By The Pickleballer.

The latest news in the Pickleball report from the “Baller” – the “PickleBaller”, that is – highlights some more good recent news for this innovative sport locally.

The start of warm Spring weather witnessed a recent Friday evening’s Pickleball session rounding out what has been an exciting week for players ranging in skills, genders, and ages. This meant that, from 6pm when the Centre opened, its collective nine pickleball courts welcomed more than 50 enthusiastic players, many of whom were trying their hand for the first time.

This centre is located in Elston Park in Bultje Street and has introduced Pickleball to Dubbo. As a result of the player base spreading their popular social arms to Pickleballers, they are growing playing skills for players ranging from A-Grade down to 12-year-old beginners and first-time adults. Embracing the fun and challenges of Pickleball, the sport is touted as the fastest-growing code in the world.

In the competitive stakes last week, Ben Farrelly cemented his position as the dominant player in the local “5 4” YOU series, not only finishing at the top of the table in the Open Men’s grade, but also being the dominant player in the Open mixed grade where Ben and Joy McCarthy Moses led the way.

On a representative level, 12 masters-aged players (aged 40 and over) have had nominations accepted for the Australian Masters tournament that will be hosted in Canberra with games commencing from Friday, October 17.

The Dubbo Stars group – with players ranging from 40 years through to 70-plus – will be competing in male and female categories’ covering singles, doubles, and mixed doubles events.

The last time the club sent players to the Pan-Pacific Masters Games, the Dubbo Stars returned with gold, silver, and bronze medals – with players including Al Edwards, Deb Crisante, Jack Russell, Leica Doran, Belinda Stewart, Bernie Ward, Chris Ward, Dale Wallace, Don Easter, Merrilyn Craig, Neville Stewart, and Greg King lining up. The local club is again confident they will again have a number of players on the podium at this latest tournament.

The adoption of daylight saving time now sees not only more sessions introduced across six days of the week, but it has also brought about a number of session times changes. Contact the club for more details.

Dubbo Pickleball is also conducting FREE junior sessions at any of the scheduled times for juniors aged under 15, which also emphasises that juniors are more than welcome to attend with their parents or adult supervisors. All equipment is supplied free of charge.