Inaugural Isle of Wight Festival Serves Up Thrills and a Challenger Duel with National Champs
What's the Score?
The Isle of Wight hosted its first-ever pickleball festival at the West Wight Sports Centre on Friday, April 4th, 2025, attracting 26 participants. The festival featured an inclusive "all play all" format, allowing players of different skill levels to compete together. A key highlight was the Challenger court, where English National Champion Tom Turney partnered with former British Open Over 60s winner Simon Proffitt to play doubles against all challengers, drawing enthusiastic spectators. Following the success of this inaugural event and a previous tournament, more pickleball festivals are expected on the Isle of Wight due to growing interest in the sport.
Hit it deeper!
The West Wight Sports Centre on the Isle of Wight became the epicentre of pickleball excitement on Friday, April 4th, 2025, as it hosted the island's very first pickleball festival. A total of 26 participants took part in this landmark event, marking a significant step in the growth of pickleball on the Isle of Wight. The organizers adopted an "all play all" format, ensuring that every player had the opportunity to team up with and compete against everyone else. This inclusive approach allowed less experienced players to gain valuable experience playing alongside and against more seasoned opponents in a friendly and supportive atmosphere.
Among the participants were four sports instructors from the Isle of Wight College, who noted a growing interest in pickleball among their students. They welcomed the festival as an opportunity for their students to play with new people and further develop their skills.
A major attraction of the day was the dedicated Challenger court. This special court featured a compelling doubles duo: Tom Turney, the English National Champion, and Simon Proffitt, a former British Open Over 60s winner. Throughout the afternoon, this formidable pair took on all challengers in exciting doubles matches, drawing a crowd of enthusiastic spectators eager to witness top-level pickleball action. The presence of such accomplished players added a significant element of prestige and excitement to the inaugural festival.
Kay Montagu, the pickleball coach at West Wight Sports Centre, expressed her satisfaction with the event: "Following our successful tournament in January, we decided to hold the festival, which, from feedback, has been equally popular." This positive feedback and the evident enthusiasm for pickleball on the island indicate a bright future for the sport in this region. Montagu further stated, "We shall certainly be holding more of these events in the future," suggesting that the inaugural festival will be the first of many. The growing interest in pickleball across the Isle of Wight points towards the announcement of more pickleball festivals in the near future.
The World Pickleball Verdict
The successful launch of the first pickleball festival on the Isle of Wight signifies the expanding reach and popularity of the sport beyond traditional hotspots. The "all play all" format fostered an inclusive environment, encouraging participation from players of all skill levels. The highlight of having a national champion and a former British Open winner participating and challenging local players created a unique and memorable experience for everyone involved. The positive feedback and plans for future events demonstrate a strong appetite for pickleball on the Isle of Wight. This inaugural festival is a clear indication that pickleball mania is indeed spreading, reaching new communities and captivating participants and spectators alike.