An indomitable group of padel players known as The Yorkshire Unshakeables had a “wonderful immersive experience” at the recent Parkinson’s Nordic Open in Denmark.
The team, whose members all have Parkinson’s disease, were featured on The Padel Paper in January when we visited one of their weekly sessions at Harrogate Spa Tennis Club in North Yorkshire.
With the help of fundraising, the team of eight set off for the KIF Padel Club in southern Denmark on 28 May to compete with players from the host nation as well as Norway, Sweden, Finland and Belgium.
All who took part are at different stages of Parkinson’s, but had one shared belief: ‘We don’t just play padel — we prove what’s possible.’
“What an incredible and wonderful immersive experience for the team otherwise known as The Yorkshire Unshakeables!” reflected the Harrogate team’s talisman Tommy Leong.
“Thank you, Demark for organising and hosting such an unique international tournament. Your warm and welcoming ‘Hygge’ hospitality will etch deep into our memories for years to come.”
The Unshakeables’ best performances came from Roger Fayle and Rosemary Knox who won silver medals in the Category B draw.
Tommy said: “The real winners were all the participants who travelled from far and wide to take part, shared their stories and some made connections forging friendships along the way.”
One Unshakeables team member deserving of special mention was 82-year-old Neville Farmer — a man whose energy, humour, and sheer willpower inspire everyone around him.
When he’s not training, he’s singing in his local barbershop choir. “Neville reminds us that life with Parkinson’s can still be full of rhythm, movement, and joy,” said Tommy.
Reflecting on the Parkinson’s Padel Open, Tommy added: “This tournament is essentially an enabler for people living with Parkinson’s from different countries.
“We converge in one place, living, playing, eating, drinking, sharing stories and interacting with each other all under one roof.
“It’s quite an experience for us, making one feel like elite sportsmen competing in a tournament environment.”
The event helps raise awareness of Parkinson’s and shows that age and a long-term medical condition need not diminish drive and ambition.
Read more: ‘When I’m playing padel, I forget that I have Parkinson’s’
