Back in October, the LTA Oxfordshire Tennis Junior Awards made history: for the first time, padel had its own place at the event. Smash Padel’s juniors took home all 13 padel awards.

Alongside player and achievement awards, they recognised improvement, teamwork, volunteering and the values our juniors show every time they play. That is what our Junior Academy pathway is built around, whether a player is just finding their feet or competing on the international stage.

The winners

• Male Player of the Year: Andrew Dunn
• Female Player of the Year: Elizabeth Vellacott
• Male Most Improved Player: Flynn Hogarth
• Female Most Improved Player: Heidi Ellis
• Breakthrough Player of the Year: Rosie Allen (Highly Commended: Josh Hodgins)
• Male Development Player of the Year: Joel Hodgins
• Female Development Player of the Year: Fifi Smallwood
• Resilience Award: Rosie Allen
• Teammate of the Year: Jasper Smallwood
• Achievement of the Year: Andrew Dunn, for reaching FIP World No. 11 in the 14U rankings
• Values, Ethos and Behaviour Award (Male): Flynn Hogarth
• Values, Ethos and Behaviour Award (Female): Elizabeth Vellacott
• Junior Volunteer of the Year: Harry Allen

Gordon Dunn, Head of Academy at Smash Padel, said: “To see padel included at the Oxfordshire Junior Awards for the first time, and to see our juniors recognised across every category, is something really special. These awards celebrate character as much as talent, and that’s exactly what our academy pathway is about. I’m incredibly proud of every one of them.”

A huge congratulations to everyone, and a big thank you to the coaches, parents and volunteers who support them. Padel’s first year at the Oxfordshire Junior Awards is one to remember.

To find out more about our junior programme, please visit https://smashpadel.co/junior-padel/