The annual inter-insular has become a highlight of the padel calendar across both islands as teams of 32 players competed across four categories. In total 64 matches were played over the weekend, with four pairs representing each island in men’s open, women’s open, men’s vets and women’s vets events.
The home side had always triumphed previously, but last year the tie was hotly contested with Guernsey coming within three matches of taking the first away victory in the competition’s history.
This year the Sarnians went into the weekend feeling confident that the home advantage would be enough, but were left surprised how dominant they became, winning the trophy before the end of the first day’s play.
Both the men’s teams had lost their individual trophies in Jersey the preceding year and the Guernsey men’s vets team had not triumphed since the inaugural event in 2021.
This year Guernsey knew they had strengthened their vets team with some new players and one of the island’s best players, Matt De La Mare, reaching the age where he could transition to the vets team to lead with his experience.
De La Mare won all four of his matches and, with partner Lester Boscher, managed to thwart an unbeaten run by Morgan Jubb and Ian Furness which they had held since they first started playing together in the 2023 edition of the event.
The Guernsey men’s vets team finished the weekend winning 10-6.
In the men’s open event, Jersey’s top player Scott Clayton was delayed by weather, pushing his matches towards the end of the day, and allowing the Guernsey men’s team to race into an early and unassailable lead.
Once again the Guernsey first pair of Olly Cull and 17-year-old Liam De La Mare, who has just been called up to play for Team GB at the Junior World Championships, collected four points for the Greens.
Clayton’s arrival saw his partnership with Aaron Higgins add three vital points to the Jersey total, but it was too little, too late, with Guernsey’s men triumphing 10-6.
In the women’s events, Guernsey have never lost a tie and this year their dominance was even more evident.
In the open event, Jersey’s Clare Clark and Tash Forrest played some sensational padel to collect four points for the away side, but after them there was little for Jersey to celebrate with the home team winning 11-5.
In the vets event, it was more of a green tsunami than a green wave, with the Guernsey side leading by 15-0 heading into the final match, which saw the Jersey No 1 pair taking on the Guernsey No 4 pair.
In an match supported by the entirety of both teams, the momentum shifted from one side to the other, but Guernsey’s Rhiannon Hills and Michelle De Villiers never looked like buckling as they took the final match 7-6 (5), 7-5 to complete a clean sweep for the incredible Guernsey women’s vets.
The MVPs were awarded to Jersey’s Tash Forrest, who led their women’s team and won four vital points for the visitors, and Guernsey’s Cameron Gomes. The 17 year old partnered Nico Robinson in the men’s open team at pair three and played well above their expected level to secure three points for their team.
Guernsey won the fifth edition of the Corcuera Cup by a staggering 47 points to 17, keeping all five trophies on the island.
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