PICKLEBALL hot-shot Emily Wilson has achieved success at the highest level.
She was one of 20 players from the Port Stephens Pickleball Club who returned from the 2026 Stockland Halcyon Australian Pickleball Championships on the Gold Coast with an impressive haul of 14 medals.
Emily was the club’s most decorated player with four medals – claiming gold in the 19+ Women’s Skinny Singles (DUPR 3.49 and under) plus silver in the 19+ Women’s Singles and partnering Tori Eddy for a second silver in the 19+ Women’s Doubles (both with a DUPR 3.49 and under).
She also secured a bronze medal in the 19+ Mixed Doubles (DUPR 3.5 to 3.99) in a partnership with Joel Ingram.
Held at Pimpama Sports Hub, the Australian championships drew more than 1300 pickleball players from across the nation.
The Port Stephens-based club’s contingent competed in singles, doubles and mixed doubles events across a range of age and skill divisions – finishing with three gold, six silver and five bronze medals and nine club members reaching the podium.
Port Stephens Pickleball Club president John Grace marvelled at the incredible performances and medal-winning efforts of the touring squad.
“It was a superb effort by all our players to bring home 14 medals,” Grace told News Of The Area.
“I’m just so proud of the way our squad performed at the nationals and are being noticed in the pickleball community.”
The talented Ingram collected three medals – silver with Sean Andrews in the 19+ Men’s Doubles (DUPR 3.5–3.99), bronze in the 19+ Men’s Skinny Singles (DUPR 3.5 and above) and, partnered by Wilson, bronze in the 19+ Mixed Doubles (DUPR 3.5–3.99).
Bruce Scott combined with namesake Greg Scott to clinch gold in the 75+ Men’s Doubles (DUPR: Any Skill) while club vice president John McDonald teamed with Sandy Whitehead to win gold in the 60+ Mixed Doubles (DUPR 3.5–3.99).
The evergreen Grace claimed silver in the 70+ Men’s Skinny Singles (DUPR 3.5 and above); Cherrie McDougall took silver in the 65+ Women’s Skinny Singles (DUPR 3.49 and under); Debbie Black snared bronze in the 55+ Women’s Singles (DUPR 3.49 and under) and Trudie Paton, partnered by Sarah Cox, collected bronze in the 35+ Women’s Doubles (DUPR 3.49 and under).
A host of Port Stephens players reached the knockout rounds in highly competitive brackets including a 27-team split-age men’s doubles field.
The club’s veterans also met in a pool-play match in which the wily McDonald and Richard Lake came from 8-4 down to beat the much vaunted pairing of Grace and Tony Mayers 15-10.
A highlight of the tournament came on the final day when Val Mulhearn, the mother of club member Debbie Black, teamed with Peter Turnbull to pick up a silver medal with a masterclass display in the 75+ Mixed Doubles (DUPR: Any Skill).
Two Port Stephens exponents – newlyweds Nicole Goggin and Lachlan Gardiner – also competed at the championships, which made the first stop of their honeymoon.
Founded in 2019, Port Stephens Pickleball Club now boasts more than 240 members and welcomes new and visiting players at its Tomaree Netball Courts and Tomaree High School sessions.
By Chris KARAS
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