OVER 186 keen pickleballers descended on the Port Macquarie PCYC this past weekend, their eyes set on serving their way to victory at the annual Dink Fest Pickleball Competition.
Held over two days, Dink Fest drew competitors from far and wide, with the centre seeing crowds lining the hallways and filling the grandstand to get a glimpse of the action.
“The atmosphere was buzzing all weekend”, Zac Campbell, PCYC Port Macquarie Club Manager, told News Of The Area.
“Courts were packed, heaps of people hanging around between games, cheering, laughing, and genuinely getting behind the players.
“You could feel that mix of competitiveness and community vibe at the same time.”
“It wasn’t just players either – friends, family, first-timers and regular PCYC faces all showed up, which made it feel like a proper event, not just a comp.
“People attending the club for all different reasons even stopped to watch.”
With multiple events on the agenda including singles, doubles and mixed doubles, and divisions organised by skill level and age group, the tournament followed an initial round-robin format.
Play followed by single-elimination medal matches in each category with competitors guaranteed multiple matches and ultimately, medals awarded in each bracket.
With high quality pickleball played across the entire weekend, there were some stand-out performances by local players that saw a heavy amount of metal stay on home turf.
Wade Hargreaves and Tanya Pye won gold in the Over 50s Mixed Doubles.
Ian Smallwood took home gold in the Men’s Over 60s Doubles with Ross Matados, as well as bronze with wife Judy in the Over 60s Mixed Doubles.
High-spirited duo Laura Robertson and Sophie Taylor dominated their way to silver in the Over 19s Women’s Doubles.
Port PCYC pairing Craig Luff and Kim Gallery fought hard in the Over 19s Mixed Doubles bronze medal match against fellow PCYC duo Edward Clebsh and Rikki Waller, with Craig and Kim ultimately taking home the prize.
The competitiveness of local pickleballers is evidentially thanks to the community that embraces them warmly week after week.
“The pickleball community at PCYC is unreal.
“Super welcoming, supportive, and everyone is genuinely passionate about the sport”, said Zac.
“New players get pulled straight in, experienced players are happy to share tips, and everyone backs each other.
“It’s one of those communities where skill level doesn’t matter, if you show up, you’re in.”
With pickleball growing in popularity across the country, events like Dink fest are a huge win for regional areas.
The indoor nature of the PCYC was well-suited for summer play which was a big draw card for both local and travelling competitors.
It’s a much-welcome boost for the PCYC as well as for local businesses and the community as a whole.
“Events like this are massive for the centre”, said Zac.
Not only do events bring new faces through the doors who may have not visited the PCYC before, but also build stronger connections with existing members and give them something to be proud of.
“[Events] create pathways from casual play into competitions, and makes PCYC something of a hub for emerging sports, not just traditional programs,” said Zac.
Now in its second year, Dink Fest continues to strengthen the pickleball community across regional NSW and beyond.
The event delivers high-quality competitive play outside major city centres while welcoming players of all ages and skill levels.
Dink Fest is the first event of the 2026 sanctioned tournament calendar, Dink Fest signalling the beginning of competitive play for the year ahead.
By Rikki WALLER
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