By Matilda Nedyalkov, Second Year Medicine
Greeted with an explosion of Spanish music, bustling movements of teams and a cheerful, intermingled atmosphere of talks of newfound strategy and budding friendships, the Padel Society’s inter-society fundraiser was sure to provide a warm and inviting introduction to the sport for both myself and many others participating in the tournament. Immediately welcomed by their president, Javier, he took me through a brief explanation of the sport and what it meant to him and other members of Padel Society.
Padel, I soon learnt, is the fastest growing sport in the UK, originating from Mexico and immensely popular in the Spanish-speaking world. It provides an active and exciting break from daily routine whilst still being social and welcoming. The society at the University of Bristol was founded by several students from Spain who wanted to bring the fun of Padel to Bristol, where they found that there was a gap in the niche of racket sports that wasn’t quite filled. Padel struck a unique balance between team and individual sport with its popular twos format, and plays on skills already utilised in other racket sports in a more sociable and relaxed way.
‘In Spain, when you want to play, you just put a message on the group chat, and you give it a few minutes and you have three others ready to play and hang out,’ Javier explained.
The popularity of padel has been on a rapid incline due to its accessibility and relatively cheap cost - £4 per person to rent a court for an hour – as well as its relaxed, inviting atmosphere, with regular conversion and laughter constantly ringing out over the sound of tennis balls hitting the glass walls of the courts. Padel has also found a home within the international student community and has enjoyed popularity with Erasmus students due to its offering of an opportunity to participate in team sports and socialise without the added pressure of time constraints and commitment to being there for the whole season. However, Padel still offers the chance to play competitively with Bristol participating in the NUPL (National University Padel League) against other top UK universities including Newcastle, Exeter and Durham as well as intra club within UOB Padel themselves, who are now boasting over 90 members despite their relatively recent conception, with friendly games also available.
On Saturday 7th February, UoB Padel’s fundraiser at We Are Padel in Upper Easton hosted a variety of societies including Spanish, Cricket, Lacrosse, Civil Engineering, Tubes Rugby Squash and Swimming and Water Polo, offering each society the opportunity to face off against each other in friendly competition with the added benefit of each society donating money towards a final pool. The winner of the tournament then decided where the money would be donated to from a list of charities – previous choices including the Bristol Hygiene Bank and the British Heart Foundation as well as additional prizes for participation and exemplary performances.
The tournament began in the form of a group stage, with each society volunteering two teams of 2 players. The teams varied in ability, with some featuring players who had been playing padel for several years, to some who had been freshly introduced to the game that very day, but the atmosphere was consistent throughout, brimming with enthusiasm and a light-hearted yet competitive air. Many players cited the friendliness and welcoming efforts of the Padel society in making them feel so at ease and excited to take part, and as the day progressed and the stakes increased into the knock-out stages, it all culminated in a final showdown between the Cricket 1s and the Civil Engineering 1s.
Following a thrilling rally between the teams, it was the Cricket 1s who took home the victory, with the match resulting in a 6-4 score for the Cricketers, who, attributing their victory to their ability to stay calm and relaxed during the game, won a £20 voucher to Padel’s’ partner venue, We Are Padel, as well as Slazenger balls to aid their playing. Their donation of choice was £47 to Opening Up, a charity that works closely with the University of Bristol Cricket Club and focuses on promoting positive mental health within the wider community within cricket and works towards suicide prevention campaigns.
Overall, the welcoming nature of the Padel Society and the hosts at the venue combined with the good-natured rivalries between the competing teams made the Padel fundraiser a brilliant opportunity for everyone involved to contribute to an excellent cause as well as trying a new sport and meeting new people.
More information about Opening Up can be found on their website below:
You can join UoB Padel society here:
Contact their Instagram for inquiries:
Featured image: Matilda Nedyalkov
