Desert Challenge 2026

Forty CSA District 5 (Palm Springs area) Shufflers traveled to Hemet to compete against 40 of the District 7 (Hemet) shufflers in the annual D. 5 vs D. 7 Challenge. The annual event held in January each year was held at The Lakes at Hemet West and hosted by District 7. In January, 2027, the event will be hosted by District 5 and held at Royal Palms in Cathedral City.

The District 5 shufflers would like to thank Alice Beers, the District 7 Tournament Director, who organized this year’s event and Tootie Chittenden who was responsible for organizing the cake and coffee that was served in the Lakes at Hemet West clubhouse during the lunch break. Also, thank you to everyone else who volunteered their services to make this event happen.

Eight of the 9 District 5 clubs were represented and all 40 shufflers, plus alternates, arrived by 8:30 AM to have the team picture taken and to cheer on their fellow teammates. At the end of the first session of games at 9:00 AM, District 5 led the win-game count 12 to 8. The 1:00 PM District 5 shufflers added 9 more wins to total 21 wins for District 5 shufflers and 19 wins for the District 7 shufflers.

D7 Tournament Director Alice Beers passing the traveling plaque to D5 Tournament Director Shirley Eager

The District 5 shufflers participating were: Front row, left to right: DeWayne McDonald and Dan Chiernyk, Palm Desert Greens; Terri Manley & Shirley Eager, Indian Wells; Ray Hall, Gary Adams & Fred Snow, Palm Desert Greens. Second row, David Guerrero, Nerys Hughes, Vern Wong (hiding behind Dewayne) & Yvonne Moore, TriPalms; Bob Ellsworth, Jack Kirkpatrick, Lloyd Ross, Kurt Thompson & Blaine Clarke, Safari; Pat Cammarata, Angelo Cammarata & Shirley Gengler, Tramview. Third row, Sheila Messler, Noelle Stephens, Gary Stephens, Randy Ystaas, Chuck Maynard, Linda Nielsen & Val McDougall, Desert Crest; Elaine Burdman, Geo Roca, Sharon Brown, Fred Brown & Yvon Rivest, Ramon. Back row, Darren Kramer & Randy Stephenson, Ramon; Mick Guyette, Dick Seburn & Matt Durkton, The Canyon; Diane Miller, Desert Crest; John Burnett, Kerry Bedel, John Gordon, Liz-Orem Bedel & John Lienhard, Ramon.