THE best Padel Tennis players from across the country descended on Stevenston at the weekend to take part in the APT Cup with an array of fine talent on display.

After tough qualifying matches from two groups and an injury to one of the favourites, Angel Benito Castano, the semi-final line-up featured Alan MacDonald and Phil Reid of Edinburgh who defeated Javier Cortijo and Luis Gutierrez 10-8 in a close semi-final.

The other semi-final saw last September’s runners-up Gavin/Mark Picken lose to eventual winners Sam MacNeil & Euan Bell.

The final was decided over two sets, and in the event of a 1-1 tie, then a super tie break would decide.

This in actual fact happened as MacDonald/Reid took the first set on tie break 7-6, Sam/Euan took the second set comfortably 6-2, and so the event all boiled down to a super tie break to 10 points, with Sam/Euan narrowest of margins won 10-8

The event was played in a great sporting manner and all enjoyed the day, especially the lads travelling from afar, not least of all Barcelona!

Padel Tennis is making its mark and Ayrshire Padel Tennis, as Scotland’s only indoor padel facility, has been selected by the British Padel tour to host an event on November 4 and 5 this year, and there will also be an international event played on 20, 21 & 22 October with entries expected from all over Europe as the game grows stronger and stronger and lives up to its reputed fastest growing sport in the world!

Crucially, for Ayrshire Padel Tennis to become sustainable they need more members joining and greater court rentals to meet the rent, rates and utilities of the complex.

Membership is free and in seven months the club have established over 160 members, with almost 100 members playing regularly.