Bellarine pickleballers rake in medals at national championships

THE Bellarine Peninsula’s pickleball talent has returned from the Australian Pickleball Championships with a swag of medals.

Several players from Bellarine clubs attended the championships, run over six days on the Gold Coast earlier this month.

The event attracted players from all parts of Australia as well as from across Asia and New Zealand, and with more than 1,250 participants, it was the largest pickleball tournament staged outside the United States.

The 26 players from the Bellarine – among 134 Victorians entered in the tournament – brought home 12 gold, five silver and two bronze medals, representing about a 70 percent strike rate in events entered.

“It was a great opportunity playing outdoors, and it was very hot, challenging conditions, and we acquitted ourselves well,” Drysdale Clifton Springs Pickleball Club (DCSPC) vice-president Sue Shannon said.

“We’ve got a great community spirit here for pickleball, people are willing to put the effort in to drill and practise to get better.”

The sport combines elements of tennis, badminton, and table tennis.

Because of the smaller court and lighter paddles, pickleball is easier to play than tennis, and is rapidly growing in popularity around the world, now being played in more than 70 countries.

DCSPC is based at dedicated pickleball courts next to the Clifton Springs Bowling Club and have 14 sessions each week both in Clifton Springs and at the indoor venue at Drysdale Primary School.

“It’s over-18s at the moment but we hope to get a junior program up after Christmas,” Ms Shannon said.