Barrie Shave tennis classic this weekend
By MEDICINE HAT NEWS on June 14, 2023.
sports@medicinehatnews.com@MedicineHatNews The Medicine Hat Tennis Club’s feature event is celebrating a big anniversary this weekend. The local tennis club is hosting the 25th annual Barrie Shave Classic this weekend, with play getting underway Friday evening and wrapping up Sunday morning as part of fundraising efforts. The event is a fundraiser for the Margery E. Yuill Cancer Centre and the club’s facility development and junior programs, something club general manager Ken Clement says is a point of honour. “It’s a chance to give something back to the community and it gives our members a chance to play something they enjoy doing, which is doubles tennis,” Clement said. “It helps us remember we’re all part of something bigger. This has traditionally been a cancer fundraiser and we’re continuing with that and we also try to raise a little bit of money for our kids program. Everybody feels involved in something pretty important.” Clement says they will have around 50 players competing in the tournament, with 20 participants on the women’s side and around 30 on the men’s side. The classic started in 1998 and was named after Barrie Shave who played in that tournament before passing away from pancreatic cancer in 1999. Ever since the 1999 tournament, the funds raised through the classic have been donated to cancer research, with donations given to the Cancer Society for years before a shift three years ago made the local Yuill Cancer Centre the focus. Clement says they’ve raised closed to $170,000 over the first 24 classics. “I don’t think too many fundraisers go on for 25 years, so it’s a great thing and it all came from a desire to support a worthy cause,” Clement said. “We’re more than happy to be doing that and it’s just nice, it’s something everybody feels connected to. Everybody has had experiences with cancer and so it’s a natural thing to fundraise for and we’re just lucky enough we have enough interested people who want to support something like that. It’s great for the community and the tennis club is proud to be able to do it.” Anyone interested in watching the play Friday, Saturday and Sunday is welcome to attend the classic with the highlight of the weekend coming with the finals on Sunday morning, starting with the women’s final at 10 a.m. and the men’s at 11:30 a.m. Between the finals there will be a cheque presentation to the Health Foundation for the Margery Yuill Cancer Centre. There will also be special guests in attendance at the classic, with Barb Shave and her son Brad making the trip from B.C. to honour the 25th tournament in Barrie’s honour. Clement says she was here for the 20th tournament and will be in attendance for the Saturday night banquet and Sunday finals. The original founder of the classic, Brian Patterson, will also be in attendance Saturday, making the trip from Calgary. Clement says a majority of the fundraising is done but they have a silent auction that opens Thursday and runs through Saturday night for anyone interested. 11-10
