Pickleballers serve up first home victory

Our pickleball offer continues to go from strength to strength, and last month marked another milestone with Thongsbridge hosting its first-ever inter-club pickleball match.

On Friday 20th August, we welcomed Stocksbridge Pickleball Club to Thongsbridge. Although we’ve played Stocksbridge on three previous occasions, this was the first time they had visited us on home turf, no doubt tempted by the prospect of seeing our new outdoor courts for themselves.

Despite both teams being slightly depleted by the summer holiday season, seven players represented each club and a total of 15 matches were played. The result? A memorable 10-5 victory for Thongsbridge, our first win in four meetings against Stocksbridge.

Of course, home advantage may have played a small part. Our visitors were reportedly so impressed by the club and its facilities that they admitted they were expecting something a little more like a village hall!

In true Thongsbridge fashion, team selection was straightforward: if you wanted to play, you played. A huge thank you to Barbara, Stuart, Bernard, John, Paul, Jesus and Nick for representing the club so brilliantly and helping secure the win.

The match format sounded simple enough, but creating the rota was another matter entirely. Every team member had to partner every other player on their team, while ensuring they didn’t face the same opponent more than twice. The lesson learned? Artificial intelligence might be clever, but it’s no substitute for a determined pickleball organiser tackling a complicated rota!

The excitement doesn’t stop there. Thongsbridge has now joined the South Yorkshire Pickleball League and will begin life in the bottom division. We’re told the standard is high and that we’ll probably be among the oldest teams competing, but we’re looking forward to the challenge and the opportunity to learn from more experienced players.

If you’ve yet to discover pickleball, now is the perfect time. It’s easy to learn, surprisingly addictive, gentle on the body and one of the most sociable sports around. Whether you’re a seasoned racket sports player or picking up a paddle for the first time, you’ll be made very welcome.

Why not come along for a taster session on Monday, Thursday or Saturday afternoons and see what all the fuss is about? You might just find your new favourite sport!