THE first Isle of Wight Pickleball Festival was hosted at West Wight Sports and Community Centre, in Freshwater.

The recent tournament had a format of games played to 11 points, for players of all abilities. 

Participants teamed up with different individuals for each game, and gathered points in a league-style format.

The overall winner was Alan Nixon.

The event was sponsored by Island-based business, The Pickleball Store, with prizes and demo paddles for players to try.

Planning is already underway for a similar event later in the year, designed to build upon the success of the Island's pickleball stars who played at the English Open Pickleball International last year.

Pickleball is a paddle sport that combines elements of badminton, tennis and table tennis. 

Two or four players use solid paddles made of wood or composite materials to hit a perforated polymer ball, similar to a Wiffle Ball, over a net.

Shannon Kilcullen, a gym and fitness supervisor at the West Wight Sports and Community Centre, said: "We are thrilled with the success of pickleball in the West Wight and delighted to have hosted the first pickleball festival on the Isle of Wight. 

"Our aim at the centre is to provide a wide range of opportunities for the community to take part in sports at all levels.”