PICKLEBALL FOR PAWS.....

Rich and I had been working for month's planning this tournament. It was back in October when we went to Wauchula's Friday Night Live that we first met the Hardee Animal Rescue Team (H.A.R.T.) They are an organization formed by a small group of people to help save the lives of the stray and abandoned animals in Hardee County Florida. We were so impressed with what they were doing with so very little support that we decided to organize a benefit event to raise funds.

On Tuesday, January 25th, we held our "Pickleball for Paws" pickleball tournament here in Peace River.

It was scheduled as a double elimination tournament with men's and ladies doubles played in the morning and the mixed doubles competition in the afternoon. We opened the registration in December and within just a few weeks we had 9 men's doubles teams, 8 ladies doubles teams and 18 mixed doubles teams.

Joining the players from TT Peace River were those from Torrey Oaks, and several players from Kings Point over in Sun City Center. Jack and Diane, Krystal, Nate, Austin and Charlotte drove down from Orlando for the day..... One thing that we did in keeping with the purpose of the day was to give everyone a new canine or feline 'surname' for the day which they displayed proudly on their name badges.

Everyone's first match and the final medal matches were played as best two out of three games. Winners remained, and continued to play in the winners bracket. Losers went to the consolation bracket where they could work their way back to play in the medal match. Once you lost two matches you were out

.

The mixed doubles was set up the same way and we started that right on schedule, just after noon. Rain and storms were scheduled to move in late afternoon or early evening.............but the first shower arrived just before 3:00 - and we were not able to complete the mixed doubles competition.

Each player paid a $5 registration fee to play in the tournament. Rich and I went all over Wauchula asking business' to help sponsor the event with donations for a raffle. We had a wonderful and generous response. Some of the RV'ers donated items, and vendors like The Pickleball Bug, Pickleball Specialties, Pickleball Paddle Peddler, and S-Type Sports donated shirts, visors, a paddle, mugs and balls. We even had a donation from Mt. Olive Pickle Co in North Carolina! We had enough gift certificates to purchase water and pizza for all the players. So when not watching the games - there was lots to do.

And this is where you found many of the players as well as RV'ers throughout the park. H.A.R.T. set up their tent, and brought along several of their small cats and dogs currently up for adoption. At some point they plan to have in place a low cost spay and neuter program and a Ferrell cat catch, spay/neuter tag their ear and release to reduce the roaming homeless animal population. Today they offer an adoption service for both cats ($50) and dogs ($75) that includes spaying or neutering and all shots.

And so................. How Did We Do????

Well the pickleball players proved today, what we already knew; that they love to play pickleball, they love to have fun, and they are a very very generous group of people.

First off ..............the tournament winners:

First Place Ladies Doubles: Nadine "Bichon", and Louann " Lynx, from Sun City Center.

First Place Men's Doubles: John F "Jaguar" and Dean "Boxer" Thousand Trails.

Second Place Ladies: Carla "Calico" and Diane "Ragamuffin" - Thousand Trails.

Second Place Men: Bill "Beagle" and Rene "Bengal" Thousand Trails.

Third Place Ladies - Tracy "Tuxedo" and Krystal "Angora"- Thousand Trails

Third Place Men: 16 year old (in human years!) Austin "Schnauzer" and Rich " Basset Hound" - Thousand Trails

While no winners were announced for the mixed doubles - the competition was fierce. Of the 18 teams that took to the courts, we were down to the final Seven!!!! Two teams remained in the winners bracket: Rich "Basset Hound"/ Nadine "Bichon and Austin "Schnauzer"/Tracy Tuxedo. The final five teams in the consolation bracket were ready to play and work their way back to the winners colum: Bill "Beagle"/Donna "Bisenji (I personally thought this team had an excellent chance at the gold!), Stan "Cheetoh"/Sally "Shepherd", Dean "Boxer"/Charlotte "Tiffany", John F "Jaguar"/Carla "Calico and Nate "Great Dane/Krystal "Angora"

There were two adoptions that we know of, one was a cat and the other was this cutie.......Her name is Darby. Jean is holding Darby - but the proud mom and dad are Bruce and Gena......... And here is a note that Rich and I received yesterday from H.A.R.T...... We can't thank our pickleball friends enough for making this such a successful and rewarding day!

I wanted to let you know that today, we are banking $745 including the adoption money and donations people made to buy HARTs.

We cannot thank you enough for your efforts and wonderful caring nature. Everything you have raised in donated food, toys, cleaning materials, bedding has gone to some animals already. I have some very appreciative cats running around with their new toys, they love the old pickleballs.

Thank you from all the team of HART.

Regards
Jill & Barry Edgley

CLICK HERE for more information on H.A.R.T. and how you can help too.