KIM MCCALL has been crowned Welsh National Pickleball Champion after winning gold at the Welsh National Pickleball Championships, held from April 24-26. Competing alongside her sister, Leah McDaniel, the pair delivered an outstanding performance to secure the national title.
In addition to gold in the women’s event, Kim enjoyed a highly successful event overall, also taking home a bronze medal in the mixed event and a silver medal in the team competition—missing out on gold by just a single point.
Pickleball is one of the fastest-growing sports globally, combining elements of tennis, badminton, and table tennis. Played on a smaller court with a paddle and a lightweight ball, the sport is easy to learn, highly social, and accessible to all ages and abilities. Its rapid growth across the UK has seen increasing participation, new facilities, and a rising competitive scene.
Reflecting on the achievement, Kim McCall said: “It was an incredible experience to compete at such a high level, and to come away as national champions alongside my sister makes it even more special.
“The standard of play was fantastic throughout, and I’m really proud of what we have achieved.”
Away from competition, Kim is the Head Coach of a growing pickleball programme at Wrexham Tennis & Padel Centre. The facility features four dedicated pickleball courts, which are available to book for £6 per hour, helping make the sport accessible to the local community. The Centre also offers a growing programme of pickleball coaching, with dedicated sessions for beginners, improvers, and advanced players, as well as women’s only coaching, and sessions for juniors.
To celebrate the national title and encourage more people to get involved in the sport, Wrexham Tennis & Padel Centre is offering a limited-time promotion of 50% off all of Kim’s coaching sessions for the next two weeks. All coaching sessions can be booked via the Wrexham Tennis & Padel Centre website.
Kim added: “This is a great opportunity for anyone who’s been curious about pickleball to give it a try. It’s a fun, social, and inclusive sport, and I’d love to help more people discover it.”
