Northern Rivers pickleball players hold court

NORTHERN Rivers Pickleball Club members took home a swag of medals at the Australian Pickleball Championships, which were held on the Gold Coast recently.

The club’s president Steve Bergan said 36 out of 46 competitors from the club won medals across various age groups and skill levels at the tournament.

They included 10 gold, 12 silver and 14 bronze.

“It’s quite an amazing achievement because it was a big tournament with more than 1200 people in attendance,” Bergan said.

“A lot of people were only competing in their first or second tournament and the majority of our members were playing at a pretty advanced level.

“It can be a very long day playing in the heat so the fitness level of these people is quite phenomenal, especially given the ages of some players.

“I’m just so proud of the amount of people who played from our club and medalled.

“We are a small, regional club competing against players from Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne.”

Sue Custer was one of the club’s most successful players in the tournament, winning two golds and a silver in the over 50s events she competed in.

Bergan also won two bronze medals in over 60s events.

“We also had a number of our club members volunteering in administration roles at this tournament,” he said.

“I think those people need to be recognised as well.”

Northern Rivers Pickleball Club formed at Ballina Indoor Sports Centre in 2020 and has grown to 285 members.

The club is currently lobbying Ballina Shire Council for dedicated pickleball courts to cater to the fast-growing sport.