Kate Kimberley loved painting and tennis.
On Oct. 1, Kimberley, who died of breast cancer on Jan. 21, 2016, was honoured by the Penticton Tennis Club with the first annual Kate Kimberley Memorial Cup. Kimberley is the late wife of former Penticton mayor Jake Kimberley.
The action on the court was competitive and tournament organizer Aileen Houston said it was “awesome” to be able to honour Kimberley at the womens-only tournament that attracted 12 players.
“We all miss her. It was really amazing to be able to name the tournament after her,” she said. “Everything went really well. Couldn’t have been better.”
Related: Artist Kate Kimberley dies at 70
Kimberley’s son Sean was on hand to present the winners their trophies. Winning the tournament were Kimhun Kopp, taking the A division over Vera Bryan, while Colleen Power won the B division over Christine Schwarz.
The participants were presented with prints of Kimberley’s New Beginnings painting, which overlooks the tennis club from the KVR trail. Houston said that painting reflects Kimberley. Houston said many people were fond of Kimberley, that was apparent in the number of people who came to the Penticton Tennis Club and cheered on the players to be a part of the experience. Those attending shared their memories of her.
“Just to hear different stories. There were things that I found out about Kate that I didn’t know and I knew her for 10 years,” said Houston.
Kimberley was famous for her swinging volleys and appreciated for the hours of volunteer time she gave to the club. She also had a “green thumb” that she shared with the club as roses were beaming when she took care of them. Kimberley discovered landscape painting in retirement and took inspiration from the Okanagan Falls, Naramata, and Wilson’s Landing areas.