​Pickleball tournament held in Kincardine for first time since the pandemic

The Kincardine Afternoon Pickleball Group held its first tournament since the COVID-19 pandemic, Tuesday (Dec. 19), at the Davidson Centre in Kincardine.

Held on the gymnasium floor, the tournament consisted of round-robin play on three courts.

Taking first place, were Brian Bell of Port Elgin, Brad Amlin of Amberley Beach and Ken Ellis of Kincardine.

Tournament organizer Martha Lootsma said the Pickleball group plays year-round, and is advocating for outdoor courts to use in the summertime.

The recreational league plays Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 9 a.m. to Noon, at the Davidson Centre in the winter. There are 30 players, with 12 playing at a time on the gym floor.

The competitive league plays Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 1-4 p.m. in the gym, and has 30-35 players.

Pickleball is also played Tuesday from 6-8 p.m., and Saturday from 8-10 a.m., on the gym floor.

“We’ve had a number of players competing at tournaments out of town,” said Lootsma. “Now, that we’re back to hosting tournaments, we hope to bring more to Kincardine.”

The sport of Pickleball has been gaining in popularity, particularly with the senior set. It is like a combination of tennis and ping-pong, with players using a paddle instead of a racket.