Local pickleball players win medals at National Championships

Mark Dana and Kas Ingwersen compete in the under-55 mixed doubles event Saturday at the Pickleball Canada National Open Championships at the Abbotsford Recreation Centre

— Image Credit: Jean Konda-Witte Photo     

Staff Writer - Abbotsford News  posted Jul 8, 2014 at 11:00 AM

The Abbotsford Recreation Centre hosted the 3rd Pickleball Canada National Open Championship last weekend.  The event, the largest of its kind in Canada, welcomed 180 participants from as far away as Ontario, Florida and Alaska.  Many local pickleballers took part, and a handful even walked away with medals.

Andrew McKimmon of Mission won gold in two events: the under-55 men's doubles and the under-55 mixed doubles.  Karen Sawatsky of Abbotsford matched that performance, claiming gold in the 55-plus women's doubles and mixed doubles events.

Other Abbotsford medalists include Abbotsford's Matt Annan, who won silver in the 55-plus mixed doubles, and Matt Kahn and Henry Meerkerk, who shared bronze in 65-plus men's doubles.  Bronze medals also went to Ken Franz in the 55-plus mixed doubles, Claire Pool in the 55-plus women's doubles, and Kathleen Parkes in the 65-plus mixed doubles.