IF determination and natural skill count for anything, the future looks bright for Nelson Bay pickleball stylist Louise Davis.
The gifted stroke player was in a medal-winning mood at the recent Big Chill Pickleball Tournament in Canberra where she collected silver in two categories.
Davis was one of three Port Stephens Pickleball Club trump cards to compete at the annual event in the ACT, along with decorated stalwarts John Grace and Tony Mayers.
A dedicated Davis teamed up with club president Grace to reach the Over 60s Mixed Doubles final with a Dynamic Universal Pickleball Rating (DUPR) of 3.5 to 3.99.
It was the first time Louise had competed at this level with the pair finishing runners-up to gold medallists Kim Bullock (Ourimbah) and Peter Lee (Palm Beach) 11-8 11-4.
Along the way Louise and John chalked up wins over Stuart Campbell and Andy Butson (11-9), Mandy Hanratty and Peter Muffet (12-10), Georgie Rowley and Erich Daniel (11-8), Bruce Morgan and Donna Puglisi (11-8) and Katalina May and Peter Knaus (15-5).
The durable Davis also combined with Canberra exponent Tracey Durr to pick up a silver medal in the Women’s Over 50s Doubles with a DUPR of 3.0 to 3.49.
Queanbeyan’s Jenelle Hocking and Ann Dorling (Farrer) claimed the gold medal in a marathon 11-7 6-11 11-8 victory.
Ironically, Louise and Tracey had earlier posted an impressive 11-3 win over their Canberra rivals during the preliminary rounds but couldn’t repeat the feat in the title decider.
The chemistry was right with the talented Davis and Durr demonstrating their court craft with other stirring triumphs over Kate Costello and Kim Bryen (11-6), Sharon Read and Heather Brandt (11-3), Trilby Rippon and Stacey Rippon (11-2), Kay Falck and Jacqueline Cleary (11-9) and Simone Pensko and Joanne Biscaya (15-5).
For the accomplished men’s pairing of Mayers and Grace, the Big Chill tournament proved a creditable showing with a top seven finish in the Over 60 yrs Mens Doubles event for DUPR of 3.5 to 3.99.
By Chris KARAS
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