About Us
About Love Pickle Club Wellington
Love Pickle Club Wellington was established to address the growing shortage of dedicated pickleball facilities in Wellington and New Zealand.
Creating the best dedicated pickleball facility in the country requires more than great courts. It requires the right people.
Love Pickle Club Wellington brings together a team with deep experience across governance, sport, coaching, operations, hospitality, finance and community engagement to deliver a professionally run, inclusive and sustainable facility.
Jason & Sharon
Shaun & Vic
Sharon, Jason, Shaun, Jon, Vic, Paula, Will and Abbey are joining forces to bring this dream of a home for pickleball in Wellington to life.
Will Dewhirst - Programmes Manager
Level 2 IPTPA Coach qualified NZ Pickleball Team Captain 2024
Will has always been passionate about sports, earning a Bachelor of Sports Coaching and working in Performance Analysis while coaching football.
He discovered pickleball in 2018 at a pop-up session at Ākau Tangi Sports Centre and was instantly hooked by the energy and community of the sport. In 2019, he launched Wellington’s first local pickleball programme, helping lead to the formation of the Wellington Pickleball Club, where he served on the committee and as head coach.
Will has competed successfully across New Zealand, captained the New Zealand Open Pickleball Team at the 2024 World Pickleball Cup in Peru, and competed in Major League Pickleball Australia in 2025.
With Love Pickle Club Wellington, he aims to build a welcoming community where players of all levels can grow and enjoy the sport.
Paula Duffy - Operations Manager
Level 1 IPTPA Coach qualified
Paula discovered her passion for pickleball five years ago after attending a session in Porirua led by Will. Since then, she has become a dedicated and active member of the Wellington Pickleball Club, serving on both the club committee and the Pickleball Cup sub-committee.
With a strong background in administration and event organisation, Paula plays an important role behind the scenes. She helps keep things running smoothly at Love Pickle Club Wellington while also managing social media to keep the community informed and connected.
Paula was also New Zealand’s first Love Pickle Ambassador during the brand’s launch and is proud to represent Love Pickle while helping grow the sport in Wellington.
Dylan Infield - Pickleball Facilitator
Level 1 IPTPA Coach qualified
Dylan first discovered pickleball in January 2022 at Ākau Tangi Sports Centre and quickly became passionate about the sport. With a strong sporting background, he was drawn to both the competitive side and the welcoming community.
Since then, Dylan has immersed himself in every aspect of pickleball — competing from beginner levels through to PPA Pro draws, running sessions, organising tournaments, helping develop clubs, and contributing to the Pickleball New Zealand Association board.
His coaching has taken him around the world, sharing his knowledge with players in over 12 countries. At Love Pickle Club Wellington, Dylan is excited to help players of all levels develop their skills and discover their love for the game.
Abbey Webb - Pickleball Facilitator
Level 1 IPTPA Coach qualified NZ Table Tennis Representative 2019, 2022, 2023
Abbey has always had a strong passion for sport, building an impressive background through five years of International Table Tennis competition.
She has proudly represented and coached within Table Tennis New Zealand, developing both her performance and leadership skills. Through coaching, Abbey has fostered player growth while creating positive, supportive environments.
Now, she is excited to bring her experience and energy into the pickleball space, embracing the community and helping players of all levels build confidence, improve their game, and enjoy everything the sport has to offer.
John Perkinson - Pickleball Facilitator
John has just earned a bachelor's degree in Sports Coaching, majoring in leadership in Management. He has a strong background in football coaching, psychology, and sport-science, and emphasises positive, engaging environments where any level of athlete can learn, compete, and enjoy themselves.
He discovered pickleball through the sport’s growing community in New Zealand and was immediately drawn to its fast pace, competitiveness, and social atmosphere. Viewing it like a game of chess played at speed, John loves the layers of strategy, problem-solving, and calculated decision-making within pickleball. Alongside coaching football, he has continued to build his experience within pickleball and contribute to the sport’s rapid growth.
Through Love Pickle Club Wellington, John aims to create an inclusive and energetic environment where players of all ages and abilities feel welcome, and become part of a strong community built on and off the court.
Alex Britton - Pickleball Facilitator
Level 1 IPTPA Coach qualified
Alex brings a strong background in sport and community development, having spent 14 years with Ignite Sport delivering programmes that connected young people with sport and positive life experiences.
He discovered pickleball through local sessions and quickly became passionate about the sport’s ability to bring people together. Alex played a key role in helping establish the Upper Hutt Pickleball Club, contributing to its early growth and creating opportunities for more people to get involved.
What drives Alex most is introducing new players to the game—especially those trying it for the first time. He loves seeing people build confidence, connect with others, and experience the fun and energy that makes pickleball so unique.
At Love Pickle Club Wellington, Alex is excited to continue growing the game by creating welcoming, inclusive experiences where everyone feels comfortable to give it a go and keep coming back.
We will be adding more content to the website as this journey unfolds.