MEMBERS of an Ayrshire-based padel club showed their quality at the 2024 Scottish Cup Finals, taking home both men’s and women’s titles.

The pioneering west of Scotland team, which was the first to open in the country nine years ago, plays on three indoor courts at the former ICI industrial estate in Stevenston, and has been running since 2016 with a number of Ayrshire players getting the opportunity to shine at last weekend's finals held in Edinburgh.

At David Lloyd Shawfair on Saturday, Aberdeen Tennis Centre took on West of Scotland Padel (WOSP) in the semi-final, finishing two matches apiece.

An intense tie-breaker went the way of Alan McClure and Gavin Picken of WOSP as they secured a 10-5 victory to book their place in the final.

The final between Barnton Park and West of Scotland Padel was nothing short of nail-biting.

Both first round matches went the distance. Gavin and Mark Picken prevailed for WOSP with a 6-4 6-7(6) 11-9 win.

In the second round of fixtures, John Byrne and Allan McClure battled back to beat David Holmes and Dexter Conrad 3-6 6-2 10-6 and extend WOSP’s lead to 2-1.

Needing only one more victory for the title, Gavin and Mark Picken found themselves in their third match tie-break of the day against Scott Duncan and Andrew Burgess, and won 10-3 to secure the 2024 Padel Tennis Scottish Cup for the first time.

 

On Sunday, West of Scotland Padel ladies were hoping to defend their 2023 title as they opened the day against Thistle Padel.

Lindsay Kupiec and Gillian McIlroy opened with a 6-2 6-2 win, before Charlotte McClure and Meghan Montgomerie won a tense encounter  6-7(3) 7-6(3) 10-4 and extend the lead to 2-0.

McClure and Montgomerie carried their winning form over to the second round with a straight sets win which secured WOSP’s place in the final.

The final was set between Edinburgh Sports Club and West of Scotland Padel. WOSP took an early advantage with Charlotte McClure and Meghan Montgomerie wining 6-0 6-3.

Kupiec and McIlory battled back from losing the first set to win 10-6 in the championship tie-break to double their lead.

 

McClure and Montgomerie continued their unbeaten form as their 6-2 6-2 win clinched the title for WOSP for the second year in a row.

The win secured the Padel Tennis Scottish Cup double for West of Scotland Padel as well as the women’s team remaining unbeaten in Scottish Cup play.