Ally Pringle channelled her inner Olympian to strike gold at a record-breaking Skechers English OPEN.

Resilience officer Pringle, 48, featured in the English Open at the Telford International Centre – the largest pickleball event taking place outside of North America.

With ages from 7 to 70+ competing, the event is reflective of the incredible growth in pickleball over recent years, with a record number of almost 2,000 players from 42 countries participating in a sport which has aspirations of making the Olympic programme.

Poole and playing partner Lauren Gosling recovered from defeat in their first game to win the 3.5 18+ women’s doubles event with a straight sets victory in the final.

“I got into pickleball about two years ago through David Lloyd, Poole, it was one of the new things they brought into the club and I just fell in love with it,” said Pringle.

“I was an ex-tennis player and it’s now taken over my life. I’m obsessed.

“The growth of the sport has just been incredible. I’ve only been to one other competition, which was the Nationals last year, so this is my first English Open, which is insane.

“It just seems to be getting bigger and bigger, even just in Poole and Dorset it’s just exploded.

"This was my first England Open and I’ve been lucky enough to partner up and win the 18+ 3.5 ladies doubles with an incredibly talented rising star, Lauren Gosling, who is just 13 years old. 

"Lauren also won bronze in the 18+ 3.5 singles.  Not only is pickleball a fantastic sport, I’ve hit the jackpot when it comes to making new friends."

This year’s English OPEN comprised seven days of high-level competition, with the world’s top professionals from America, Europe and Asia taking to the court in singles, doubles, mixed, wheelchair and junior events.

A hybrid of tennis, badminton & table tennis, the sport’s popularity has been attributed to its accessibility. Easy to pick up and fun to play, the sport’s accessibility transcends demographics, providing it with universal appeal.

“I’ve got similar vibes to the Nationals here at the Open, but it just feels bigger and very international,” said Pringle.

“I love all the diversity of the ages, the abilities, everyone loves it and that’s what’s the common factor.

“There’s competitiveness but there’s that real sense of kindness to one another and sportsmanship, I really like it, and I got a gold in the doubles which was really cool.”

Pickleball England has announced a record number of players competing at this year’s English OPEN from the 8th-14th August at the Telford International Centre in the largest pickleball event taking place outside of the USA EVER – visit pickleballengland.org