Ireland, represented by Lisburn Pickleball Club, were inaugural winners of the Celtic Clubs Pickleball Challenge in Glasgow last weekend.
The triangular international event brought teams from Ireland, Scotland and Wales together for a round-robin competition and pickleball festival at Donald Dewar Sports Centre and a Saturday night social that finally wound up in the wee hours of Sunday morning!
Wales were represented by the flourishing Anglesey Pickleball Club with hosts Scotland selecting a team from both Drumchapel and Bearsden & Milngavie clubs.
After arrivals at Friday lunchtime, there was free play on Friday afternoon, after which the Irish and Scottish teams went out for dinner (Wales preferring an early night to prepare for the next day’s main event).
The main event began on Saturday morning, with each match comprising two men’s and ladies’ doubles ties and three mixed. All three matches ended 4-3 – proving the success of the DUPR-based match-ups by organiser Anne Smillie.
Wales firstly beat Scotland, Ireland then overcame Wales, before the Irish then sealed the title by conquering Scotland, all in narrow scorelines.
Irish captain Stephanie Lyans told Pickleball 52: “It turned out to be even better than I had promoted it to the club members! Never for one moment did we imagine we could win it, but the Scots kindly matched people of a similar standard to us, that meant the games were close and the match undecided until the last two games played.
“That system made it very interesting and exciting right until the last ball was hit! We raised the roof with delight and our opponents were so gracious in defeat.
“I’ve often experienced how Anne and her amazing volunteers work so hard in giving us the best of experiences and this was no exception. The Scots certainly know how to host and entertain. What was provided was exceptional and I know that each and every one of us is delighted at a weekend full of friendship and fun with quite a bit of pickleball thrown in for good measure!
“It’s a weekend we’ll remember for a long time. We just hope to repeat it some time again, with or without the win! Anne is a marvel and such a thoughtful, hard worker. Let’s hope she invites us back. Take it from me, after this success they’ll be queuing up for a place!”
The Celtic Club Challenge was followed by a presentation lunch, then Saturday afternoon was devoted to a pickleball festival which also included some other local players, before a raucous post-competition party featuring a singer and accordionist.
There was further pickleball scheduled for the Sunday morning. “After the previous night’s activities, I was surprised to find the courts were all full at 10am!” said organiser Anne. “As much as I’d have liked Scotland to win, from an organiser’s point of view it was a great weekend and everybody had an amazing time.”
Anne now hopes the event will be “at least” an annual event and would like to expand it to include teams from England and perhaps further afield to make it into a ‘Six Nations’ format.
“The emphasis was definitely on fun but it also had the feel of a proper competition,” she said. “We hope to bring everyone back together and invite more nations and clubs along the enjoy the fun.”
