Pickleball fans ‘have a go’ at new courts in Gisborne

Pickleball enthusiasts try out new multi-use courts at Victoria Domain. Photo / Meredith Akuhata-Brown

Gisborne’s pickleball enthusiasts have had their first taste of the new multi-use courts that cater for burgeoning interest in the sport.

“We had an open day on Sunday so people could have a go,” Pickleball Gisborne Club president Shelley Duncan said of the Victoria Domain courts.

“We just put the word out that the courts would be open for a have-a-go’ day.

“We had 11 of the 12 courts running from 9am to midday, and about 50 people taking part. Everyone had a fantastic time ... we can’t wait to do it again.

“It’s not quite completely set up yet. We had no ball barriers up ... normally a curtain would run along the back of the courts to stop the ball rolling all the way to the netball courts. We had no wind barriers up, either, and we used our club nets.

“We’re hoping that in March we’ll have it all sorted and a booking system ready to go. As soon as that happens, people will be able to book their own games and the nets will roll out.

“We’ve been working towards finding a home for pickleball, a place we can call our own, and this is it.

“I know a lot of work is being done to get funding for a roof, and that is when it will come into its own for us because we will be able to play, rain, hail or snow.”

Invented in 1965 as a backyard children’s game in Washington State, in the United States, pickleball combines elements of tennis, badminton and table tennis.

From 2021 to 2024, the Sports and Fitness Industry Association named pickleball the fastest-growing sport in the US, and in 2022 it was made the official state sport of Washington.