Newly-crowned UK Young Persons pickleball champion Karen Crawford showed her immense cross-court talent by claiming a top-level LTA Grade 1 padel title the very next weekend.
After over 20 years of competing in tennis all around Scotland, Karen quit playing and coaching at the end of 2022, deciding to start the new year with a new racket sport….or two!
The 28-year-old does not do things by halves and, whilst juggling her full-time teaching job, has thrown herself into pickleball and padel – already racking up some stunning achievements in both sports.
Karen told Pickleball52: “I tried pickleball for the first time in March last year when I was still pretty new to padel, so it was a busy time for my brain learning the rules of two new sports.
“Pickleball was fun and I fell in love with the community even more so than padel. The pickleball community is so incredible, so inclusive and welcoming!
“I was quickly swept into festivals and started making connections with incredible picklers from across the UK and Europe. It didn’t take long for me to start competing in this either.”
Karen wasted no time in getting her pickleball coaching badges, travelling great distances to do so. She completed the Pickleball Scotland Ambassador and Coaching course, then flew down to Norwich for the day at the start of the school Easter holidays to complete the Level 1 IPTPA Coaching course, led by Rob Williams (Advanced Pickleball and Pickleball England).
“I am looking to complete the next IPTPA levels this year too” she beamed.
As for her aims for her foreseeable future, “I want to keep improving, I want to keep learning,” she said. “At the moment, my aim is to be playing sport every weekend which I am managing to do outside my busy schedule as a primary school teacher.
“I want to make the most of any opportunities I get and play sport as much as I can and compete at the highest level I can. I’m determined to work hard and I aim to inspire the next generation of kids to play pickleball!
After winning the girls’ title at the UK Young Persons’ Pickleball Championships in Milton Keynes on 14 April, then the LTA Padel British Tour Grade 1 title at West of Scotland Padel Club just seven days later, she has got a full itinerary of pickleball and padel tournaments coming up. “Let’s hope they are as successful as the last two!” she says with a smile as wide as a Cheshire cat’s!
Karen’s schedule:
28 April: Premier Pickleball League finals in London (playing for SB Pickleball)
3-5 May: Dutch Open Pickleball
11-12 May: LTA Padel British Tour Grade 1 at Stratford Padel Club
18-19 May: East of Scotland Padel Open
24-26 May: Paris Open Pickleball
Karen’s recent pickleball results:
June 23: Scottish Nationals (WS Bronze, WD Silver)
July 23: Belgian Open (WS Bronze, WD Silver, 4.0 XD Silver)
Aug 23: English Open (4.0 WS Silver, 4.0 WD Silver, 4.0 XD Gold)
Aug 23: Franklin Premier Pickleball League (PPL) on team SB Pickleball
Oct 23 Luxembourg Open (WS Gold, WD Gold, XD Silver)
Jan 24 PPL League fixture
Jan 24: Signed two-year player sponsorship with JOOLA
April 24: UK Young Persons Championships – Gold
Follow Karen on Instagram
