The recent Winkler Pickleball Tournament earlier this weekend was a resounding success, drawing an impressive turnout and showcasing the local love for the sport. Over two days – August 24th and 25th - the event saw 104 participants, starting at 9 a.m. each morning and ending between 5 and 6 p.m.
The tournament not only attracted players local to the Pembina Valley, but brought in people from all over Manitoba, and as far away as Thunderbay, Ontario. Martha Bergen, one of the event planners of the tournament said that “I was very proud of our local players... because a lot of them haven’t played tournaments before.”
Bergen thanked the people that helped make the tournament possible, noting “It takes a community to run a tournament, and you could tell the community stepped up. I’m very appreciative of that.” She continued to share one example of the help they received, “Sandra Banman was one of our volunteers... and she went and purchased 300 bottles of water, which was a lifesaver.”
Looking ahead, talks are already in the works for the 2025 Pickleball Tourney, though the exact date has not been decided.
Click below to listen to the full interview with Martha Bergen.
Special thanks to Wes Ens at youplayingsports.com for providing photos of the event.
