A CUMBRIAN pickleball player has returned from a successful weekend competing at the British National Championships in Bolton, taking home a silver medal in the men’s doubles.
The fifth British Pickleball Nationals proved hugely popular, selling out just 10 minutes after registration opened.
The four-day event featured 25 courts and more than 1,350 participants from across the UK, with some matches streamed live on YouTube.
Competing in both the mixed and men’s doubles, the Doug Irving teamed up with Joyce Mathews in the mixed event, making it through the group stages before being knocked out in the early knockout rounds.
In the men’s doubles, he partnered with David Seaman, “not the goalkeeper,” he joked, after meeting him for the first time on the day of the tournament.
The pair quickly found their rhythm, progressing through the group and knockout stages to reach the final, where they finished runners-up and secured silver medals.
Reflecting on his achievement, he said: “If someone had told me two years ago that I’d be getting a medal at the English Nationals, I would’ve laughed.”
He was first introduced to pickleball by Richard Wise at a local coffee morning. The sport, which originated in the United States, is typically played in doubles format on a badminton-sized court with paddles and a perforated ball.
Since trying the game, he has joined two groups at the Wetheral Community Centre and plays in the Eden Valley leagues at Fusehill Street, run by John Sright and his family.
He has also been receiving coaching from David Campbell of Cumbria Pickleball Coaching as he works towards his next goal, competing at the English Open in Telford next year and achieving a DUPR (Dynamic Universal Pickleball Rating) of 3.5.
“Thank you to everyone I’ve met so far on my pickleball journey,” he added.
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