ORGANISERS of a tournament for the latest craze in racket sport – pickleball – have urged people to come down to Oswestry next month for an event.

Mark and Julia Jones have organised a Pickleball Tournival for Saturday, July 13 at Oswestry Leisure Centre as part of a fundraising drive for the Hope House Children’s Hospice, based in Morda.

Mark said that they decided to put on the tournament to both raise money but also bring the sport they have fallen in love with to the masses.

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And he insisted that anyone who wants to play the sport, or is willing to find out more about it, will fall in love with it as quickly as they.

And he admitted that filling out the tournament slots so quickly has left them both feeling very proud.

“We’re delighted that only 24 hours after advertising it we were all booked out – we’re brimming with pride,” said Mark.

“Myself and Julia have had to buy all of the equipment, sort out with Shropshire Council for the use of the leisure centre and then ask the world to come to support us.

“It was a gamble but within 24 hours, all the spaces have gone and that’s great.

“There is an opportunity still for people to still come down on the day and help us whether it’s as a marshal or administrator and maybe see if places become available too.

“We want people to come along and see what pickleball is all about – we’re saying to people ‘please come along and have a look’.

“It’s going to be a lot of people having so much fun – it’s not exaggeration to say the game is so much fun.

“No-one can put their finger exactly on why it’s so much fun but we think it’s like watching kids play for the first time, like a keepy-uppy game.

“People watching say ‘can I have a go at that?’ and from there they are hooked.

“Nobody ever plays once – it’s so fun.”

Mark added that the plan is to provide refreshments and hopes that there will also be a raffle on the day.

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“We just want people to come along, enjoy it and help us raise money for charity,” he added.

Anyone wishing to donate to the fundraiser can do so at https://www.justgiving.com/page/julia-jones-1718950522433

The tournament ruins from 11am until 3pm at the centre in Shrewsbury Road.