Pickleball: Carlisle men star in English Nationals in Bolton

Carlisle competitor Terry Smith claimed a silver medal in the English pickleball championships – and is hoping to spread the word about the sport.

Smith, 60, was one of the first wheelchair players of the sport which is hugely popular in the USA.

The Annan-based player, after claiming a runner-up prize in the 2023 English Nationals wheelchair category at Bolton, spoke of his keenness to get more people playing the sport.

“I do most of my sport in Carlisle and my local club in Carlisle had an open day, there was a game going on that looked a bit strange at first,” he said.

“Within ten minutes of playing, I knew what a fantastic sport I had just discovered for wheelchair players.

“I was probably if not the first, one of the first in the country to start playing wheelchair pickleball.

“I attended a festival in Glasgow and a festival in Preston and they had never seen any wheelchair players before.

“I got talking to people and said I wanted to start promoting wheelchair pickleball. We just took it from there, we have established a really strong group in Carlisle now, we have about eight players and we attend festivals, opens and national competitions.

“Our aim is to get more people playing it. As far as we are aware, the group in Carlisle is the only established wheelchair group at the moment.

“What we really need is other similar groups to get set up in different parts of the country and then we can start having inter-club events.

“I am passionate to get as many people as possible playing this game.”

Over the past year, pickleball has seen a meteoric rise in the UK due to its inclusive and accessible nature, with an estimated 12,000 regular players and over 450 venues offering the sport across the country.

There are now 682 athletes attending the National Championships at the Bolton Arena, up from 430 at the 2022 event.

Wheelchair players are just a small part of the current event that sees a wide range of players from across the country and of all ages – but Smith is confident the physical benefits of wheelchair pickleball will see their numbers rise at future editions.

“I still love playing tennis but a tennis court is a big area to get around in a wheelchair. Basketball is a great sport but is very physical,” he added.

“The beauty of wheelchair pickleball is you play on a smaller court and usually play doubles, which is great for participation.

“I can play alongside an able-bodied person and it works really well. It’s a fantastic aspect to a wheelchair sport.

“We need these types of events and competitions to spread the word.”

Pickleball involves players using ‘paddles’ to hit a ball over a 34-inch high net. While similar to tennis, it has specific rules and dimensions, and uses a hard plastic ball.

Terry Smith in action in Bolton (Image: Paul Currie)

Smith is not the only Cumbrian competitor in the current English nationals.

Military veteran and amputee Gaz Golightly, who lives in Carlisle, is also taking part.

Golightly, 42, never thought he would be able to play sport with his four children but his involvement in pickleball changed that and has spiralled into something even greater.

Following a car accident in 2002, while driving to a routine guard duty shift in Wiltshire, the Carlisle-based dad suffered life-changing injuries, resulting in a double-leg amputation.

Golightly was a permanent wheelchair user for six and a half years, turning his hand to many wheelchair sports he admitted pickleball is the most inclusive he has ever played.

Ahead of the English Nationals, where he is competing in the wheelchair men’s singles category, Golightly explained his wider mission as a coach, to provide opportunities for other veterans to get on court with a paddle in hand.

“It’s the first sport that I’ve ever done where there’s no divide,” he said. “You can go to a training session, and you can play against everybody of any age.

“I’ve done wheelchair sports for the last 10 years, I can’t run, I’m not the greatest on my legs so when you get in a chair, you get the feeling of being in control and moving around comfortably.

“When I got to my training sessions, you’re playing against anybody and everyone, whether they’re in a wheelchair or able-bodied, kids. There are no restrictions, it’s brilliant.

“Being a military veteran, I see the benefits from a recovery point of view as well, the way that you can play the game with your children, the way it extends to your partner.

“It’s very inclusive and doing the coaching side of it intrigued me because from a wheelchair point of view it’s an adaption of the able-bodied game.”

The GB sitting volleyball athlete and former wheelchair basketballer has recently qualified as a Level 1 coach, and took his new-found knowledge to Burnley Football Club, where he put on a session for 17 fellow veterans.

Three have joined local clubs since and Golightly, who has sourced 10 wheelchairs for use with the help of his wife Dee, is hoping his appearance at the English Nationals 2023 can spread his cause further within the sport.

“I’ve seen the potential of developing the wheelchair side of it to the point where I entered the English Open in the able-bodied singles men’s category at my skill level,” he added.

“It was to promote that wheelchair players can play against anyone.

“I just want to keep making awareness that the wheelchair side of it is there and it has grown.

“We’ve got a couple of extra players coming along and the support we’ve been getting is fantastic.”

Pickleball is the fastest-growing sport in the USA and is now enjoying a similarly meteoric rise in the UK due to its inclusive and accessible nature, with an estimated 12,000 regular players and over 450 venues offering the sport across the country.

There are now 682 athletes set to attend this week’s National Championships at the Bolton Arena, up from 430 at the 2022 event.

2023 English Nationals takes place at Bolton Arena from Thursday 26th October to Sunday 29th October. This year’s English Nationals is sponsored by Skechers, Franklin, Scan and UK Pickleball Shop, Play will commence from 9am each day. Head to https://www.pickleballengland.org/ to find out more or to find your nearest place to play.