We asked some of pickleball’s leading lights: “What is your personal pickleball highlight of 2024?”
Thaddea Lock: “Winning the European Team Championship as part of Team England. To be crowned the first champions of this event was so special and something that will always be written in the European pickleball history books. I was so lucky to get to achieve this alongside an incredible group of players, coaches and team staff. The atmosphere at the event was one of the best atmospheres I have ever competed in.”
Mollie Knaggs: “I don’t have just one, sorry! The first women-only festival I ran; winning the English Open; playing for England; my pickleball holiday where I coached 25 new players in Turkey and made friends for life.”
Louis Laville: “A few highlights! Representing Team Europe and England in the same year – and winning the European Champs with England! Becoming National Champion, retaining my title with James Chaudry. Winning 17 Pro Golds (as of this moment). Two Triple Crowns.”
Julie Mac: “It has to be the European Championship. Just an absolutely amazing experience. I never thought I would get there, and I loved every minute of it. The team were just unreal – such a family – and to win it was just the icing on the cake.”
Richard Love: “This one is easy. Representing the country as part of the incredible European Championship team…and then becoming European champions! This was an experience I will never forget and to do it with such an amazing team of people was fantastic.”
Tom Corfield: “My personal highlight would have to be winning my first European Pro gold medal! This was in the singles event at the Dutch Open held in Haarlem.”
Louise Stephens: “I think probably seeing our players doing so well at The Open and Nationals. When Jonny Adams and Scott Cannings got gold I was a quivering wreck!”
Karen Mitchell (chair, Pickleball England): “Watching Team England play in six out of six event finals at the European Pickleball Championship in Southampton and their team celebration at winning the overall championships. Very exciting!”
Nathan Parker (Wales international): “My personal highlight this year and probably for the rest of my life is playing for my country in the inaugural European pickleball championship down in Southampton. The feeling of winning a game at international level is something that will stay with me for the rest of my life. Cymru am byth!”
