Famous sporting legends compete in Milton Keynes to launch brand-new padel courts
Former Premiership footballers, British Olympians and professional athletes came to Milton Keynes for the Legends Padel Tournament.
Six of the UK’s top sporting legends came to Milton Keynes for a special padel tournament, on Thursday, May 21. Players from across the city and beyond had the opportunity to compete in the first-of-its-kind competition against the athletes.
The event had a festival spirit, with a bar, DJ, photo booth, food truck and even a barber on site - cutting hair and trimming beards! It was held as the official opening of Milton Keynes’ newest and only dedicated padel club - The Padel Vault.
Competing legend, Olympic badminton silver medallist and former world champion, Gail Emms, from Milton Keynes said: “Milton Keynes has been needing padel tennis for a long long time. Everyone has been talking about it. There’s all these padel clubs opening down south and up north, but Milton Keynes is a dead spot. And now suddenly we’ve got this incredible place!”
“Anyone can play. And you can play from little juniors right through to old seniors. It doesn’t matter. Honestly, you’ll have such a laugh and it’s just addictive.”
Around 150 people attended the event, including 26 challengers and six sporting legends.
Fellow legend and Chelsea and Leeds United striker, Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, said: “Padel has got everything in it. You play together, it’s competitive, the rallys can be as long as you want. You can play it at all levels and all ages as well. It’s very good for me to keep myself fit and play with the younger boys.”
Padel has taken the UK by storm, with over 400,000 people (including celebrities like Cristiano Ronaldo, Serena Williams and David Beckham) now playing the easy to learn, low impact racket sport.
Additional legends who competed in the games included former England international and Chelsea left back Graham Le Saux, Chemmy Alcott - a five-time Olympian and one of Britain’s most successful alpine skiers, former England cricketer James Taylor - who represented his country at the 2015 Cricket World Cup and Caroline Buckland - Marketing Director at the legendary Red Bull F1 Racing Team based in Milton Keynes.
After hours of competition, the winning duo James Saker and Jared Robinson were crowned - receiving a membership at The Padel Vault.