New Pickleball Canada Member Pete Darvill

New Pickleball Canada Member Pete Darvill by Dave Shepherd (Photo of Pete's friends trying out Pete's new USAPA portable net, looks fantastic!!)
Pete Darvill is a golfing friend of mine who joined Pickleball Canada recently. I introduced Pete to pickleball about one year ago. He plays in Ladner and Richmond about 3 times per week, also plays in Cloverdale maybe once a week. He also plays golf 5 days a week with me. He also plays baseball and racquetball although golf and pickleball are his main sports today.

He grew frustrated at trying to get a local municipality to convert an unused tennis court to pickleball so he bought a portable net from USAPA as well as a chalk line and constructs his own outdoor court any time he needs to. Having played some outdoor games in Mesa, he wanted to have that opportunity here as well as the indoor facilities. Now he can play anytime, anywhere in Canada and USA.
The net is the $140.00 net from USAPA website.
Congratulations, Pete and welcome to Pickleball Canada!!

Delta Parks and Rec are in the process of revitalising the 3 tennis courts at Cromie Park [adjacent to Ladner elementary School] and are willing to line some PBall courts! They will be painting the lines in order to accomodate both tennis and pickleball!!!

Tuesday Afternoon Full with 28 Players

Four courts were full with about 28 players, 12 players waiting to play. ARC was so nice to open up four more courts for us. Lots of players: Matt, Pat, Annette, Kathy, Carol, Dean, Henrietta, Michelle, Iris, Tom, Richard, Henry, Martin, Lesley, Nigel, Elaine, George, Ben, Bill, Ken, Mandy, Grant. Dillon and Bal are two new younger players. We welcomed two new players Jason (Joyce's son) and his girlfriend Aimee from Australia. They are on their way to Nova Scotia. Aimee is from Nova Scotia and she said it can get as cold as -30 there. Joyce and I taught them how to play for the first time and they really enjoyed it. They stayed for snacks and enjoyed watermelon, pickles, cheese and chips and friendly chats with us.

4 Pickleball Courts this Week and Aug 8 Week

This week we will only have 4 courts on Tuesday and Thursday afternoon due to the summer kids sportball schedule. On Aug 8 and Aug 10, we will also only have four courts. This summer only three weeks are interrupted with 4 courts, otherwise we always have 8 courts available to pickleball.

A Message from Terry McLaughlin in Scotland

We have an email message from Terry McLaughlin in Scotland. He is staying with his wife's mother in Kirriemuir, Scotland, a beautiful red sandstone town not far from St. Andrews. It is also Dave's hometown and Terry and Anne visited Dave's sister and brother-in-law. He wants to say "Hello" to all pickleballers. He went to Scotland last January for one year and he will be back next January. Sounds like he misses us and pickleball:

Terry McLaughlin here; say hello to all at the pickle ball, not getting any PB over here in Scotland but have been getting lots of golf and walking.

We will be heading back in January and will get back to some pickleball then, give our best regards to everyone.
Terry

New Pickleball Time Saturday 6 - 7:45pm

Saturday evening 6-7:45 pm is a new time at ARC!!! Many families are playing pickleball and enjoying this great sport together. Tonight Herman, his son and two grandsons were playing pickleball. Mike, Dave and I played with Rhys and Herman. Herman's son played the first time with his two sons ages 6 and 10, laughing, rallying and having a lot of fun.

Tuesdays and Thursdays are always full of players on all 8 courts. Last Thursday 8 courts were full with about 35 players. Mike and I played with Grant and his brother Doug and his wife (both visiting from Tokyo, Japan). Grant's son Isaiah also played really well. Mike and I taught a young couple how to play a game. Young players can pick up this game quickly and play really well in a short period of time.

Wednesdays 'New to Pickleball' are always full with regular players as well as new players. Last Wednesday Andre, Grant, Nigel, Leslie, Herb, Annette, George, Claire, Jane, Robin from Calgary, Mike, Kathy were there. Nigel, Leslie and their daughter Caroline are new players.

ABBOTSFORD NEWS - EYE ON THE BALL

http://www.bclocalnews.com/fraser_valley/abbynews/sports/125577518.html
PHOTO: Eye on the ball by John Morrow
Published: July 14, 2011 10:00 AM
Updated: July 14, 2011 10:24 AM
Beryl Kusch connects on a return during the second annual Abbotsford Pickleball Tournament on Saturday at Abbotsford Rec Centre. The event drew 67 entries from across B.C. and Washington State. Pickleball, a raquet sport that combines elements of badminton and tennis, is said to be one of the fastest-growing sports in North America.

ABBOTSFORD 2ND ANNUAL PICKLEBALL TOURNAMENT

July 9, 2011 Abbotsford 2nd Annual Pickleball Tournament was a great success !!!

ARC was swarmed with players arriving as early as 7 am and our tournament was finished at about 6 pm. We had about 67 competitors from all over B.C. including Nanaimo, Ladner, Port Moody, Kelowna, Chilliwack, South Surrey and two from Washington State. We were lucky to have a visitor from Sacramento who was able to fill in for a player unable to make it. We took a group photo at 8:30 am with about 52 players in attendance, about 15 players under 55 arrived later. We had many of the top players in the province playing. The level of play was fantastic, 3.5 to 5 levels.

An Abbotsford News photographer stayed for some time taking many photographs. He had never seen pickleball before but he is enthused about the game and can't wait to play. An ARC Senior Newsletter photographer was also there taking some pictures.

A big thank you to Laura Kerr and Ryan from ARC who helped all day in setting up, player registrations, supplying beautiful medals and excellent food, organizing both gyms for the tournament.

Thanks to our sponsors who provided the door prizes: ARC, Pickleball Canada, Murray GM, S-Type Sports, North Bellingham Golf Course and other anonymous donors.

Thanks to all our volunteers: Colin, Catherine, Dorothy, Leslie and Nigel. Referees: Pat, Mandy and Elaine. Line judges: Ken and Grant... Thanks to Grant representing S-Type Sports helping us at our tournament.

Congratulations to all the medal Winners:

Mixed Doubles 55+
Gold John Kusch/Elaine Lerner
Silver Colin Caldwell/Theresa Orcutt
Bronze Pat Copp/David Touchet

Mens Doubles 55+
Gold John Kusch/David Touchet
Silver Del Iggulden/Paul Ellis
Bronze Ronnie Pitcher/Garth Watkins

Ladies Doubles 55+
Gold Elaine Lerner/Theresa Orcutt
Silver Pat Copp/Terry Saunders
Bronze Elaine Griffiths/Kathy Parkes

Mixed Doubles Under 55
Gold Luba Zhekhovskaya/Denis Zhekhovskiy
Silver Del Iggulden/Karen Iggulden
Bronze Brenda Ellis/Reg Skinner

Mens Doubles Under 55
Gold Reg Skinner/Denis Zhekhovskiy
Silver Rhys Martel/Mike Shepherd
Bronze George Pool/Ganbat Tsend

Ladies Doubles Under 55
Gold Karen Iggulden/Luba Zhekhovskaya
Silver Madalene Choy/Jody Yeh
Bronze Dee Pitcher/Trudy Pitcher

Fantastic prizes: Pickleball shoulder holders, paddle covers and T-Shirts from Pickleball Canada, a new Storm Paddle from S-Type Sports, two golf passes from North Bellingham Golf Course, two 'Cadillac' teddy bears and Upholstery cleaners from Murray GM, paddle cover from Grant Brittain, ARC personal training session passes, ARC one month passes, other prizes from pickleball friends include Cross pen, silver tray, two silver sandwich trays, glass salad bowl, electric juicer, kitchen utensil holder, 5 boxes of chocolates, water bottles and thermal mugs.

There were at least 5 parent and son/daughter teams. Congratulations to one family won gold medals: Luba Zhekhovskaya/Denis Zhekhovskiy, another family won Silver medals: Dee Pitcher and Trudy Pitcher.

Abbotsford Pickleball Tournament Information

Abbotsford 2nd Annual Pickleball Tournament
Abbotsford Recreation Centre, 2499 McMillan Road, Abbotsford, B.C.
July 9, 2011. 8:30 am - 5 pm.

Players should make sure they are on time to check in (some may need to sign waivers) and be ready to play by 8:30 am. The first division to play will be Mixed Doubles 55+ with 16 teams on 8 courts at 8:30 am. The other five divisions will follow in no particular order: Mens Doubles 55+, Ladies Doubles 55+, Mixed Doubles Under 55, Mens Doubles Under 55, Ladies Doubles Under 55. There will be over 100 matches.

There will be a brief rules meeting ten minutes beforehand. We look forward to seeing you all on July 9 !!!

Tournament Information:
- Double Elimination format.
- All games to 15 win by two.
- Green Jugs indoor ball will be used.
- Red wrist bands provided to first servers on both teams.
- Name tags provided.
- Two to three minutes warm-up only.
- Two one-minute time outs per team per match if required.
- Coins will be available at court side to decide first serve or sides.
- Teams can switch sides at 8, if so desired.
- Winners responsible to provide the score card to either a court runner or Scorekeeper.
- Finals in Gold matches will be refereed.
- Medals will be presented to the 1st, 2nd and 3rd place finishers for Mens. Ladies and Mixed Doubles.
- Photographs will be taken at the medal presentations.
- Prize draws in the afternoon. You must be present or have someone present for you to win a draw prize.
- Lunch provided betwenn 11:30 - 1:30pm.
- Coffee and baked goods and fruit available throughout the day.