Racketlon combines the sports of table tennis, badminton, squash and tennis.
And having taken up the sport just over two years ago, 15-year-old Matthew, from Newton Reigny, near Penrith, last month was selected to represent Great Britain at the World Racketlon Team Championships in Zurich, Switzerland.
There, Davidson was paired with Will Gregson, of Manchester, as a GB second-team, with Ross Wilson and GB number one Luke Griffiths making up the first-team.
As a pairing, Davidson and Gregson acquitted themselves well, losing to the eventual silver medal pairing from Hungary and were placed fourth overall, narrowly missing out on a medal.
But celebrations were in hand as GB’s first-team of Griffiths and Wilson comprehensively defeated the Hungarian pair.
Then, in the singles event, Davidson reached the semi-final where he was well beaten by Hungarian Botond Francia before the Cumbrian claimed a win over fellow Brit Ross Wilson to secure bronze.
With Wilson leading 21-16 after the table tennis, Davidson hit back to take the badminton 21-15.
Then, in his strongest sport of squash, Wilson inflicted a 21-12 defeat over Davidson.
But Davidson rallied to win the tennis 21-10 to secure bronze.
Matthew’s dad, Andy, says it is a sport he enjoys watching.
“It’s quite something, actually,” he said. “I love watching any sport but racketlon is great to watch.”
On his son’s world championship success, Andy added: “It’s a bit of an eye-opener.
“When you look at the elite men that play the sport, you get men that have played on the ATP tour in tennis.”
Matthew is aiming to go one better as he looks to secure a European Championship medal next year.
Currently, he receives squash coaching in Egremont and table tennis training in Whitehaven.
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