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Devin Gorder (far left) celebrates his achievement. (submitted photo/Devin Gorder)
Pickleball

P.A. man wins silver at regional Pickleball competition

Jul 10, 2023 | 12:00 PM

Prince Albert’s Devin Gorder has returned home from the Pickleball Canada Western Regional Championship with a silver medal.

The three-day competition involving over 500 athletes was held in Medicine Hat and started last Thursday. Gorder competed in the men’s singles division, age 35-49, level 3.5 (of 1-5 levels), and told paNOW the medal is a symbol of hard work.

“To have a measurement of achievement that is not just there for everyone to “get” for showing up,” he said.

Gorder has been playing the sport for about a year, and acknowledged there’s been a steep learning curve. When asked what drives him in the sport, Gorder replied it’s the great exercise, competition and comaraderie.

“The Prince Albert group is the best,” he said.

The Prince Albert Pickleball Club also did well in the Saskatchewan Provincials held in Warman recently, bringing home a number of medals from that tournament.

The club, which started with five members, now has close to 100. Members play at the Alfred Jenkins Fieldhouse gym on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays and outdoors at the Midtown and Carlton Park courts.

Club President Roy Fremont explained while the club is not booming like in other centres, they are outgrowing their current indoor venue at the Alfred Jenkins Fieldhouse and are working with the city to secure more court time and/or other venues in which to play.

The recent court system in Medicine Hat was a $3 million build. Gorder commented when you really get into the sport and even the business behind it, it has mind-blowing numbers and growth.

nigel.maxwell@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @nigelmaxwell

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