The second annual Cumberland Tennis Table Tournament was held Feb. 7 at the Cumberland Cultural Centre.
Recreational players from across the Island attended, and after seven gruelling hours of play Axel Nagorny from Cortes Island prevailed as the 2015 singles champion, defeating Aum Italiase from Nanaimo in straight sets.
With no rest, the team of Nagorny and Thomas Rauber defeated the Nanaimo team of Italiase and Charlie Zhang to claim the doubles championship, winning a close match 3-2.
"I am exhausted," said Nagorny, "I worked really hard for this. I feel like my play just kept getting better throughout the tournament."
To celebrate, many players headed straight for a pint at the Waverley Hotel, as has become tradition to celebrate their victory.
"I found it so relaxing and exciting," said Cumberland Mayor Leslie Baird who watched from the sidelines as players stomped and screamed, hitting spectacular shots back and forth. "This tournament is really bringing players from all over the Island to our little village, this is great!" said Baird, who has been a Cumberland Table Tennis Club supporter from the beginning and presented the medals at the end of this year's event.
The tournament is organized by the Cumberland Recreation Institute every year in February and is open to all amateur players.
"Our next major event is in May," said Adam Kuzma, tournament volunteer. "The club holds one more major tournament alongside the many events in Cumberland for the Island-famous Empire Days celebrations," said Kuzma. "Everyone is welcome."
The club plays every Sunday 3-6 p.m. and Mondays 5-7 p.m. at the cultural centre. Everyone is welcome: $3 drop-in fee to play. For more information, contact Kuzma at 250-203-7235 or adamkuzma39@gmail.com
– Cumberland Table Tennis Club