EXCITING NEWS: Kidman and Butler take pickleball revolution to national championships

Adam Kidman and Emma Butler are part of a pickleball revolution and it has taken them to the national championships in Bolton.

The Dorset Pickleball Club was founded by the duo alongside Emma’s father, Kevin, and Gary Williams. Today, the club has grown to over 200 members, who participate in weekly sessions in Bournemouth.

Reflecting on their journey while competing at the 2024 Skechers English Nationals, the pair expressed their amazement at how far they’ve come.

“We started with just a small group doing one session a week, and now it’s grown to five sessions a week with over 200 members,” Kidman said. “It’s amazing how quickly it’s expanded, and it’s been great for the local community.”

Their passion for the sport

Kidman continued, “We’ve created communities of people who now meet up for coffee after sessions—many of whom didn’t know each other before. It’s grown beyond what we ever imagined, and that’s been fantastic.”

Butler added, “I was never supposed to be involved—initially, it was just the three guys. But I ended up joining, and now the four of us collectively run the club.”

“We’ve really created a bit of a monster, to be honest!” said Kidman. “What started as just a chance for us to play some pickleball has quickly turned into a club with over 200 members in under a year.”

“It’s an incredible achievement to reach this point, and we’re excited to continue growing. We recently held our very first outdoor pickleball festival in Bournemouth Gardens, which was a huge success, and we’re hoping to host another one this summer,” she added.

The risk they took paid off

Pickleball, a racket sport where players use paddles to hit a perforated plastic ball, has seen rapid growth in England. The sport was invented in 1965 by a family in the United States and was named after their pet dog, Pickle.

Played both indoors and outdoors, pickleball is a sport that can be enjoyed by people of all ages and skill levels, often on the same court.

From Thursday, October 31 to Sunday, November 3, the English Nationals took place at Bolton Arena, drawing a record 1,111 players for four days of top-tier competition in the North West.

Kidman shared, “I’ve had an amazing time. It’s definitely been a step up from last year. I was fortunate enough to win gold in the 3.5 singles last year, and this year I moved up to the 4.0 level, and you can really feel the difference.”

She continued, “The pickleball community is so welcoming and friendly. I’ve made loads of new friends and continued to connect with so many others. It’s been fantastic.”

Strong courage and determination

Butler, who was competing in her first Skechers English Nationals, reflected on her experience: “I won my first-ever pickleball medal yesterday in the 18+ Women’s Doubles, which was such a special moment.”

“It was a bit overwhelming, honestly. I didn’t expect much going in. I was paired with Sarah Hodgson, and even though we’d never met before, it was incredible to play alongside someone so kind, and we played really well together,” she said. “Everyone has been so friendly, and it’s been such a great tournament to be part of. It’s been a wonderful experience.”