Just six months after taking up pickleball, Whakatāne mother-and-daughter duo Tiina Sirkku and Marina Sirkku have claimed the women’s doubles title at the Whakatāne Pickleball Club Championships.

The pair, who have spent years playing hockey and tennis together, won the final 11-4, 11-2 after entering the tournament with a clear strategy and strong on-court chemistry.

“We went in with a strategy; we knew who we were playing and we just had no mercy,” said Tiina Sirkku.

The championships, held at the Whakatāne Tennis Club courts on May 3, featured nine men’s pairs and five women’s pairs.

Gary Ball and Ollie Fort took out the men’s doubles title.

For Marina, winning alongside her mother made the day even more memorable.

“It was pretty cool,” she said. “Hopefully we get our name up on the board soon.”

Tiina said their long sporting history together helped them communicate naturally during matches.

“We’ve got a good mum-daughter bond,” she said.

“It’s not really about winning for us; it’s about playing our best and having fun together.”

The pair barely had time to celebrate before heading straight to a hockey match at Warren Park, where they also helped Whakatāne Central secure a win.

Pickleball – described as the world’s fastest-growing sport – combines elements of tennis, badminton and table tennis, using solid paddles and a perforated plastic ball on a smaller court.

The sport first started in Whakatāne about two-and-a-half years ago at Whakatāne War Memorial Sports Stadium before expanding to eight dedicated outdoor courts at the Whakatāne Tennis Club less than a year ago.

Club member Ball said participation had grown rapidly.

“We have around 100 people playing pickleball on a regular basis,” he said.

“Our club days are very busy and there’s an ever-growing membership.”

Ball said one of the major strengths of the sport was how easy it was for newcomers to pick up.

“There’s a very low barrier to entry for pickleball, which makes it easy to play and have fun,” he said.

“It’s a very easy game to learn, which means grandparents are able to get onto courts with grandkids and have some fun.”

The competitions are run using a grading system through the Swish app, which helps organise players into balanced match-ups.

Players are given a rating and grouped into doubles’ combinations in the different grades.

The club hosts regular graded games, beginner sessions and business house competitions, with around 64 players taking part in the Thursday night business games.

Tiina said the social side of the sport had been a drawcard.

“It’s a really fun crew, and there’s a whole lot of people that we didn’t know before pickleball.”

The Whakatāne Pickleball Club singles’ championships are scheduled for next month, and several Whakatāne players plan to compete at the NZ Pickleball Open in Auckland in September.

The club also runs beginner pickleball sessions every Saturday, from 10am to 11am, giving new players a chance to learn the basics in a relaxed and social environment.

The club is run entirely through the voluntary commitment of members.

For more information, visit https://clubspark.kiwi/WhakataneTennisClub/Coaching/Camps