Pickleball medal haul at Barrington Coast Seniors event

PORT Stephens Pickleball Club is fast-developing into one of the most progressive sporting organisations in the region.

From five players in a side room at Nelson Bay PCYC back in 2019 to its current list of 200-plus members, the club has unearthed a host of pickleball exponents across a wide age bracket.

At a recent Friday Skills and Drills set up at the Tomaree netball courts at Salamander Bay, the club welcomed Port Stephens Mayor Leah Anderson.

More than 50 club members were on hand to demonstrate their pickleball skills across the six social play and four coached courts.

Mayor Anderson told News Of The Area that she was “more than impressed” with the set up, the talented participants on show and the coaching available to prospective players.

“This is what community sport looks like when a community comes together,” the Mayor said.

Success at seniors tournament

Port Stephens Pickleball Club players tasted success at the recent Barrington Coast Seniors 60 yrs-plus tournament at Hallidays Point, collecting an impressive 25 medals and 19 podium finishes.

Club stalwart John Grace from One Mile won multiple gold medals, teaming with Lorraine Barr (Cundletown) to claim the 70yrs+ Mixed Doubles with DUPR 3.5 over and 70+ Mens Skinny Singles as well as bronze with Fingal Bay’s Tony Mayers in the 65yrs+ Mens Doubles 3.5-3.99.

Corlette’s Manny Mifsud clinched gold in the Men’s 75yrs+ Skinny Singles and Mixed Doubles with Jennifer Taylor of Tallwoods Village and picked up a bronze medal in the 70yrs+ Mens Doubles with Dennis Nash for 3.0 above.

Mark Skidmore (Lemon Tree Passage) teamed with Valentine’s David Tweed to win gold in the 65yrs+ Mens Doubles 3.5-3.99 and silver in the 60yrs+ Mixed Doubles with Merewether’s Vicki Drewe.

Fingal Bay’s Stephen Laming and Corlette’s Steve Wilson captured gold in the 65yrs+ Mens Doubles (3.49 under) while Cherrie McDougall (60yrs+) and Christine Johnson (70yrs+) brought home gold medals in the Women’s Skinny Singles.

Pam Wilson and Ballina’s Don Condon snared silver in the 80yrs+ Mixed Doubles.

Bronze medal recipients included Johnson and Cheryl Sanderson in the 70yrs+ Womens Doubles (2.99 under), Fingal Bay’s Joanne Laming in the 60yrs+ Womens Skinny Singles, and Sanderson and Anna Bay’s Paul Hopper finishing third in the 70yrs+Mixed Doubles (2.99 under).

Other Port Stephens club players to compete were Colin Black, Mary Cunnington, Lou Davis, Stuart Johnson, Richard Lake, Mary Monin, Val Mulhearn, Janet Paton, Jacinta Vetch, Clive Vester and Bruce White.

By Chris KARAS