(L-R) Richard Chambers, VPA tournament committee chair; Cara Arding, owner of Pickleball Depot; Leah Peebles, Pickleball Depot representative; Brent Bolin, VPA vice president. (Submitted photo/Vernon Pickleball Association)

By Liam Verster

Pickleball

‘Rally in Valley’ starts Friday

Aug 10, 2022 | 12:25 PM

Pickleballers will be flocking to Vernon for a weekend-long tournament.

The Vernon Pickleball Association, in partnership with Pickleball Depot, is hosting the inaugural ‘Rally in the Valley Powered by Pickleball Depot’ tourney from Aug. 12–14.

The event will take place at the National Bank Financial — Okanagan Wealth Advisers Pickleball Complex in Marshall Field Park.

“The VPA is excited to host the three-day ‘Rally in the Valley’ pickleball tournament,” said Richard Chambers, VPA Tournament Committee chairperson.

“Two hundred fifty players from all corners of the province are supported by 120 volunteers. It is our fourth and largest tournament of the year. Pickleball players from around Canada are eager to visit Vernon to take advantage of our wonderful covered facility and all that Vernon has to offer.”

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The Rally is the Valley is a competitive doubles-style tournament, as sanctioned by Pickleball Canada and Pickleball B.C.

The women’s doubles will be held Friday, mixed doubles on Saturday, and the men’s doubles games will go Sunday. Matches will begin at 8 a.m. each day.

“We are thrilled to have the opportunity of title tournament sponsor with the club who has supported us since our business inception,” said Cara Arding, owner of Pickleball Depot.

“We have worked closely with the Vernon Pickleball Association for the past 10 years and we are thrilled to see this state-of-the-art facility come to life right here in our own backyard and host large scale tournaments like Rally in the Valley. We are passionate about having a positive impact in our community and the OWA Pickleball Complex aligns with that passion through the opportunities it will provide to Vernon residents of all ages and abilities to grow the sport of pickleball and support healthy and active living.”

The tournament also aligns with National Pickleball Day in Canada, which falls on Saturday, Aug. 13.

On both Saturday and Sunday, professional Canadian pickleball player, Steve Deakin, will be in attendance to meet players and spectators. Dearkin has also agreed to play an exhibition match Sunday at approximately 3:30 p.m.

The public is invited to come out and watch the popular, fast-growing sport throughout the weekend.