The FIP Seniors World Padel Championships took part in La Nucia, Spain where 24 teams took part in the week long competition. Ireland sent a squad of 20 male players all aged 35+ to compete in the team event. Each tie between countries consisted of 5 matches in different age categories; O-35, -40, -45, -50 and -55’s. 2 players played in each age category and the first team to 3 wins win!
The Kildare padel community was well represented with Kevin O’Brien, Julian Morrison and Pete Lowther from Naas LTC, and Dave Borton from Padelzone Celbridge competing for Ireland.
Going into to the tournament, we knew it was going to be a tough ask, competing with countries where padel has been played for 60 years. The tournament was organised into 8 groups of 3 countries each playing each other in a small round robin to determine who continues to play off for positions 1-8, 9-16 and 17-24. Ireland was drawn against Australia & Italy. Italy, seeded 5 and Australia being led by former Grand Slam tennis champion and World No 1 Pat Rafter, it was going to be a tough ask to get out of the group!
Up first was Australia with Dave & Pete competing in the O55 category. Dave and Pete played phenomenal to win the first set against the Aussie pair 7-6, but the Aussies fought hard and won the next set and the match tie break. Pat Rafter displayed his impressive rackets skills by dominating the match in the O50’s category with a smile on his face! Kevin alongside his playing partner Paul McGlade lost out to two world ranked players (440 and 660) 600 6-3, 6-3. The following day was a tough match against the Italians with all Irish pairs losing 2-0. Following these two losses we were in the playoff for 17-24.
Uruguay were our opposition which proved to be a fiery encounter as part of the Irish team, renowned tennis coach Federico Raffo of Uruguayan descent was playing for team Ireland! Dave and Pete again led the show and opened with a great win in the O55 category 6-1 6-1. Unfortunately, the next 3 matches went like that too, but just Uruguay. Kevin & Paul had an extremely close match losing 7-5 in the third set to the O40 Uruguayan pair.
Next up we faced a Czech team led by the formidable top goal scorer for the Czech National Soccer Team, Jan Koller! Jan was playing in the O45 category and beat our Irish pair with his clinical overheads. Dave and Pete did a great turn for the team by splitting their partnership. Dave played in the O55 category with Brian Kavanagh and Pete played with Stuart Duggan in the O50 category. Incredibly both pairs won in a 3rd set match tie break! Ireland were 2-0 up and in a good position. Kevin & Paul faced two fulltime padel players from Czech Republic living in Spain and unfortunately lost 6-3 6-2. The Czech Republic won the final matches to win the tie 3-2 and leave Ireland playing for the wooden spoon.
The final match allowed Ireland to change the team and give some of the reserves a chance to shine. Julian Morrison only new to padel in the last 8 months since the introduction of the courts in Naas LTC, trained very hard to make the squad the last few months and was with the team for the week. Julian played alongside Stuart Duggan in the O45 category and lost their match against a very solid pair. Dave and Pete did as they do so well and started the tie off with a 2-0 win. As did our O35 pair. But it wasn’t our day as Japan took the tie 3-2.
Competing at this level was a real eye opener for a lot of the players who wouldn’t have been aware of the level padel is played at around the world, on the World Padel Tour. While we did finish last in the tournament, it’s a credit to the players and team for getting there, setting the foundations for more to come. Once Ireland has more indoor courts and training facilities, clubs embracing padel we will be a competitive nation in time. However, with padel in its infancy here we may have to wait a while!
Padel in Naas LTC is going from strength to strength since its inception just over a year ago New members are joining every week. We have over 200 active padel players each month and if its something you’d like to find out more about, just contact the club. Padelzone Celbridge is an impressive facility with 5 indoor courts to choose play located at O’Hanlon Park Golf Range & Football Park.
IMG: Full Irish mens team