THE BIG DECISION HAS BEEN MADE

Thanks to all those teams and individuals who took part in the poll to determine the destination for the 3rd World Vintage Softball Carnival. We received hundreds of votes and the results were pretty clear cut. The most popular destinations in order of voting were:

Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Dublin, Ireland
Christchurch, New Zealand
Perth, Western Australia.

Unfortunately our friends in Dublin have told us that much as they would enjoy hosting a Carnival, they do not have sufficient facilities and would therefore have to opt out of hosting in the meantime. That left Vancouver as the clear choice and accordingly the 2011 Vintage Softball Carnivals will be held in the City of Surrey, British Columbia.
TWO CARNIVALS
In a new innovation the Carnival has been separated into separate dates for Slow Pitch and Fast Pitch.
Fast Pitch will be played between Sunday May 15th and Saturday May 21st, 2011.
Go to the dedicated Vintage Fastpitch website here
Slow Pitch will be played between Sunday May 8th and Saturday May 14th, 2011
Go to the dedicated Vintage Slowpitch website here

THE CITY OF SURREY
Surrey lies within the metro Vancouver district, and geographically at the centre of the larger region known as the Lower Mainland of British Columbia. It is the province's second-largest city by population after the city of Vancouver.

Situated on the USA/Canada border and only a Skytrain ride away from the Vancouver CBD, Surrey has a proud history of hosting large sports events including a number of notable Softball Tournaments and is a host venue for the 2010 Winter Olympics.

OUR PEOPLE IN CANADA
We are fortunate to have the co-operation and enthusiastic support of Jim Ullock, President of Cloverdale Minor Softball League who will be one of the host associations. Jim will be Carnival Local Liaison and his encouragement and local knowledge has made the selection of Surrey as the destination easy. Jim is already planning venues, timetables and facilities that will far exceed anything we have experienced previously.
Joining Jim in his role will be Rick Benson, who is District Minor Co-ordinator of District 7 of Softball British Columbia. Rick has already been active seeking out available playing facilities and fields and recommending usage of facilities and services in the district.
Between Rick and Jim it appears we have all bases covered in ensuring that we have outstanding playing services supported by all the necessary change room and social facilities. Both are enthusiastic about ensuring the visitors to the Carnival will have a superb softball experience and the difficulties experienced in Hawaii will quickly be consigned to the background. The playing arrangements will again be managed by Dene Dormer.

THE PLAYING VENUES
SOFTBALL CITY is a premier Sports & Entertainment complex consisting of four championship calibre diamonds, surrounding a 120 seat fully licensed restaurant with a 200 seat outdoor patio. The patio provides a great vantage point to relax and watch the events taking place. Softball City hosts the International Canada Cup - a women's fastpitch tournament and also company slowpitch days. They have a wealth of experience in hosting tournaments to the level and standard we want to offer you. Click here and check a 360 degree virtual tour.

CLOVERDALE PARK has 5 excellent diamonds that will be made available to the Carnival, has 2 refreshment concessions and changing facilities. The local league organisers have indicated they will take full responsibility for presenting the Park as we and our teams would expect. They will provide refreshment facilities and barbeques to ensure teams and supporters are comfortable and well accommodated.
Royal Kwantlen Park is available as a backup facility if required and has 4 grass diamonds and 2 all-weather diamonds that will be used should numbers require us to “overflow” from Cloverdale Park.
We are in early discussions with the magnificent Softball City facility which is owned and operated by Softball British Columbia and there is a very good chance that that too will be made available.
We are going to be very well covered for good quality diamonds and fields managed by true softball people who understand the difficulties experienced in Hawaii and who assure us they will not be repeated in any shape or form in British Columbia.

An exciting program of activities is being prepared by local event organisers. The objectives will as always be to give teams, players, officials and supporters the opportunity to mix and mingle, to experience some local culture and to enjoy great social interaction with like-minded softballers from other parts of the softball world. Accommodation and transport packages are being prepared by professional operators who have been instructed that all arrangements must be to the teams requirements.
Thanks to those teams and individuals who contacted us with suggestions as to what would suit them and how we can ensure their requirements are met. The suggestions have been included in the briefing given to the operators and will be incorporated where practical.