The first ever HEAD Norwich Pickleball Open last weekend saw over 150 players travel from all parts of the UK to tune up for next week’s English Open.
The event took place on indoor acrylic tennis courts, with all 352 match results being registered with DUPR. The competition was also one of the few events in England to be organised by the actual venue, Easton College, rather than an external organiser.
In the 4.0 singles, local player Johnnie Carmichael won a thrilling three-set final against Surrey’s Katie Morris whilst Norfolk’s Richard Love took the bronze medal.
Johnnie followed up his singles success with victory in the 4.0 men’s doubles. Teaming up with Norfolk’s Harry Lamb they won the final against the young team of Matthew Brindle and Ollie Grantham from Essex.
In Sunday’s mixed 4.0 doubles, David Lazarus and Georgia Macalle from Essex won the gold medal with Katie Morris and Merseyside’s Dave Hillier claiming the silver. Carlos Corser and Chantal Griffiths took home the bronze medal.
“We are very pleased with the support we have received for our inaugural three-day competition,” said Matt Breese, who is Head of Commercial Operations at Easton College. “We are delighted with the success of this year’s event and are looking to grow in future years, as we have enough courts to cater for up to 450 players.
“We would like to thank Pickleball England and HEAD Pickleball for all their support and also the Norfolk Pickleball royalty of Richard Love and Yvonne Newton who helped us put the event together.”
On the opening day of the tournament, there was also a HEAD Pickleball Clinic with players getting the chance to practise and learn new skills ahead of the matches starting, as well as the chance to try the latest range of HEAD Pickleball paddles.
“We were delighted to be both the title sponsor and official ball of the HEAD Norwich Pickleball Open,” said Penny Toogood, Category Manager for Pickleball at HEAD UK.
“We really enjoyed working in partnership with Easton College and also getting the chance to meet so many pickleball players and volunteers over the three days. We also used the event to launch our new Motion Pro Pickleball shoes and our sponsored players were wearing them for the first time in competition.”
The 2025 HEAD Norwich Pickleball Open will take place on 25-27th July 2025.
The full list of winners and runners-up is as follows:
4.0+ Mixed Singles
Winner: Johnnie Carmichael Runner- Up: Katie Morris
Women’s Singles
3.0/3.5 Winner: Elizabeth O’Rourke Runner-Up: Susan Hollingham
Men’s Singles 3.0/3.5
Winner: Alfie Nicholls Runner-Up: Adam Cherry
Men’s Singles 50+ 3.0/3.5
Winner: Nigel Darcy Runner-Up: Martin Nicholls
Men’s Doubles 4.0
Winners: Johnnie Carmichael & Harry Lamb Runners- Up: Matthew Brindle & Ollie Grantham
Men’s Doubles 3.0/3.5
Winners: Alfie Nicholls & Martin Nicholls Runners- Up: Charlie Palmer & Tony Palmer
Men’s Doubles 50+ 3.0/3.5
Winners: Darren Flitton & Silvano Squizzato Runners- Up: Nigel Darcy & Simon Winfield
Women’s Doubles 3.0/3.5
Winners: Claire Crosthwaite & Fay Manning Runners- Up: Yvonne Stredder & Ceri Why
Mixed Doubles 4.0
Winners: David Lazarus & Georgia Macalle Runners-Up: Dave Hillier & Katie Morris
Mixed Doubles 3.0/3.5
Winners: Daniel Reynolds & Rachel Kelf Runners- Up: Greg Simpson & Annabel Simpson-Crick
Mixed Doubles 50+ 3.0/3.5
Winners: Darren Flitton & Helen Grover Runners- Up: Nigel Darcy & Anne McLaughlin
