It’s hard to believe that just seven months ago, most of our Seacourt pickleball team hadn’t even heard of the sport — and now here we are, taking on some of the best-established clubs in the area!
This past weekend was a real milestone for us, with two full days of Friendly yet competitive matches. On Saturday, we played 10 matches against Clanfield, and on Sunday, we took on Gosport in 12 matches. Both teams have players who have been competing for several years — many for over four years — giving us some tough but exciting challenges.
We organised these friendly matches with no prior knowledge of the other teams’ ability, which gave us all a great insight into the pickle ball world outside the four walls of Seacourt. And what an eye-opener it was! While we didn’t win overall on either day, many of the games were extremely close and hard-fought, showing just how far we’ve come in a short space of time. Every rally was packed with energy, determination, and great sportsmanship, and the team spirit across both days was fantastic to see.
A huge thank you to all the players and supporters for your brilliant efforts. Competing against such experienced teams has been a great learning experience and only motivates us to keep improving!
There were some standout performances worth mentioning. Derek and Louise showed real grit and great teamwork throughout their matches. Linda impressed with some excellent rallies under pressure. And a special mention to Jo, who played the best pickleball of her life — a brilliant example of how much improvement and confidence our team is building with every game!
After building confidence from these matches and learning more about everyone’s abilities, we are now looking forward to organising many more fixtures in the future — this time with abilities more closely matched, to create even more exciting and competitive games.
Special thanks must go to Fiona from the Seacourt kitchen for providing the most delicious spread for our visitors and members across the weekend — it was very much appreciated by all. And a big shout-out to the bar staff, who kept everyone well-oiled and smiling throughout! It was great to see Seacourt full to the brim over the weekend and into the evening.
If you haven’t yet tried pickleball, now is the perfect time to join in. It’s fast, fun, and welcoming for all abilities — and as our team proves, it’s never too late to start! We will be organising a “HAVE A GO” morning to get even more members and recruit non-members.
One of the next matches will be against Wickham in June.
Well done to everyone involved — onwards and upwards! – Claire
NB ** A special mention to both Ross and Claire for their efforts, drive, and enthusiasm**