Submitted by Nelson Tennis Club
The smoky skies didn’t deter a strong turnout for the Rob Wright West Kootenay Open held at the Nelson Tennis Club from Aug. 18 to 20.
More than 50 entrants came from as far afield as Fernie, Kelowna and beyond, with the local talent sweeping the bulk of the hardware and entertaining the appreciative spectators.
On the singles front, Nelson players Emma Grinnell took the women’s title, and Sam Allum topped the men’s side.
Allum was also on the winning side in the men’s doubles, joining fellow local Mike Dickinson to take the title. The women’s doubles winners were another all-Nelson team, Ivy Robin and Simone Simpson. For the mixed doubles final, the Fernie duo of Dan Gordon and Sara McFarlene took top spot.
In the B division, Dan Gordon won the men’s singles, and Keith Bridger and Angus Glass earned the men’s doubles title.
Many thanks to Ron Stinson, with support from Max Wong, for organizing the tournament. The event could not have been possible without the generous sponsorship from the Hume Hotel, Nelson Brewing, Oso Negro, Nelson Box Office, RAREFORM, Save-on-Foods, Dal’s Soap, Kootenay Co-op, Golden Set International, and Dobson Dentistry. Thank you!
Rob Wright was central to the tennis community and, with NTC president Keith Bridger spearheaded the revitalization of the courts — together with the development of the pickleball ball courts and multi-use area — at L.V. Rogers.
READ MORE: Keith Bridger, Rob Wright share Nelson’s Citizen of the Year award
