Island pickleball players win gold at Southampton end of year event
TWO Isle of Wight pickleball players took gold at an end of year event in Southampton last weekend.
Simon Proffitt and Sarah Howell both travelled to David Lloyd Southampton for the event.
They competed in the over 50s mixed doubles 4.5 event, which attracted more than 500 competitors over the weekend, resulting in a high standard of play.
With nine teams in their group, Simon and Sarah made the semi- final playoff, where they convincingly beat the pair who were the favourites in the group round, Kat Jelly and Stephen Lucas, 11-5.
In the final, which was a best of three, they beat Phil Hoad and Anna Prestwich 11-3 and 11-5.
Simon said: “This win is particularly poignant for me as it was an intensive competition and my fitness level has not recovered from having radiotherapy for prostate cancer.
“I was extremely pleased with our performance.”
This was Sarah's third gold medal of the season, building upon recent mixed and women’s doubles successes in the English Nationals and pre-European tournaments.
Both players play regularly at West Wight Sports Centre.
