.
The whole weekend was well attended with several hundred spectators heading down to the club to watch some of the UK’s best players in action.
In addition Martinez del Campo, the UK No. 1 player, held a number of private lessons and clinics with his partner Alvaro on Friday, passing on some of their immense knowledge of the sport to eager club members.
Friday evening saw the start of a full weekend of padel opened with an exhibition match between the UK LTA ranked number one pairing of Martinez del Campo and Alvaro taking on local and GB senior team over-35 pairing of Patrick Ogier and Rob West.
The Spanish narrowly edged the victory in the three set match, showcasing some great shot-making and featuring some amazing rallies.
