personal interests sports and gaming pickleball tournaments
In 2024, I participated in my first pickleball tournament at the Oregon Senior Games.
It was also my partner Becky Cox's first tournament.
We played well and increased our score in each game but didn't win a medal.
Since then, I have played in several tournaments around the state and, hopefully, increased my skills each time.
I usually play with younger partners in the 60 to 65 age bracket because it makes me feel younger.
I am very grateful to my younger partners that have honored me by being my partner.
unless noted otherwise all images
copyright d. holmes chamberlin jr architect llc
2024 - OREGON SENIOR GAMES
In August of 2024, I had the distinct pleasure of playing pickle ball at the Oregon Senior Games with a special lady, Becky Cox, that I met while playing in Yachats.
Even though I didn't perform to the level I wanted to, and we didn't medal, I had a really great time... mainly because Becky is always a ray of sunshine, smiling and upbeat.
A special thanks to Lynn and friends, John Costa, and Carly and Alan Kay who rooted for us all the way.
Oregon Senior Games, Lynn Benton College, Corvallis, Oregon, USA, 2024.
2025 - 4th ANNUAL ILLAHE OPEN
In March of 2025, I again had the distinct pleasure of playing in a pickleball tournament with Becky Cox...
this time at the 4th Annual Illahe Open at the Illahe Hills Country Club in Salem, Oregon, described as one of the best tournaments in the Pacific Northwest.
The facilities at the Illahe Hills Country Club were the best I have seen in Oregon with two structures containing 18 pickleball courts for the 311 participants.
We had both improved our game greatly since the senior games last August and we were able to win the Bronze Medal in Mixed Doubles, skill level 3.5, ages 50 and over.
We made some new friends and had a great weekend.
Becky Cox and me, 4th Annual Illahe Open Tournament, Salem, Oregon, 2025.
The tennis center. One of the two facilities used for the tournament.
2025 - MAY NW PIG CLASSIC
In May of 2025, I had the distinct pleasure of playing in a pickleball tournament with good friend John Chappell.
This tournamnt was held in Newberg, Oregon, and we were hosted the night before by my son Wyatt and his family.
The facilities for this outdoor tournament were at Jaquith Park and were in good condition with eleven pickleball courts for the 113 participants.
We won the Bronze Medal in Men's Doubles, skill level 3.5, ages 60 and over.
John is a much better and much younger pickleball player than me and it was a great honor that he would play a tournament with me.
If I had played up to my own expectations, I think we would have won the gold.
We made some new friends and had a great weekend.
2025 - OREGON SENIOR GAMES
In August of 2025, I had the pleasure of playing in the Oregon Senior Games in Corvallis/Albany with two new partners.
Because of the threat of rain, the normal 8 or 9 team pools were split in half to try and speed up the tournament before it rained.
They even had two different formats for the two halves..one group playing two out of three games to 11 while the other half played one game to 15.
The rain never came...
In Mixed Doubles 3.5, age group 60-64, I played with good friend Theresa Mayer.
We played well in the one game to 15 group loosing the first game, but playing marathon games in the second and third games that ended in close losses.
We won the third game handily and finished the four games with a point differential with our opponents of only -7... equal to or better than 5 of the 9 teams.
I played in the Men's Doubles 3.5, 70-74 age group with good friend Carl Meibergen.
We played good consistent games but, unfortunately, two of our only three games were against the ultimate Gold and Silver medalists in the 8 team bracket.
Even though we didn't medal, I had a great time playing with good friends and good partners.
Good friend and partner, Theresa Mayer and me, 2025 Oregon Senior Games, Lynn Benton College, Corvallis/Albany, Oregon.
2025 - NEWPORT ROUND ROBIN TOURNAMENT
Saturday, September 13, 2025, I had the pleasure of playing in the Newport Round Robin Tournament.
In this tournament, the 25 players, in two pools, played with a different partner picked randomly by a computer in each of their games.
The top 8 scorers went to the playoffs. At the last Newport Round Robin Tournament, I just missed going to the playoffs.... this time I made it.
Kevin Cornell and I played against Becky Cox and David Meadows in the tournament Finals.
In a well-fought game, Kevin and I won 11-6 and took First Place.
The tournament was great fun and was followed by a fantastic cookout with melt-in-your-mouth slow-smoked brisket by Clarence Harvey,
fresh oysters-on-the-half-shell by Al Eames, coleslaw, beans, and various baked goods.
Lynn provided banana bread for the cookout and then cheered me on all the way to the win.
2025 - HUNTSMAN WORLD SENIOR GAMES
The second week in October Lynn and I returned to Utah for our annual competition at the Huntsman World Senior Games in St. George, Utah.
This year, as for the last several years, I bowled with Lynn in Singles, Men's and Women' Doubles, Mixed Doubles (with Lynn), and Team (with Lynn).
I did well this year at the games with four medals including a Gold in Men's Doubles Bowling, a Bronze in Men's Singles, and a Silver in Overall Competition.
Because scheduling for bowling conflicted with most of the Pickleball competitions, I was only able to register and compete in Pickleball in Men's Singles.
I have had almost zero percent experience with Singles, mostly just doubles, so it was a learning experience.
Still, since I was competing against other men 80 to 84, I was able to learn as I went and come away with a Silver Medal in Men's 3.0. Singles.
It was a big surprise and I enjoyed the new experience... and I hope to expand my play next year to include Doubles... if I'm still functioning.
2025 - TPC WINTER TUSSLE @ THE PEOPLES COURTS BY PIG
On the day after Christmas, I was able to fulfill a long-term goal when my son, Wyatt (46), agreed to play in a pickleball tournament with me.
Although we had played together a few times this last year, this was the first ever tournament for Wyatt and he played better than I had ever seen him play before.
We entered the Men's Doubles, 3.49 or less, age 49 and less, category at the PIG tournament about an hour from his home in Newberg, Oregon.
After all the build up, I let him down a bit by getting a sick the day before and getting about 4 hours sleep that wasn't with my head in the toilet.
But, together, we made the best of it playing five 15 point matches before getting to the medals round of two out of three 11 point games.
By then, I could barely stand up, but we fought on and, even if we didn't come close to winning on the last two gold medal games, we were able to take home the Second Place Medal.
It was a long day... I was still suffering the following Monday when I could only play 4 games before I had to quit with no energy left. Hopefully this bug will disappear soon.
However, the effort was worth it... add one to the bucket list... Thanks Wyatt!
Wyatt and a tired me accepting our Second Place Medals, The TPC Winter Tussle @ The Peoples Courts by PIG, Portland, Oregon, 2025.
Me, starting my serve while Wyatt waits to back me up (or hold me up), The TPC Winter Tussle @ The Peoples Courts by PIG, Portland, Oregon, 2025.
copyright d. holmes chamberlin jr architect llc
page last revised december 2025