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The Team
Introducing the board of Directors for Y Ddraig Goch Pickleball Ltd – Pickleball Wales
Meet the Team
Paul Byron - Chairman
Paul has always played various sports throughout his life from Football to Table Tennis and became addicted to Pickleball following the Covid pandemic in 2020.
Now one of Anglesey’s top players Paul has competed at National & International tournaments, medalling at The English & Belgium Open 2023, The Irish Open 2022 and more recently in Nottingham 2024.
One of my proudest moments was being picked to represent Team Wales at the inaugural European Pickleball Championships held in Southampton back in November 2024.
Recently qualified as a IPTPA Level 1 Coach Paul plays a minimum of four times a week including providing coaching sessions to its members on Anglesey.
The founder member and Chairman of Pickleball Wales is delighted to see that Sport Wales have now recognised Pickleball as an official sport, Paul is passionate and determined to ensure that Y Ddraig Goch Ltd T/a Pickleball Wales secures its position as the official National Governing Body (NGB) for Wales.
Susan Evans - Director
My Pickleball journey started just before COVID on outside tennis courts , I have been hooked ever since. It’s not only the game but the community and Pickleball Family that is a big part of it , it is the best feeling ever to be part of something great .
I have competed in a number of National and International Tournaments. But my proudest moment was being selected to represent Wales at the inaugural European Pickleball championships in 2024.
I love spreading and developing Pickleball to everyone I can , I help run 3 weekly sessions and am a board member Of Anglesey Pickleball Club.
As a director of Pickleball Wales I feel my skills I learnt as a Business Support Officer for Weightlifting Wales can help develop Pickleball in Wales . I am looking forward to this exciting journey.
Katherine Knowles - Regional Director Anglesey & North Wales
Introduced to Pickleball in Bolton in 2017 at the ripe old age of 67, no one was more surprised than me when I won my first medal in the inaugral English Open in 2019! By which time I had migrated to the beautiful Isle of Anglesey, where I devoted the next 7 years to growing and developing the game here on the island and beyond. With no previous Raquet sport background, I’m super proud of winning a total of 11 medals to date in the UK, Europe, and as far afield as Thailand. Unbelievably, at one point, on the Pickleball Global rating system, I was ranked No 1 lady in the UK in the over 70s! However, my proudest achievement by far is spreading the pickleball love to so many others all across the island and helping other Clubs spring up along the North Wales coast. The formation of Pickleball Wales is the pinnacle, a dream come true, and brings so many new opportunities for growth across the whole of Wales.
With so much work still to be done, our goal must be to introduce this amazing sport and encourage the younger generations to take up this great game and ensure the future of Pickleball in Wales.
Matthew Hazlehurst - Regional Director South East Wales
I’m a PBE Level 1 Pickleball coach born and raised in Newport South Wales and even though I have only been playing a few years, I’m absolutely hooked and dedicated to the growth and development of pickleball in Wales. Currently I am the head coach at both Torfaen Pickleball Club and Matchbox Pickleball in South Wales and I am now Regional Director of South East Wales for Pickleball Wales.
I currently host tournaments through Dream breaker Pickleball events and run the Welsh Pickleball Club League as well as provide coaching clinics and club sessions in South Wales.
Pickleball has saved my life and has been a core part of it ever since I started, so I have a deep connection with the sport and its positive effect it can have on a person. That’s why it’s my goal to introduce, coach and bring pickleball players and communities together in such a fantastic sport and hopefully grow the sport in Wales and inspire others to do the same.
Scott Mayo - Regional Director South Wales
My pickleball journey began just over a year ago, and to say I fell in love with the sport would be an understatement. Three months in, I committed to it for life, quite literally, by getting a giant pickle playing pickleball tattooed on my leg!
As a Welsh International player and Pre-Europeans gold medallist, I’m passionate about establishing Wales as a formidable presence in the pickleball world.
My mission is clear: to make Wales a recognised and respected force on the pickleball stage, competing at the highest levels and medalling in major UK tournaments.
My life philosophy is simple: inject fun into everything you do. Combined with what others describe as my gregarious nature, this approach has helped me forge strong relationships with local venues and companies across South Wales.
Together, we’re making pickleball more accessible and hosting some of Wales’ largest tournaments to date!
I’m also spearheading (unofficially, for now) drilling and coaching sessions for a ‘Welsh Development Squad’ off the back of our European Pickleball Championship escapades. Don’t worry – I’ve got my Level 1 Coaching Qualification to back it up!
I’m not content with Wales being overshadowed by our noisy neighbours – we’re here to compete at the highest level. And personally? My bucket list has one very specific item: to hold one of those big cheques!
Kim McCall - Regional Director North East Wales
Kim joins the Board of Pickleball Wales having caught the pickleball bug in 2025.
A former tennis player, Kim represented Wales at the sport before gaining a scholarship at an American University. She went on to have a career in politics, working at the Houses of Parliament for several years, before moving into the charity sector where she worked in a policy role, focusing on influencing legislation and shaping national and sector-wide policy through advocacy and stakeholder engagement.
Kim has a wealth of board experience, having previously chaired the Board of Trustees at Wrexham Tennis & Padel Centre, as well as serving on a number of other not for profit trustee boards. Kim now coaches pickleball, and plays as much as she can, whilst also caring for her eight year old daughter.
Richard Welsford - Treasurer
I am 75 and have been playing Pickleball for about 11 years. I am passionate about developing the game and I’m part of the training team at Torfaen PC.
These are exciting times for Welsh Pickleball and I am proud to be a part of it, helping to establish Y Ddraig Goch Ltd T/a Pickleball Wales as Director and Treasurer.
Joel Baker - Company Secretary
I started Play Pickleball in January 2024 and I’ve fallen in love with the sport. I was lucky to represent Wales in the European Championships in Rome 2025. I want an opportunity to give back to all the other ‘pickleballers’ who have helped me get into the sport and continue to encourage others.
I was born and raised in the Rhondda Valleys.
I started playing tennis at around 8 years old where I played for Rhondda Tennis Club until recently.
At 14 I became a level 1 assistant coach and helped teach tennis in the Rhondda and Pontypridd. I also worked with Urdd sports teaching tennis and multisports through Welsh Language. At 18 I became a level 2 coach and also studied Finance & Investment in the University of South Wales as it’s now called. Alongside my studies I also then did coaching at Radyr Tennis Club & Taffs Well.
Finishing University, I worked briefly for the WJEC assisting with GCSE examinations before working in personal finance. I have now worked in finance for over 10 years and am a qualified member of the Chartered Insurance Institute.
