by Carol Doughty
SUMMER FUN TOURNAMENT ENDS THE SUMMER SESSION FOR WHITBY @ BROOKLIN’S PICKLEBALL LEAGUE
What do you get when you combine camaraderie, good sportsmanship, and competition between two teams? You get the fun experience that was evident on Wednesday, August 31, 2016 in the Brooklin Community Centre during the Whitby @ Brooklin’s summer Red and White Tournament. This type of tournament is held at the end of each 3 month session and includes the players donating food/cleaning supplies to the Deacon’s Cupboard at All Saints’ Anglican Church in Whitby and a party (potluck barbeque and pool party) following the event. Despite the teams being tied at the half way point in the tournament, the White Team was victorious by 4 points!
Thanks goes to Whitby Toyota for the “Fight the Bite” (anti-sting) lotions (perfect for the wasp and mosquito bites) and the T-shirt for the “door prize”.
At the party, we celebrated Joseph Serfleck’s ( a long-standing member) 70th B-Day. Joe gave a red rose to all the ladies present and brought an Hungarian liqueur for everyone to help celebrate his special day. We had a good time!
2 NEW LEAGUES AND 2 NEW CONVENORS
After 5 years and 8 months, Carol and Bruce Doughty have passed the Convenors’ Torch onto 4 new people. Since January 2011, when the Brooklin Community Centre opened its doors and started a pickleball league, Carol and Bruce have been the Convenors. While convening the recreational play using the basket paddle rotations for next-on-court, they introduced fun tournaments every 3 months and the weekly Challenge Board which allows any players to choose their partners and opponents for 2 games during the day’s play. Last year, they added an additional hour to pickelball and taught a 10 week Introduction to Pickleball Course, a 3 month Drills Only Session, and a 3 month Level 1 and 2 (ratings 2.0-3.0) League with coaching and one-on-one instruction. Every year, this Whitby @ Brooklin League has had a Wait List. The cap is 30 for 3 courts per 3-month session.
Now, starting Sept. 1, 2016, thanks to the Town of Whitby and the Whitby Seniors, pickleball was given another hour of gym time.
Therefore, there are now 2 leagues offered at this centre. Level 3 players (3.5+) play from 12:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m,. and Levels 1 and 2 (Beginners – 3.0) play from 3:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.These 2 leagues will double the number of people who can play at this popular venue.
Within a short time after registration opened for these leagues, they were full with Wait Lists. This is just another proof that pickleball is the fastest growing sport in the world.
Carol and Bruce would like to thank all the members at Brooklin over the years who have helped by setting up the nets, pulling down the blinds, looking after the venue when they went on holidays or were absent, and working hard to make this such a fun, sociable, enjoyable experience. We all thank Cathy Jordan, our supervisor and supporter of all things pickleball from the Whitby Seniors, as well as Paul and Joanne, the staff facility members who worked hard to give us the best possible playing conditions in the gym
INTRODUCING THE NEW CONVENORS
Please see the photos.
Let’s welcome Susan Bruce and Peter Fallaise – Level 3 League Convenors
and
Annette Cowan and Sally Carbonneau – Levels 1 and 2 Convenors
In their hands are trophies on which a record will be kept of all the Convenors for Whitby @ Brooklin.
