To celebrate World Pickleball Day, representatives from the soon-to-open Hurlands Pickleball & Padel Club in Farnham visited Eggar’s School in Alton and St Polycarp’s Primary School in Farnham.

England Seniors team captain Richard Love, who is the current English national and European champion at senior level and is ranked number 13 in the world, joined Hurlands' co-founders Sally Grace and Andre Strachan for games with pupils.

Grace and Strachan are both accomplished players, winning gold in the 45+ mixed doubles at the 2024 English Open, with Grace also taking gold in the women’s doubles.

Grace said: “World Pickleball Day is about showing people how easy it is to pick up a paddle, join in, and enjoy the game.

“Pickleball has a unique way of bringing people together. It’s active, competitive when you want it to be, but above all, it’s fun.

“We want to see more people discover that for themselves.”

Strachan added: “Our visits are just a small glimpse of what’s to come.

“Early next year, we’ll open the UK’s largest dedicated pickleball and padel centre in Farnham.

“It will be open to everyone, whether you want to drop in for a casual game, play competitively, or simply enjoy the social side of the club. World Pickleball Day is the perfect moment to look ahead to that.”

Love, the newly-appointed general manager of Hurlands, said: “Teaching this exciting new sport to students is a reminder of why this sport is growing so quickly.

“The game is immediate, fun, and gives young people the confidence to get involved.

“Inspiring the next generation is a big part of our vision at Hurlands.

“These are the first of many school visits we plan across Surrey and Hampshire as we build links with the local community.”

Sian Ramsden, head of sport at St Polycarp’s Primary School and co-chair of Farnham & Ash District Primary Schools Sports Association, said: “We were really pleased to welcome the team from Hurlands to St Polycarp's Primary School.

“Their visit gave our students a fantastic introduction to pickleball, and it’s been brilliant to see how quickly they’ve taken to it.

“It’s great to see local organisations supporting healthy lives and bringing energy into school sport.

"Through the Farnham & Ash District Primary Schools Sports Association, we’re always looking for ways to increase participation and make sport more inclusive, and pickleball offers something new and accessible, helping young people to build resilience, develop teamwork and stay active.”

Sarah Holman, headteacher at Eggar’s School, said: "It was a pleasure to have the team from Hurlands join us at Eggar’s.

“Not everyone connects with traditional team sports, so introducing something like pickleball can open the door for more young people to get involved.

"It is about giving students opportunities to be active, to have fun, and to feel like they belong in sport, whatever their starting point.

“That sense of inclusion and confidence can carry through into all areas of school life and beyond.

“We look forward to working more with Hurlands in the future.”

When it opens in early 2026, Hurlands Farnham will offer ten courts for pickleball and seven padel courts, plus social spaces, studios, treatment rooms, a bistro restaurant and cafe. With full disabled access and pay and play availability, the club will be accessible to all ages and abilities.