Three Thanet Schools came together today to host the very first inter schools Pickleball Tournament in the UK.  This “sour name, sweet game” racquet sport has been exploding across Kent in recent months. PE Departments have started to acknowledge that pickleball is finally a racquet sport that can be mastered by children with relative ease due to the slower speed of play compared to the more traditional sport of Tennis.    The tournament, hosted by St Anthony’s school in Margate saw children from Cliftonville Primary, St Peter’s in Thanet Junior school and St Anthony’s school come together to battle it out for the winning spot. St Peters doubles partners walked away with the medal haul, marginally beating Cliftonville Primary 15 games to 14.

PICKLEBALL FACTS:

• Pickleball has been played in America since 1965
• It remained a well-kept secret until 2008 when the game hit the senior market
• Today it is estimated that over 2 million people play the game
• It is estimated by 2018 there will be over 8 million players
• Younger people are being introduced to the game in record numbers
• Places to play are up 62% since 2010
• Currently played in USA, Canada, Mexico, Netherlands, India, England, Scotland, Wales Australia, China, Singapore, Spain and Thailand
• February 2016 pickleball featured as a demonstrator sport at the Kent School games
• Medway park will host the first UK International championship event in May 2017 with over 200 athletes from 10 international countries.