The sport of pickleball will be on full display in Greater Vernon this week.
The Vernon Pickleball Association (VPA) is hosting the Pickleball Depot Provincial Championships July 24-27. There will be 600 athletes, from all corners of the province, travelling to Vernon to compete.
Over the four days of competition, there will be five events held, including men鈥檚 and women鈥檚 singles and doubles, along with mixed doubles. In all there are 62 different competitions in the various divisions and age groups. The age groups range from 13 to more than 70 years old.
鈥淰ernon Pickleball Association is pleased to be hosting, once again, the BC Pickleball Championships, with 600 competitors and 40 accredited referees," said tournament director Richard Chambers. "Dedicated volunteers are filling over 300 shifts over the four days. Without these folks, we could not put on such an event.鈥�
This tournament is the final opportunity for players to impress selectors and be named to Team BC, which will represent the province at the national championships in Winnipeg in August.
Spectators are welcome at the three venues, which are the VPA building and adjacent tennis courts at Marshall Field, and there will be matches played Saturday only, July 26, at Creekside Park in Coldstream.
Competition starts at 8 a.m each day, wrapping up at approximately 6 p.m.
Action starts Thursday with the men鈥檚 and women鈥檚 singles events. The women鈥檚 doubles teams will hit the courts on Friday. Mixed doubles takes over Saturday and the tournament wraps up Sunday with men鈥檚 doubles event.
Christine Castrucow is the media liaison for the VPA
