Goochland, Powhatan Face Off in 3rd Annual Pickleball Tournament Wednesday

For the third straight April, players from Goochland and Powhatan counties took to the courts at the Landmark Center in Powhatan on Wednesday, keeping a neighborhood rivalry alive that has quietly become one of the more anticipated matchups on either county's recreation calendar.

The 3rd Annual Goochland vs. Powhatan Pickleball Tournament ran from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Landmark Center, 4290 Anderson Highway, where Powhatan County has built one of the more impressive court setups in the region: six lighted outdoor courts and three indoor courts, giving organizers the flexibility to run organized play in almost any early spring weather. Kenny Young coordinated registration and entry for the event, which was designed as friendly, community-level competition with local bragging rights rather than a regional championship.

That neighbor-versus-neighbor format is precisely what has made the event stick. Tournaments like this one tend to grow through word of mouth, pulling in players across skill levels who might never sign up for a formal league but will show up to represent their county against the town next door.

Goochland residents who caught tournament fever and want to play closer to home have an easy on-ramp. The Goochland County Parks and Rec Sports Complex at 1800 Sandy Hook Road offers free indoor pickleball on wood courts, with open play available Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. to noon during the school year. Balls and paddles are provided, so there is no equipment cost to walk in and start playing.

For those eyeing the fourth annual showdown in 2027, both the Goochland County Parks and Recreation calendar and Powhatan County's events page will carry sign-up details and skill-level divisions when registration opens. Kenny Young remains the point of contact for the Powhatan-side organizing.

Three years in, this tournament has the shape of something that keeps growing.