Twelve talented pupils took to the courts at Rocket Padel in Ilford, playing an incredible six and a half hours of padel throughout the day.
With one girls’ team, two boys’ teams and two mixed teams in action, Epsom’s players faced tough competition from schools across the country. The morning began with a round robin tournament, where each team played three to four 20-minute games, with every game won contributing to their overall ranking.
Girls’ Team – Plate Champions
In their group matches, Sophie and Romilly secured a 6-2 win over Clifton, while Florence and Pandora delivered a stunning 8-0 clean sweep. A closely contested 5-5 draw against Charterhouse left the girls finishing third in their group, sending them into the Plate competition.
In the U15 Girls Plate Final, the girls shone once again. Against Hurstpierpoint, Sophie and Romilly powered to an 8-2 win, while Pandora and Florence clinched a 4-3 victory – securing the title of U15 Girls Plate National Champions.
Boys’ Teams – Fierce Competition and a Quarter Final Finish
The Boys’ Team were equally impressive, showing their determination and skill throughout the day. The Boys’ A-team, made up of Piers, Frankie, Casper and Rory, delivered a stellar performance, winning their group. Their campaign started with a dominant 16-3 victory over Hurstpierpoint and was followed by a hard-fought 10-9 win against Aylesbury Grammar School’s second pair.
Progressing into the national quarter finals, the boys faced Aylesbury Grammar School’s first pair. After already clocking up two hours of continuous play, Frankie and Piers played valiantly but lost 0-8, while Rory and Caspar battled to a nail-biting 5-5 draw. With combined scores deciding the outcome, the boys narrowly missed out on advancing – however their effort and talent were clear for all to see.
The Boys’ B-team, featuring Barnaby, Freddie, Gabe and Charlie, also put in a fantastic effort. Barnaby and Freddie took a solid 5-3 win against Coopers’ Company and Coborn School and were edged out by Seaford 4-5 in a close match. Gabe and Charlie showed great skill and played some superb rallies across their games, learning and improving with every point however unfortunately didn’t make it through.
Mixed Teams – Semi-Finalists and Rising Stars
Epsom also entered two mixed teams, both of whom made their mark.
The Mixed A Team, comprising Piers & Sophie and Romilly & Frankie, started strongly. They took 8-3 and 8-1 wins over Hurstpierpoint, followed by a 4-4 draw (Piers & Sophie) and an 8-1 win (Romilly & Frankie) against Clifton. In their final group match, Romilly and Frankie drew 5-5 against a combined City of London Schools for Girls and Dr Challoner’s Grammar School team. With three schools tied at the top of the table, Epsom emerged winners thanks to their superior game count, booking a spot in the mixed national semi-finals.
In the semi-final, they faced a formidable Millfield team. Despite a valiant effort, Piers and Sophie were edged out 5-6, with Romilly and Frankie also narrowly losing their match. Though they didn’t progress to the final, reaching the national semi-finals was an incredible achievement – and the team’s improvement over the day was clear to see.
The Mixed B Team, made up of Florence & Caspar and Pandora & Rory, also put in an excellent performance. Their best results came against Clifton, with Florence and Caspar winning 5-3, and Pandora and Rory cruising to an 8-1 victory. The team gained valuable experience and showed fantastic progress throughout the competition.
A Day to Remember
By the end of the championships, Epsom could proudly claim:
- U15 Girls Plate National Champions
- U15 Mixed National Semi-Finalists
- U15 Boys National Quarter-Finalists
Not bad at all for Epsom’s first-ever appearance at the UK U15 National Padel Championships! The day was a resounding success, full of great play, learning opportunities, and fantastic team spirit. Epsom’s young padel stars have set the bar high for future competitions – and the future of padel at Epsom looks incredibly bright.
