Two years ago, Jo Nundy had never played sport before.
Now she’s a gold medallist at the inaugural Welsh Nationals after winning the women’s 40+ 3.0 doubles division with her partner Tracey Hockin.
“I was crying as we were given our medals,” she told Pickleball 52. “Hard to believe it that I only started playing pickleball less than two years ago. Before that I wasn’t feeling great about myself or my life. I was 50, sad about having had to retire from a job I loved because of chronic ill health, and although I’ve got some good friends, I was socially quite isolated.
“Then I went to watch a pickleball event in our local village hall and instantly I wanted to play.”
That was in November 2023, when she saw the local University of the Third Age club playing.
Jo is on the autism spectrum and finds it challenging to try new things and meet new people, but she pushed herself to go along to Anglesey Pickleball Club and North Wales Pickleball Rovers, where she has been playing ever since.
“The game and lovely people have helped me mentally and I feel more confident in myself, and the wonderful community has definitely helped me to manage my neurodiversity. Physically I’m fitter and my balance has improved.”
Jo admits she was amazed when Tracey agreed to partner her at the Welsh Nationals (“I was really nervous, thinking I was nowhere near good enough to partner with her, but she really inspired me to focus on the game”), but the two worked out a game plan that played to both of their strengths.
Jo is quick to attribute much of their success to Tracey: “her incredible talent, kindness, belief in me, her support and encouragement, her smiles, her body language just radiated into me. Usually my head is full of what people are thinking of me and might say, but with Tracey it mattered to me not to let her down. Those thoughts were not in my head, I wasn’t worrying, I was determined, and I was just able to utterly focus.”
Tracey – who won gold in her singles category as well – has plenty of praise for her doubles partner in return, saying that she grew in confidence throughout the tournament, and added: “Playing with Jo was a privilege and it was an honour to share the top of the podium with her. She is an inspiration.”
Welsh Pickleball’s Kath Knowles has seen Jo’s journey from the start, and says she is truly proud of her progress.
“To stand on a podium with everyone cheering, crying and clapping…Tracey and Jo brought the house down. It was a truly magical moment to hang that first ever gold medal around her neck and declare both Tracey and Jo the first ever 40+ 3.0 Women’s Welsh National Pickleball Champions.
“To see Jo with her eyes shining and the broadest smile really was a truly special and wonderful moment for me and many others who have been part of her journey.”
“I’ve experienced the magic of winning, but even more important is that I have experienced the joy of feeling genuinely accepted and included in a group,” concludes Jo.
“We’re all different and we all help each other in different ways.”
What a heart warming story. Well done Jo and Tracey on your Gold medal. Well done to the organisers of the first Welsh Nationals pickleball tournament.
Thank you Karen for the unwavering support that Pickleball England have given us to get to this point
Enormously proud of Pickleball Wales giving Welsh players like Jo Nundy and Tracey Hockin a platform to compete together as a strong sporting nation. Stories like Jo’s are just wonderful to hear and their medal ceremony really did bring the house down with most of us shedding tears of joy for her and Tracy It makes all the hard work to get to this point worthwhile. We hope as many players as possible from England, Scotland and Ireland join us in Cardiff in September for the inaugral WELSH OPEN and that all our pickleball family across the water in Europe, the USA and the World come and enjoy some great games and a warm Welsh welcome in Cardiff in September. Meet you there!
Whether it is nobler in the mind to suffer – the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune – or to take arms against a sea of troubles, and by opposing, end them. That’s what Jo has done at the weekend. In front of our eyes. And she’s in our club. Reading that article was more powerful than a Leigh Ryder smash!
Whether it is nobler in the mind to suffer – the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune – or to take arms against a sea of troubles, and by opposing, end them. That’s what Jo has done at the weekend. In front of our eyes. And she’s in our club. Reading that article was more powerful than a Leigh Ryder smash! Comment from Dave Barker at Anglesey Pickleball Club
What a story 😍- Jo was the inspiration behind the formation of the North Wales Rovers League.
The ‘plot was hatched’ ust over a year ago – the aim was to give novices like Jo an opportunity to experience competitive pickleball and our message of inclusivity is in our motto ‘Pel Picl i Bawb’…( Pickeball for All).. we already have over 100 members and every single one of us is so proud of Jo and Tracey’s achievement….
….and that’s not all – Jo is a well respected contributors to the administration of our League …..so VERY WELL DONE JO and Tracey …it’s been an eventful journey culminating in a magnificent achievement 👏 👏
It’s so so important for me to say how much I appreciate the joy and inclusivity of this WONDERFUL sport, where kindness thrives and embraces those of us who are different. I hope I’m testament to that. I’m not the most energetic and haven’t got the stamina of some but I can still keep on learning and developing my game to play better, and encourage others who are just starting. Once again thank you to absolutely everyone in my pickleball journey for accepting and nurturing the ODD BOD I am.