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54 | SUN LAKES LIFESTYLES | JANUARY 2020 | So, isn't it enough that pickleball is THE sport of our era? Fastest growing, multi-generational, and more fun than whatever your physical therapist has in mind? Well, no. Some genius who was ruminating over jerk chicken in the Caymans came up with the idea of combining his favorite sport with his gastronomic delight of the moment and voila! Chicken N Pickle was born. As 2020 dawns, there will soon be five locations of this quirky combo. The flagship complex is in Kansas City with a companion in Wichita. This year, picklers will be playing and dining in San Antonio, Oklahoma City and Overland Park. The 2019 Franklin Pickleball Masters tournament was held at the Chicken N Pickle in Wichita. If you are having trouble wrapping your mind around a major national pickleball event being held at a restaurant, you don't know C N P. There are 10 courts for pickle, as well as areas for ping pong, bocce and shuffleboard. And several bars. And a LOT of chicken 'n fixin's. On the menu at the Franklin was a mother/daughter competition that was well worth the price of admission. You can check out the match at www.pickleballchannel.com. Leigh Waters is a world-class player and has been coaching her now 12-year-old daughter Anna Leigh. The online video of their doubles match is great entertainment. You will not believe this phenom is still a pre-teen. And it all unfolds at the hottest new venue in pickleball. The Masters tourney in Kansas was a bit of a trek for us in Banning. Not so, the Nationals at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden in November. What a treat it was for those who ventured down to the low desert. The competition was fierce and the matches offered all the possible permutations of gender/age/skill. It was a treat to be able to congratulate ex-Sun Laker George Kilmer who (once again) triumphed in super-senior men's singles and doubles. We miss you, George! The new year promises to have many great things in store for all of us in our beautiful community. But pickleball club members have even more to look forward to as our ranks expand. New residents are discovering the game. We will arrange introductory clinics for all who may be interested. Check with club president Tony Browne at (909) 509-0105 or VP Judy Luna (949) 929-2390. See you on the courts! Pickleball Club