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1st UK Ambassador for R.A.W
I am proud to announce that Reign and Win have seized the opportunity to show their support for Para Pickleball in the UK by selecting me as their first UK ambassador.
A small USA-based company that has grown from Gregory Storm retired Pro and a key figure in the development of the game. Is focused on the grassroots and community development, gives a % of sales for the upkeep of bees (essential to our planet) and is a keen advocate of the adaptive game.
I even have a couple of paddles for people to try out and can sort you a good deal.
Pickleball - My journey, my obsession, my mental health
I have become addicted to this inclusive, accessible, fun, and social sport that is called Pickleball. This is my journey and how I hope to improve as a player myself, while growing the sport and introducing other disabled players to this wonderful game.
Hybrid Team Tournament 2026 Video
Quality video from the Hybrid Team Tournament 2026 at Courtside Pickleball
Hybrid Team Tournament 2026
The event was amazing. Great atmosphere, awesome play and a fantastic showcase of how inclusive this sport is. Check out some of the photos from the day below.
World First
The first-ever Team Hybrid Tournament
This tournament is a world first (as far as we know). The USA have hosted a hybrid format as an event in a tournament, but we believe there has never been a tea- format dedicated tournament, anywhere globally.
This tournament will pair two adaptive players (wheelchair or para-standing) with two non-disabled players.
The focus of this tournament is fun and social competition. It is about supporting and learning from each other. With this in mind:
Each team will be allocated a Team Captain/Adviser. These are coaches and experienced players from across the West Midlands.
There are two reasons for this:
- Provide the team with advice and coaching from those that have a good knowledge of Pickleball.
- Learning opportunity for coaches/experienced players to expand their knowledge and learn about the adaptive game.
- To take the awareness back to their clubs and promote the adaptive game and how inclusive this fantastic sport is.
Teams will play each other with the following matches:
- Hybrid Doubles - adaptive and non-disabled pairs (2 pairs)
- Adaptive Doubles - adaptive pairs
- Doubles - non-disabled pairs
The team format was chosen to provide those with less experience of playing a more supportive environment, as they are part of a larger team, reducing the pressure of their first-ever tournament. It also means that they are partnered with more experienced players to learn more about the game.
Keep on going
We will all have highs and lows.
I have had to take more time off my legs over December 25 -February 26 due to sores.
I am slowly building back and having to choose between wearing my legs to play or to get around.
I choose to play because pickleball really helps with my mental health and wellbeing.
There are times I feel down about not being able to play, but when I can, all my other problems go on hold for those few precious hours.
R.A.W Ambassador Announcement
English Nationals 2025
Always looking to improve myself. As there is no real established para-standing pathway yet. I enjoy nothing more than playing with and against non-disabled players.
It makes me push myself to be better, showcases that disability does not need to define you and provides more opportunities to compete.
I also managed my first ATP in tournament play. Unfortunately, it wasn't filmed. Even though overall it was a bad day at the office, making that shot more than made up for it.
English Open:
Breaking New Ground: The First Ever Para Standing Event
August 2025 marked a historic moment for UK pickleball: the introduction of the Para Standing category. Despite the global growth of the sport, opportunities for disabled people—particularly standing players—have remained limited, often due to lack of awareness, experience, or visibility. It was no surprise, then, that the first event was small in numbers, with just seven athletes originally registered: five from Ukraine and two from Great Britain. As the day approached, we learned that one Ukrainian player hadn’t made the journey, and one of the British entrants withdrew at the last minute. That left five of us—myself representing Great Britain, and four determined athletes from Ukraine.
Karen Mitchell, CEO of Pickleball England, encapsulated the occasion with her words: “It’s you, flying the flag for GB against Ukraine.” The Ukrainian delegation was formidable, bringing with them not only standing athletes but wheelchair athletes, enthusiastic supporters, and interpreters. For a brief moment, I wondered how I would connect with my competitors. None of the Ukrainian players spoke English, and my Ukrainian, sadly, was non-existent. But with a little help from Google Translate, we built bridges, swapping stories and sharing our journeys. I learned it had taken them three days to travel to Telford, supported by a sponsor, and it dawned on me that flying directly from Kyiv to Birmingham just wouldn’t be an option during wartime.
