A HELENSBURGH pickleball player has had a successful few weeks after returning home from the Commonwealth Games.

Lucy Elliott, 24, represented Team Scotland in the table tennis events in Birmingham last month.

The former Hermitage Academy pupil was one of four Scots competing in singles, doubles, and mixed doubles.

Since then, her attention has turned to a series of pickleball tournaments – a sport which combines elements of tennis, badminton and table tennis.

The game can be played as singles or doubles, with players hitting a polymer ball over a net using solid-faced paddles.

Competitors are categorised using ratings ranging from 1.0 to 6.0+ depending on their level, with 1.0 being used for beginners and 6.0+ for advanced players.

Lucy and partner Corinna Whitaker-Stone, who both represent Drumchapel Pickleball Club, recently competed in the 4.0 doubles at the Scottish Open, which was held at the National Badminton Academy at Scotstoun.

The pair won gold at the competition, before heading to Madrid to take part in the Spanish Open where they came third.

Lucy, who works as a civil servant, said: “It felt really good to get those back-to-back results.

“At the Scottish Open we were hoping to win it, but at the Spanish we went into the 5.0.

“We weren’t expecting to do anything there, so we were really happy to come away with a bronze medal.”

The duo only started competing in pickleball in April.

They kicked off their competitive career by winning gold in the 4.0 doubles at the Dutch Open in Arnhem and took part in the English Open which was held in Southampton in July.

Lucy and Corinna currently have no plans for their next outing together, but they have their sights set on the Danish Open.

The tournament will be held in Odense in November.