William MacLean-Bell has the talent, dedication and family heritage to become a future English pickleball champion – but has his feet firmly planted on the ground.
The 10-year-old from Ramsgate in Kent won bronze in the junior event at the recent English Nationals in Bolton and also competed in the summer’s English Nationals.
Earlier this year the Chilton Primary School pupil received international advocate sponsorship from American pickleball company Selkirk.
William’s mothers Sheena and Clare MacLean-Bell both competed in the English Nationals and at the English Open in Telford and have contributed greatly to the growth of the sport in their native Kent.
William’s grandmother, Patricia Herd, was also a prestigious racket sport player, having reached the quarter-finals of Wimbledon (1957 and 1958) and the French Open (1959) in ladies’ doubles and the fourth round of the singles at the All England Club in 1956 and 1959.
“It’s obviously in the blood!” said William, who represents Canterbury Area Pickleball Club. “My parents have always played pickleball and I used to just watch but now I play all the time. I’ve been around pickleball my whole life and I really love it.
“I play against adults. I don’t usually play with kids. It’s better playing against adults because I feel like it ups my game.”
William says his third shot drive and dinks are his best shots, but added: “That’s up to everyone else to decide, though. I don’t like being arrogant!”
The youngster is certainly level-headed considering his tender years. Asked about his ambitions in the game, he said: “I mainly just want to have fun. It’s not necessarily about winning, just making sure I’ve made my mark and had a good time. It’s nice to win but it’s important to learn the lesson of losing as well.
“I would definitely like to make a big difference in pickleball but I also want to become a vet. My family loves animals and we have five dogs.”
For now, he’s happy to play on Thursdays and Sundays with his mums and club mates as well as turn out for his U11 football team. But this lad’s worth keeping an eye on in the near future.
