One of the highlights of the tournament was in the Mixed A Doubles competition which was won by the youngest tournament participant, 15-year-old Mariana Iturbide and her partner Val Eren from the Lakeview Heights Tennis Club in West Kelowna. (VTA photo)

By Pete McIntyre

Marshall Fields

Rain and shine: Vernon Tennis Association hosts first open tournament

Jun 5, 2024 | 11:45 AM

The Vernon Tennis Association (VTA) says its first ever open tennis tournament was a smashing success.

It featured more than 50 teams competing in eight different categories at the Marshall Fields courts from May 31 to June 2.

Tournament participants came from throughout the Okanagan and from as far as the Lower Mainland and Kamloops.

After more than 80 matches played Friday evening, Saturday and Sunday, the winners were awarded their prizes and trophies.

“We were extremely fortunate with the weather,” tournament director Heidi Klein said. “Rain on Saturday morning put us three hours behind schedule, but thanks to the hard work of our volunteers and the flexibility and cooperation of the players, we were able to get all the final matches completed on Sunday.”

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Results of Vernon Tennis Association’s tournament May 31-June 2.

VTA President Ron Burton said tournaments like this take a lot of planning, work and support, and he thanked the tournament planning committee, all of the volunteers and the local sponsors for making the tournament a great success.

The association was supported by 24 local businesses:
• Bracken Insurance (tennis balls)
• Kerh Designs (trophies)
• Starting Block (gift cards, mens and ladies shirts/socks, water bottle, drink supplements) • Browns Social House (gift cards)
• Pickleball depot (gift card)
• Safeway (water, fruit, the amazing fruit kabobs, chips )
• Okanagan AI & Robotics Academy (prize money)
• Nature’s Fare (gift basket)
• Planet Fitness (one year gym membership)
• Buy Low Foods (Gatorade)
• Freshco (granola bars and 2 gift baskets)
• ReMax Vernon (prize money, awning)
• Cactus Club (gift card)
• Blenz Anderson Way (coffee for each day )
• Sport Check (racquet bag, balls, Gatorade water bottles)
• Starbucks Village Green (coffee gift bags )
• Matt Hill (case of red wine)
• Heidi Klein (Lulu shirt)
• Jeremy Bell (racquet stringing and lots of tennis grips)
• Genevieve (yummy fruit and lemon cookies)
• John Gonie’s mom (chocolate chip cookies)
• Val Eren Lakeview Tennis club – West Kelowna (scheduling / results of tournament)
• Sib Lake Country Tennis Club (score card posts on nets, cooler, 3 awnings)
• Predator Ridge (last minute court for the final singles A match)