The father of Jack Fennell has called for more junior pickleball tournaments in the UK after his 12-year-old son secured two bronzes at his first international competition in Spain.
Jack had only been playing pickleball for six months when he took part in February’s Andalucian Open in Rota, Spain, having discovered the game through his father Andrew, who took him along to a taster session hosted by Pickleball Central UK in Shropshire.
Within two months Jack was playing in the junior tournament at the English Nationals. There, he met 10-year-old William Maclean-Bell for the first time and they struck up an immediate bond.
Along with his dad, Jack attended pickleball festivals across the country, playing with and against adults and became a solid member of Pickleball Central UK who already had a strong youth contingent.
Despite it being Jack’s first time playing singles, he fought hard to come away with a bronze at the Andalucian Open, then together with Will they won bronze in the boys’ doubles after 11 hard-fought games.
“We need more UK tournaments for kids in the UK,” says Andrew. “It would be nice if all tournaments offered a youth section, but I get logistically that it is not always possible. With the continued growth it will come, I am sure.”
Jack is now sponsored by My Sports and More, trains three times a week and is looking forward to a number of tournaments this year including the UK Young Persons Championship, English Open and English Nationals.
“Jack really has a passion for pickleball and would play all day, every day if he could,” laughed Andrew. “There are lots of kids in the UK playing and they need to be brought together more regularly for competitions and festivals or dedicate a few courts at events already being held for the Juniors to play at.
“PBCUK are making great strides to develop pickleball juniors with regular events this year and we would like to see this across the UK. They are the future of pickleball after all.”
