Wheelchair pickleball is gaining traction – and much of the buzz is coming from Cumbria and the Scottish Borders.
Richard Wise from Eden Valley Pickleball Club in Carlisle has been instrumental in helping establish a small but growing network of wheelchair players across Cumbria and the Scottish Borders.
“We’ve got the biggest thriving group of wheelchair players in the country who are quite frankly astonishing”, says Richard.
Richard and Terry Smith were influential in Pickleball England’s decision to open up the wheelchair event at this month’s English Nationals in Bolton to players from across the border. At the time of writing, two Scottish players have entered, swelling the draw to eight.
“We just want to exhibit the sport,” says Terry. “We all love the sport, but most of us certainly are not bothered about the actual championship, it’s more about getting the game promoted and getting more people doing it”.
The inclusivity that runs through pickleball is perhaps best displayed in the ‘hybrid’ format which has helped introduce many wheelchair users to the game.
In the hybrid format, wheelchair players are able to play against non-wheelchair players. Those in the wheelchair are permitted two bounces before they must return the ball, whilst those not using a wheelchair are allowed only the standard one bounce.
“Seeing wheelchair players playing with non-wheelchair players as part of a group is just spectacular”, said Richard.
“In so many instances, they would potentially be playing wheelchair basketball with just other wheelchair players and not mixing in, but this is completely inclusive”.
Richard has helped the group negotiate sponsorship with manufacturer Diadem, who have helped out with equipment and kit for the players, with several players also going on to work with Diadem as ambassadors.
Terry is one such player. He was immediately intrigued by the sport and asked to join in when he saw it being played at a tennis club.
“The thing that struck me right away was that this could be a fantastic sport for wheelchair players”, he said.
“I was hooked. I was quite determined to try and get as many people playing in the wheelchair as I possibly could”.
The numbers of wheelchair users playing pickleball remains small, but the efforts to increase awareness of the sport continue.
Terry has been invited to run pickleball sessions with Disability Sport Scotland, and he hopes this will allow others to discover the sport he has come to love, and allow people to connect with their friends and families through sport in ways they may not have known was possible.
“It gives somebody the opportunity to interact with their friends physically at sport, whereas maybe they wouldn’t be able to do it in anything else.”
Despite travelling the local area and setting up events to help spread the word about wheelchair pickleball, Terry is reluctant to take credit.
“It would just have been a matter of time anyway. I was just in the right place at the right time, and I love it.”
