The OPC Pickleball Club has had a great summer.
It recently wrapped up the summer season with its annual club tournament that featured 16 men’s doubles teams and 14 women’s doubles teams.
Winning this year’s club trophy in the men’s division was the tandem of Livio Tedesco and Bob Esseltine, who beat Ian Ward and Pat Chapman handily in the final. Finishing in third place was the duo of Tom Staite and Brian Snyder.
In the women’s competition, Linda Hays and Marina Bakker beat Linda Doerksen and Carolyn Pate to clinch this year’s club title. Placing third were the pair of Cyndy Burnside and Janet Gates.
The club is growing in numbers each year. It currently has over 170 members. Organizer, Tom Staite indicated that the club’s drop-in has been popular all throughout the summer.
“We had around 100 drop-ins this summer,” said Staite. “Some of them were from out of town, from Alberta and other places. The game is very popular.”
The club will continue to offer drop-ins, which cost $5. People interested in trying it out can join games almost every day from 9 a.m. to noon at the Community Park tennis courts.
Club president Jim Cunningham expressed sincere thanks to their sponsors Dairy Queen, Glen McPherson of Royal Lepage, Todd Sjogren and Keith Anderson of BMO Nesbitt Burns, and Kerry’s Car &Truck. He said they have shown a wonderful commitment to their sport in the Oceanside area with their contribution of prizes to their tournaments and their wind up dinner.
“The support that we received from our sponsors help us make these events special and we are very appreciative of them,” said Cunningham.
