Julie Norris describes competing at the World Parkinson’s Championships as a ‘magical’ experience and says she is proud of her achievement of reaching the last 16.

Julie only started playing the sport in May 2024 after having to retire from teaching. But she has already played in three World Championships, including in Shanghai, China, this month.

She played women’s singles, women’s doubles and mixed doubles at the event, which attracted more than 200 competitors from all over the world.

Julie is a member of the Ormesby club in Middlesbrough, and was last year included in a BBC feature on the successful Parkinson’s sessions at the club.

She won two of her three group matches in Women’s Class 1 Singles to reach the main draw, where she was edged out 3-2 (11-7, 5-11, 2-11, 11-8, 11-6) by Wu Chang-Ying of Chinese Taipei in the last 16.

In the women’s doubles, Julie competed alongside Veronique Grisot Garbacz of France and the pair were unlucky to miss out on the knockout stage, with three of the four pairs in the group having finished level on one win each. They missed out on sets countback.

Julie was part of an all-British pair in the mixed doubles, with Steven Morley of Scotland, but they were unable to win any of their group matches.

Julie said: “It takes so much effort and courage to participate in an event such as the World Parkinson’s Championships, but you get so much back that it makes it feel magical: incredible support, new and exciting friendships and a bucket-load of memories (with a sprinkling of competitiveness) that will last a lifetime.

“As my Ormesby mixed doubles partner says, ‘It’s like one big Parky Hug’. 

“I was placed in a higher classification group than I usually play – I usually play class 2. I came second in my group in the singles and progressed to the final 16 but I got nervous and lost the game in the last set. (I’m) frustrated but proud of my achievements.”

Julie’s husband Chris accompanied her to China and played in a special category for caregivers, family and public, losing out 2-0 (11-4, 11-3) to Alexander Menzel of Germany in the last 16.

Results

Women’s Singles Class 1
Group 7
Julie Norris bt Yang Xiaojin (CHN) 3-0 (11-5, 11-8, 12-10)
Norris bt Barbara Schneider-Romen (AUT) 3-1 (7-11, 12-10, 11-9, 11-3)
Nuria Santos Mateos (ESP) bt Norris 3-0 (11-7, 11-2, 11-5)

Round of 16
Wu Chang-Ying (TPE) bt Norris 3-2 (11-7, 5-11, 2-11, 11-8, 11-6)

Mixed Doubles Class 1
Group 4
Wang Dinan & Mo Zihua (CHN) bt Steven Morley (SCO) & Julie Norris 3-2 (8-11, 11-8, 11-7, 10-12, 12-10)
Thierry Louge & Veronique Grisot Garbacz (FRA) bt Morley & Norris 3-0 (11-3, 11-2, 11-4)
Liu Shengping & Chen Le (CHN) bt Morley & Norris 3-0 (11-4, 11-5, 11-2)

Women’s Doubles Class 1
Group 2
Fang Yu-Fen & Huang Mei-Chun (TPE) bt Julie Norris & Veronique Grisot Garbacz (FRA) 3-1 (5-11, 11-7, 11-6, 11-9)
Norris & Grisot Garbacz bt Wang Yanyan & Yang Xiaojin (CHN) 3-2 (11-9, 6-11, 11-8, 1-11, 11-6)
Jan Agnes (AUT) & Eva-Lena Jansson (SWE) bt Norris & Grisot Garbacz 3-1 (13-15, 11-5, 11-4, 11-8)