Free padel tennis sessions planned at Prees sports club

A new floodlit padel tennis court is set to open at Prees Sports & Social Club, with a launch event giving local people the chance to try the sport.

The event will take place on Saturday (October 24), with free sessions led by a professional coach. No booking is required, and equipment will be provided.

Adult sessions will run from 9.30am to 11.30am, followed by a “beat the coach” competition from 11.30am to 12.30pm. The official opening will take place at 11am.

Children aged five to eight can take part from 12.30pm to 1pm, with a session for those aged nine to 13 running from 1pm to 1.30pm. Refreshments will be available to buy at the club.

Padel is generally played by four people on an enclosed court around a third of the size of a tennis court. Combining elements of tennis and squash, it is designed to be accessible to players of different ages and abilities.

The court has been funded by Prees-based The Grocott Family Foundation, which worked with club hosts Kelly and Andy Edge on the project.

Linda Grocott, a foundation trustee and vice-president of the club, said the aim was to make the sport available to people in the local area, including non-members.

She said: “The club is very much at the heart of our community and we are constantly looking at upgrading facilities and adding new sports.

“The sociability and accessibility of padel tennis is a perfect fit for what our club is all about.”

Kelly Edge said the launch would give people an opportunity to try the sport or watch it being played.

She added that keeping court hire costs reasonable was a priority to make it accessible to as many local people as possible.

After the launch, the court will be available to book daily from 9am to 9pm throughout the year.

Bookings can be made through Playtomic. Players will receive a unique code to enter the court.

A proportion of booking fees will go to The Grocott Family Foundation to support other local charities and organisations.