Members of a new club for players of one of the country's fastest-growing sports have taken part in a recond-breaking international championship.
Seven members of the North Yorkshire club, based between Richmond and Darlington, took part in the International Pickleball Championships, held in Telford, Shropshire, last week.
And two pairs playing for the recently formed Richmond and Wellfield Pickleball Club made it though to the knockout stages of what was the largest event of its kind that the UK has ever held.
The club, which launched on January 17 this year at the Catterick Leisure Club, competed in the championships alongside 42 other countries and 2,000 players.
Pickleball contains elements from badminton, table tennis and tennis and is usually played on a badminton-sized court.
It was invented in 1965 as a children's backyard game in the United States. It is said to be the fastest growing sport in the US and the second fastest growing sport in the UK.
The Richmond and Wellfield club was set up by Julie Vickerman, 61, after she found a passion for the sport when visiting her daughter in Vancouver, Canada.
When she returned to the UK she found most of the clubs that did exist were situated down south.
She said: “After seeing the sport played in Vancouver, I thought 'what a brilliant concept', so when I came back, I tried looking for my local pickleball club. Durham was the nearest place I could play.
"I decided I wanted to introduce more opportunities to play the sport in the North East - that’s when I decided to set up the club.”
Julie, a retired teacher and former sports development officer from Melsonby, near Richmond, also wants to encourage coaching of the sport within the local area.
She is the first person to receive the Level 1 Pickleball Club Instructor’s qualification, under a new scheme launched in the UK.
Julie added: “My previous role as a sports development officer made me so passionate about encouraging people to play sports for as long as they possibly can - coaching gives me the chance to do this.”
The sport can be played by all ages and abilities but is especially popular with the over 60s, due to the varied levels of pace and competition which are involved in the game as well as the socialising opportunities that pickleball gives to its players.
Julie said: “The sport is easy to play for everyone at a basic level, making it super accessible for all people of all ages. I really want people to stay active in later life and to make sporting activities less intimidating for everyone. I don't want people to be afraid to come along.”
Most read:
- Why a helicopter is helping build a two-mile path that will be complete in 2025
- Popular seaside cafe and bar applies for new pavement licence
- Newton Aycliffe pub announces immediate closure as punters left devastated
Pickleball taster sessions are being held on Thursday, September 12 from 7pm to 9pm and Monday, October 14 from 4pm to 6pm at Catterick Leisure Centre.
The Dolphin Centre in Darlington will also be holding a taster session on Tuesday, October 22 from 7pm to 9pm.
To find out more contact: richmondandwellfieldpc@gmail.com.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here