New Zealand’s largest pickleball tournament is being held in Tauranga this weekend, providing an opportunity for spectators to enjoy watching the high level of skill on display.

Hosted by the Mount Pickleball Club, the Mount Pickleball Classic tournament has 223 pickleball players competing, from around the country.

“It’s the first open pickleball tournament held in Tauranga,’ says Mount Pickleball Club president Bob Smith.

“The response was so great we had to close off entries, otherwise we couldn’t get all the games played within the time.”

Bob says pickleball players have come from Nelson, Ashburton, Wellington, Whangarei, Christchurch, Hawke’s Bay “to name a few”.

“Big numbers from Auckland, Gisborne, Rotorua.

“The games are all doubles. They involve some of the best players in New Zealand, including Matt Carter, who recently won three gold medals in Australia.”

Play started at midday on Friday at Mount Sports Centre with Super (over 60) B Men’s and Women’s Doubles.

Bob says the main event is on Saturday starting at 7.30am at Mercury Baypark Arena and continues all day until 5pm or 6pm. 

“There will be about 170 playing plus accompanying persons. All the Super and Open Doubles will be played.”

Tomorrow, Sunday play also starts at 7.30am and goes through the day.

“All the mixed super and open doubles will be played.”

Bob says the tournament has had “excellent community support’ with 10 sponsors, including sponsorship from Tauranga City Council.

“The winners get some beautiful medals plus cash. And the best club – based on medals – wins the inaugural Club Winner Trophy.’

Mount Pickleball Club

Pickleball a fast, fun paddle sport that was invented over 50 years ago.

Bob and Viv Smith head the Mount Pickleball club, which has only been going for four years, and has over 100 active members at last count.

The club currently play at the Mount Sports Centre, the Queen Elizabeth Youth Centre and Mercury Arena. Pickleball lines have been added to the Mercury Arena court in recognition of this growing sport.

The Mount club has daytime sessions, so membership has attracted a high proportion of retirees and some shift workers. However, Pickleball is a great sport and is for everyone to enjoy.

"We also have night-time sessions on Wednesdays and Fridays from 7pm -9pm at Tauranga Boys' College,' says Bob.

The local club has benefitted from having one of the recognised Pickleball coaches in NZ living here in Papamoa. Paul Cubitt has come along to some of their sessions to offer coaching for beginners, and club members support newcomers to learn the rules.

The Mount Pickleball Club was the most successful club at the 2022 Wellington Pickleball Cup held over Waitangi weekend 2022. They came away with 10 medals; four golds, four silvers and two bronze.

How do you play Pickleball?

The game was invented by three dads in the summer of 1965 in Washington. They combined elements of tennis, badminton, and table tennis -  with sporting equipment they had to hand at the time -  to invent a fun new game for their bored children.

The game is played on a badminton size court, traditionally with two (singles) or four (doubles) players. Each player has a paddle and hits the ball back and forth. Games go to 11 or 15, one point at a time. The serve is underhand and cross court, the returning team hits it back once the ball has bounced. The ball can only bounce once per side and there’s a non-volley zone called ‘the kitchen’.

While being fun, Pickleball is also a great aerobic exercise, and very sociable.’

Interested in giving it a go?

Head along to watch the tournament and talk to players at Mercury Baypark Arena between 7.30am – 5pm today and tomorrow, Sunday August 27.

You can find the Mount Pickleball Club on Facebook.