Barrington Coast Pickleball Tournament: The 2025 Barrington Coast Regional Pickleball Doubles Tournament will take place in Taree on Saturday, May 17 and Sunday, May 18. The event will be held at Wrigley Park courts and feature 185 players competing in 22 event categories. Competitors will travel from across the region, including Sydney and the Northern Rivers, to take part. Players range in age from 17 to 82, showing how pickleball continues to appeal to people of all generations.
This is the third year the tournament is being hosted by the Hallidays Point Pickleball Club. The event has grown each year and continues to attract more attention across New South Wales. Wrigley Park is one of the first locations in the state to have courts built specifically for pickleball, with permanent nets and marked surfaces designed just for the sport.
A Growing Sport in Australia
Pickleball is growing fast across the country. It started small but is now expanding quickly. A 2024 AusPlay report from Australia’s Clearinghouse for Sport and the Australian Sports Commission said that over 92,000 Australians played pickleball in the year leading up to June 2024.
The Pickleball Australia Association, the national body for the sport, said more people are joining every month. While more women play the sport than men, that gap is getting smaller. Also, the average age of players is dropping as younger people join in and see the sport as more than just a game for older people.
Pickleball and Community
The sport is known not just for fun and fitness, but for helping people stay connected. Many players are retirees who enjoy meeting others while staying active. Playing pickleball outdoors and in a group helps them feel part of a community.
Tournament head referee and Hallidays Point Pickleball Club member Janet Thatcher said, “The inclusivity of it all and the fact that it’s a good social event and exercise and gets you out and about and we love playing outdoors and being energetic and making new friends.”
“A lot of people from our area that play here have moved here in their retirement years, so this is their way of making new friends, and that is a big deal – and it’s something you can pick up so easily.” – (Janet Thatcher)
Medical studies have shown that low-impact exercise and social contact are important for health. Pickleball brings both of these together. It is easy to learn, fun to play, and can be enjoyed at any age.
Looking Ahead
The 2025 tournament shows how important pickleball has become to the region. As more people take up the sport, towns like Taree benefit from new visitors and community events.
Pickleball is no longer seen as a small hobby—it is now a key part of Australia’s growing sports scene. The Barrington Coast Regional Pickleball Doubles Tournament is helping lead the way.
News in Brief: Barrington Coast Pickleball Tournament
Taree will host the 2025 Barrington Coast Regional Pickleball Doubles Tournament on May 17–18. With 185 players and 22 event categories, the sport continues to grow in popularity. Pickleball’s appeal spans all ages, with players aged 17 to 82 competing at Wrigley Park’s dedicated courts.
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