Teenager Matthew Davidson has been celebrating after claiming world championship bronze – within the uncommon sport of racketlon.
Racketlon combines the sports activities of desk tennis, badminton, squash and tennis.
And having taken up the game simply over two years in the past, 15-year-old Matthew, from Newton Reigny, close to Penrith, final month was chosen to signify Nice Britain on the World Racketlon Group Championships in Zurich, Switzerland.
There, Davidson was paired with Will Gregson, of Manchester, as a GB second-team, with Ross Wilson and GB primary Luke Griffiths making up the first-team.
As a pairing, Davidson and Gregson acquitted themselves properly, shedding to the eventual silver medal pairing from Hungary and have been positioned fourth total, narrowly lacking out on a medal.
However celebrations have been in hand as GB’s first-team of Griffiths and Wilson comprehensively defeated the Hungarian pair.
Then, within the singles occasion, Davidson reached the semi-final the place he was properly overwhelmed by Hungarian Botond Francia earlier than the Cumbrian claimed a win over fellow Brit Ross Wilson to safe bronze.
With Wilson main 21-16 after the desk tennis, Davidson hit again to take the badminton 21-15.
Then, in his strongest sport of squash, Wilson inflicted a 21-12 defeat over Davidson.
However Davidson rallied to win the tennis 21-10 to safe bronze.
Matthew’s dad, Andy, says it’s a sport he enjoys watching.
“It’s fairly one thing, truly,” he mentioned. “I like watching any sport however racketlon is nice to look at.”
On his son’s world championship success, Andy added: “It’s a little bit of an eye-opener.
“While you have a look at the elite males that play the game, you get males which have performed on the ATP tour in tennis.”
Matthew is aiming to go one higher as he seems to be to safe a European Championship medal subsequent yr.
Presently, he receives squash teaching in Egremont and desk tennis coaching in Whitehaven.
