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Six courts were used simultaneously for the tournament.
Mahurangi Pickleball held its first major interclub tournament last month, hosting Parau Bay and Whangarei Pickleball clubs for an invitational at Mahurangi College.
Mahurangi club captain Joy Tawhiao says 26 players contested a lively battle, with Mahurangi emerging as the winner.
She says husband and wife Rene and Jane Buchs played exceptionally well, each unbeaten with eight wins.
Pickleball is said to be the most rapidly growing sport in the US with 3 million players, and has established a foothold in New Zealand.
Tawhaiao says when the Mahurangi club was established five years ago, there were only three clubs in the country – now there are 25.
There are 60 players in the Mahurangi club. It holds four sessions each week to provide sufficient court space for its membership.
Tawhaiao says the club will soon have to apply for funding for court hire in order to meet growing demand.
The game is based on elements of badminton, table tennis and tennis and is played on a badminton-sized court with a padder tennis-style bat and a perforated ball.
The Mahurangi Pickleball Club plays at Snells Beach Hall. It is $5 per session. Contact Joy Tawhiao at pickleball.rodney@gmail.com.
