BEGINNING….

Ben Harrison shares the story about how more than 25 years ago….

Ben Peters brought Pickleball to Salmon Arm from the South. He and his wife were Snowbirds, and pickleball was starting to be played there.
The group was made up of 5 players: Ben Peters, Ralph Owens, Percy and his wife Bea, and Ben Harrison. They played pickleball in the SASCU Recreation Centre with just the 5 of them, subbing one person out at the end of each game until Ralph Owens, Eddie Turner, Herb and Helen Pendell joined to make it bigger, so they had two courts going. As time went on more and more joined in and look at it now!

Ralph Owens, Helen & Herb. 25 years ago they brought the game to Salmon Arm AND still playing it today in June 2020 — Ralph Owens (88yrs), Helen Pendell (85yrs) Eddie Turner (90yrs). 25 years ago these were three of the original players in Salmon Arm; AND, still playing today (June 2020)

In the beginning the SASCU Recreation Centre used badminton nets tied lower on the poles, as they did not have pickleball nets; and, the players used the old wooden paddles. Ben Harrison remembers a lot of fun times playing pickleball (and Tennis too)!
He also remembers going into the schools and teaching the game to students (the current club does the same now). He said kids caught on to the game quickly and really enjoyed it.

Helen & Herb Pendell, Ralph Owens, Eddie Turner and Ben Peters still live in Salmon Arm. Herb IS the oldest member of the Pickleball club.