The Town of Cobourg's Community Services Division is pleased to announce that the 2020 Pickleball Ontario Provincial Championships will be hosted at the Cobourg Community Centre May 8 to 10.
The games were awarded to the town by the Pickleball Association of Ontario, and the Recreation and Culture Department expect to welcome upwards of 250 participants.
The town's press release said that CCC staff will organize the Bowl arena floor's transformation into six additional pickleball courts for the occasion, in addition to the six currently in the centre's gymnasium.
President Jim Parrott of the Pickleball Association of Ontario was quoted in the press release, saying that Pickleball Ontario is excited to make the announcement.
“Cobourg has a strong pickleball community and a great facility in which to hold the event,” Parrott said.
“I look forward to what I hope is the best provincials yet.”
The town has two outdoor pickleball courts at Peter Delanty Park and Sinclair Park, and also offers weekly open-court times at the CCC.
The sport is traditionally played on a badminton-sized court with special pickleball paddles. The ball used is similar to a wiffle ball, but slightly smaller. The lower net and perforated ball allows the game to be accessible to players of all ages and abilities, while still allowing scope for a challenging game for more competitive players.
Mayor John Henderson said the town is thrilled to welcome so many participants for the provincials.
“Our community centre remains an excellent asset for provincial events and, in turn, an excellent asset for tourism as we bring people in from across the province.”
The Recreation and Culture Department will look forward to working with the PAO to attract some of the best pickleball competitors of all ages from across the province. Competitors will be divided into men's singles and doubles, women's singles and doubles, and mixed doubles from rankings 3.0-4.0+.
For more information on the 2020 Ontario Pickleball Championships or on open-court times, visit www.ccc.cobourg.ca.
