Mercury Wealth Management Lift the Trophy at the BHP Annual Padel Challenge 2026

The sun was shining, competitive instincts were emerging, and the courts at True Padel Durham were the setting for a fantastic afternoon of sport and networking as the BHP Annual Padel Challenge 2026 took place on Thursday 2 July.

Bringing together clients, colleagues and friends from across the North East business community, the tournament finals saw five doubles teams battle it out for the title, with plenty of impressive rallies, friendly rivalry and the occasional reminder that padel can be far harder than it looks from the sidelines!

After a closely fought competition, it was Lee Hastie and Oliver Bourke of Mercury Wealth Management who emerged victorious, claiming the trophy and the title of BHP Annual Padel Challenge 2026 Champions.

The tournament featured a competitive line-up, with teams representing businesses from across the region.  Taking to the court were:

• Lee Hastie and Oliver Bourke, Mercury Wealth Management
• Matt McConnell and Jordan Howe, Pulse Accountants
• Michael Dickens and Tara Chatha, Clive Owen LLP
• Kristi Capaldi and Hayley Thompson, Together Money
• Kieran Dolaghan and Luke Philpott, BHP Law

The standard of play was high throughout the afternoon, with every pairing showing plenty of determination and more than a few flashes of quality. Some points were won through skill, others through persistence, and a handful through what can only be described as good fortune. Such is sport!

As the matches progressed, it became clear that Mercury Wealth Management’s pairing of Lee Hastie and Oliver Bourke would take some stopping.  Combining consistency, strong communication and a clear understanding of when to attack and when to let their opponents make the mistakes, they navigated the competition impressively before sealing victory and becoming this year’s champions.

Their reward was the trophy, the bragging rights and, no doubt, a few messages from those they defeated reminding them not to get too comfortable before next year’s competition.

Not every award is about finishing first however…

A special mention goes to Kristi Capaldi and Hayley Thompson from Together Money, who were taking to the padel court for the very first time.  Both embraced the challenge with enthusiasm, determination and good humour throughout the afternoon. By the end of the tournament, they were producing impressive rallies and proving that padel can become surprisingly addictive after just a few games.

While only one team could lift the trophy, the real success of the event was the opportunity to bring people together outside of the workplace, including the spectators. The afternoon provided a chance to strengthen existing relationships, build new connections and enjoy some friendly competition in a relaxed setting.

Congratulations to Lee Hastie and Oliver Bourke of Mercury Wealth Management, our BHP Annual Padel Challenge 2026 champions, and thank you to everyone who took part and helped make the event such an enjoyable occasion.

We’re already looking forward to seeing who steps onto the court next year to challenge for the title!