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Kruisem, 9 October 2024 - UK Padel joins forces with global sports turf brand Act Sports to reinforce the sport's popularity in the UK and back its County Championships. "We're happy to have the support of a leading global padel brand that shares our high ambitions," says Nick Baker, CEO at UK Padel.

"We're convinced that our partnership with Act Sports will contribute to boosting the growth of this rapidly expanding sport in the UK", UK Padel CEO Nick Baker adds. "Padel is the best sport in the world to engage the widest possible range of people to get exercise, stay healthy, and build a community. Enough reason to join forces with a partner that meets our ambitious goals."

Organized by the International Padel Federation (FIP), and supported by Professional Padel Association (PPA) and Qatar Sports Investments (QSI), Premier Padel is the world’s most important padel circuit.

In the circuit, top padel players compete in 25 tournaments spread over 18 countries. According to the prize money and the number of points players can earn, the tournaments are classified as 10 P2 events, 10 P1 events, and 4 Majors – comparable with the 4 Grand Slams in tennis. In December, the best 8 players of the season will face off in the Finals, held in Barcelona, Spain.

The P2 tournament in Valladolid is the 17th event on this year’s Premier Padel calendar and takes place just before the prestigious Major event in Paris, France. Nice to know: Valladolid is the hometown of the current number one in men’s padel, Arturo Coello. 
 

#Score sports turf lets players shine  

“With Act Sports as our official sports turf supplier, we’re sure to have selected a playing surface that is among the very best out there. World-class players deserve a world-class court that was developed for a comfortable player experience and superior gameplay. That’s what they get with Act Sport’s #Score system. For example, thanks to the limited amount of silica needed, the system offers players a firm grip without affecting game speed. Extra benefit: the sports turf is produced locally in Spain.” 

“With Act Sports as our official sports turf supplier, we’re sure to have selected a playing surface that is among the very best out there. World-class players deserve a world-class court that was developed for a comfortable player experience and superior gameplay. That’s what they get with Act Sport’s #Score system. For example, thanks to the limited amount of silica needed, the system offers players a firm grip without affecting game speed. Extra benefit: the sports turf is produced locally in Spain.” 

Unsurprisingly, 5 of the 25 Premier Padel tournaments take place in Spain, the cradle of padel. “The fan base is simply the largest and the focus on high-quality infrastructure unparalleled,” says Ivan Raso, Sales Manager at Act Sports. “Needless to say, we’re proud to provide the sports turf system for the games in Valladolid. After Brussels Premier Padel, this is our second partnership in the circuit – a next milestone on our way to world leadership. Meanwhile, we keep on improving all our existing systems and searching for innovation opportunities. Enabling both professional and recreational players to have fun on our sports turf is still our main motivation.”
 

Practical information

Timing: 14 to 22 September 2024
Location: Polideportivo Pisuerga, Valladolid, Spain
Tickets and more information: valladolidpremierpadel.com 

Founded in 1876, Clontarf FC is one of the oldest rugby clubs in Ireland. The official club title is Football Club rather than Rugby Football Club, which sets them apart as one of few remaining clubs in the country with this entitlement. This is because Clontarf FC was formed before the establishment of the Irish Rugby Football Union in 1879. Currently competing in Division 1A of the All-Ireland League, the Bulls have achieved notable success, securing the title twice – in 2014 and 2016.

The club's emblem and nickname are derived from the meaning of Clontarf, or 'Cluain Tarbh' in Irish, which translates to 'meadow of the bull'. The Bulls got their blue and red colors from the Yacht and Boat Club, the oldest sporting club in the area, many of whose members had a part in founding the Rugby Club. Today, Clontarf FC presents itself as a community-oriented association, with a vibrant social scene and a strong focus on developing rugby at grassroots level.

An unusual construction challenge

The Bulls play their home matches at Castle Avenue - a stadium with a capacity of 5,000 spectators. To complement its main pitch, Dublin City Council issued a tender for the construction of a new, high-performance rugby turf field near Castle Avenue.

In the end, professional installer Sole Sports and Leisure came out on top. "It wasn't a straightforward pitch changeover, as the client wanted to reuse the existing TPE infill," says Managing Director Peadar Murphy. "During phase one of the project, we removed, cleaned, and retested the infill, stripped the existing turf, and carried out minor repairs to the shock pads." 

World Rugby-certified field for top-level play

After meticulous lab and field tests, the new pitch was granted the World Rugby certification. "This endorsement underlines our long-lasting commitment to the development of Irish rugby," says .... "We field teams at AIL, Junior, Women's, Additional Needs, Youths & Minis, and have produced many players who have gone on to represent Ireland at international level. With our World Rugby-certified pitch, we're all set to bring forth the next generation of Irish rugby talent."

#Fusion replaces natural grass

After years of intensive use, KSV Bornem's main pitch was in need of an upgrade. They turned to Act Sports, who proposed to substitute the existing natural grass surface with its innovative #Fusion football system. #Fusion combines a bicolor diamond monofilament yarn and a tape yarn with cork as a performance infill. Finovi completed the installation by the end of January 2024.
 

FIFA Quality Pro certification

The new pitch at KSV Bornem represents a significant milestone for Act Sports. Following a series of tests by FIFA officials in February 2024, the pitch was awarded the FIFA Quality Pro certificate for its first-class performance, accuracy, and safety. This makes it the first FIFA-certified Act Sports pitch in Belgium and a key reference for other clubs looking to raise the standards of their field.

Festive opening

On Saturday, March 9, the new pitch was officially inaugurated in the presence of players and fans. The festive opening featured a tournament, a demo training, and a VIP dinner. The proceeds of the event will go directly to KSV Bornem's youth work. Wim Coekelbergs, Youth Sports Manager, is delighted with the collaboration: "Our young players are the future of the club. It's our responsibility to provide the ideal conditions for them to develop their full potential. With a top-quality, made-in-Europe pitch from Act Sports, the future of KSV Bornem is assured for many years to come."
 

Home court for racquet sports

RacquetX is no standard sports fair. Held at the Miami Beach Convention Center, it's an immersive and inclusive festival that brings together industry professionals from all racquet sports, including tennis, padel, pickleball, squash, badminton, and more. RacquetX connects operators at all levels of the industry, as well as racquet sport fans and players from around the world. The goal is to foster inspiration and collaboration and further spur the growth of the racquet sports industry.

Playing padel on the Stars and Stripes

Act Sports, the sports brand of Beaulieu International Group, seized the opportunity to create a unique eye-catcher for the event. Together with Padel Courts Deluxe, they provided a custom Stars and Stripes padel court that resembled the American flag. The court received a lot of attention from fans and players, who had the chance to play a game themselves on the Star-Sprangled Banner.
 

A 100% recyclable and ecological football turf pitch

Having already announced some years ago that it was planning to completely overhaul the Robert-César stadium, the Île-Saint-Denis city council then commissioned professional installer AGILIS to construct:

• a brand-new 4-lane athletics track,
• and an ecological and 100% recyclable football turf pitch.

The latter features our certified, woven 3G turf system #XtremeTurf WX, designed for natural play. It's composed of a tri-fiber monofilament yarn and a woven backing. Thanks to the woven technology in combination with performance infill, the WX boosts natural ball roll and provides excellent stability and enhanced drainage capabilities. 

A spectacular opening ceremony

The newly renovated Robert-César stadium reopened its doors to the public in September 2021. The opening ceremony featured numerous activities, including official speeches, presentations by the Jeux olympiques et paralympiques (JOP) citizens collective, as well as sports activities for children and entertainment including a photo booth and music. Special guest Nantenin Kéita, a member of the French Paralympic athletics team, graced the event. 

Ready for phase 2(024)

Not long after the opening of the sports complex, the Île-Saint-Denis city council launched phase 2 of the project. "In 2024, Robert-César will welcome the Olympic Games," says Deputy Mayor Madioula Aïdara Diaby. “Young people from the four corners of the globe will gather on Île-Saint-Denis to attend the largest sporting event in the world. It's the perfect opportunity to put both our city and especially our modern sports complex in the spotlight.” 

World Rugby-certified field for top-level play

After meticulous lab and field tests, the new pitch was granted the World Rugby certification. "This endorsement underlines our long-lasting commitment to the development of Irish rugby," says . "We field teams at AIL, Junior, Women's, Additional Needs, Youths & Minis, and have produced many players who have gone on to represent Ireland at international level. With our World Rugby-certified pitch, we're all set to bring forth the next generation of Irish rugby talent."