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SURBITON TROPHY
A new era for an iconic tournament
For decades the Surbiton Trophy has been a cornerstone of the British grass-court calendar, welcoming players and spectators to one of the country’s most loved pre-Wimbledon events. Following the event’s conclusion, the Queen’s Club Foundation and Surbiton Racket & Fitness Club saw an opportunity to breathe new life into its legacy by creating the Grass Court Para-Standing Championship. Given the title of European Championships, the tournament would celebrate the growth of para-standing tennis while building upon the history and prestige of the original event.
Wood & Ham was appointed to create a visual identity and event toolkit capable of honouring that heritage while helping establish a bold new future.
CLIENT TYPE
International Sporting Event
WHAT WE DID
The Challenge
The challenge was to create an identity that took cues from the Surbiton Trophy’s rich history while positioning it as a new flagship event for para-standing tennis.
The visual language needed to sit comfortably alongside established events in the British grass-court season and evoke the same sense of prestige, professionalism and anticipation associated with grass court events. At the same time, it needed to feel fresh and future-focused, celebrating the athletes at the heart of the competition and helping establish a recognisable platform for the event moving forward.
Beyond the identity itself, the project also required a comprehensive suite of collateral and promotional assets that would ensure a consistent and professional experience across every touchpoint, from social media and marketing materials through to on-site signage and event branding.
Our Work
The project began with a collaborative workshop involving key stakeholders from the Queen’s Club Foundation, Surbiton Racket & Fitness Club and the wider event team.
Through these discussions, we explored the ambitions behind the tournament, the values it should represent and the role it could play in raising the profile of para-standing tennis both nationally and internationally. Understanding the significance of reviving the Surbiton Trophy name was a vital part of the process, helping us create an identity that felt connected to the event’s heritage while embracing its new purpose.
Drawing inspiration from the British grass-court season, we developed a visual identity that celebrated tradition but felt distinctly modern. We developed a logo mark which gave a nod to the previous male and female trophies that became so iconic, established a refined palette of greens and blues reflected both the tournament setting and the partnership between Surbiton Racket & Fitness Club and the Queen’s Club Foundation, while bold, player-led imagery ensured the athletes remained at the heart of the story.
The identity was then rolled out across a comprehensive suite of event collateral, including feather flags, pop-up banners, court signage, net banners, digital posters, social media graphics, email assets and promotional materials. Every element was designed to work together, creating a cohesive experience that felt professional, prestigious and worthy of the occasion.
The Outcome
The inaugural European Championships proved to be a landmark moment for para-standing tennis.
The event welcomed athletes from across the globe and received overwhelmingly positive feedback from players, spectators, sponsors and organisers alike. Many athletes commented on the professional presentation of the event and the sense of occasion created through the branding and venue experience.
The identity helped establish a strong visual platform for the championships, creating an atmosphere that felt both prestigious and welcoming while helping elevate the profile of para-standing tennis on one of the sport’s most iconic surfaces.
We are incredibly proud to have played a role in the revival of such a historic event and look forward to seeing both the tournament and its identity continue to evolve in the years ahead.
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