Report on 2013 Pickleball Canada National Open Championship

Re: Pickleball Canada National Open Championship July 6 - 7, 2013

The second annual Pickleball Canada National Open Championship concluded on Sunday July 7th at 6.30pm.  To all accounts it was an extremely successful event. Our local participants fared well in the medals.  There were 228 registered participants in the event held at Abbotsford Recreation Centre and Yale Secondary School.  Many of the top players in the world participated in this National Event and the calibre of play was extremely high.  We have received many thanks and positive feedback.

A breakdown of the participants home province or state follows:

Number of registered participants from each location is in brackets after the location name as listed below:

CANADA:

B.C. Fraser Valley including Abbotsford, Aldergrove, Chilliwack, Mission - (45)

B.C. Interior including Kelowna, Kamloops, Vernon, Salmon Arm, Summerland, Penticton, Osoyoos, - (47)

Vancouver Island including Victoria, Nanaimo, Parksville - (27)

Greater Vancouver including Vancouver, Richmond, Burnaby, Surrey, Delta, Langley, Port Moody, Coquitlam - (51)

Sunshine Coast including Sechelt, Gibsons (6)

Alberta St. Albert (1), Alberta Beach (1), Camrose (2), Sturgeon County (1)

Saskatchewan Regina (1)

Manitoba Winnipeg (1)

Ontario London (2)

USA:

Washington Vancouver (1), Bellingham (6), Desmoines (1), Burien (1), Port Orchard (2), Lake Tapps (2), Washougal (2), Kirkland (1), Olympia (2), Kent(1), Mukilteo (1), Sumas (1), Lake Forest Park (2), Ruston (1).

California San Diego (1), Irvine (1), Los Angeles (2), Oceanside (1), Hamet (1)

Oregon Portland (3)

Arizona Surprise (1)

Indiana Fort Wayne (2), Brookeville (1)

Tennessee McDonald (1)

Virginia Richmond (1)

Alaska Juneau (2)

Florida Sarasota (2)

Hotel rooms booked for the tournament: From the report above, there were more than 130 participants who stayed in hotels. 

Pickleball Canada arranged a Social Dinner at Phoenix Lounge on July 6 and there were about 60 guests. Many other restaurants, shops and services received the financial benefits from these visitors to Abbotsford. 

Last year's 1st National Open Championship was a resounding success. This year's 2nd National Open had an additional 70 registrants and was also an unqualified success with even more out of town players. Top players came from all over Canada and the USA to compete in The Pickleball Canada National Open, the largest and most competitive pickleball tournament in Canada. The Mayor of Abbotsford welcomed the participants at the opening ceremony at 8:00 am on Saturday July 6.  Abbotsford News reported this exciting annual National event on July 10. http://www.abbynews.com/sports/214933581.html  All participants received Tourism Abbotsford information packages in addition to a logo'd water bottle from ARC and Pickleball Canada.  Photographs and names of winners are published on our websites, newsletters and blogs.

Our sincere thanks to all the sponsors, volunteers and players for your assistance and support of the 2013 Pickleball Canada National Open Championship !!!