A number of athletes from the South Cariboo Region joined the approximately 3,500 participants in Kamloops, Aug. 20-24, for the 2013 BC Seniors Games, an annual multi-sport event for people aged 55 and older hosted by different communities each year.
Competitors from the North Central region of the province – Zone 9, which includes the 100 Mile House area, – earned 124 medals, including 52 gold, 43 silver and 29 bronze.
One of the bronze medals belongs to Bev Iverson, 76, of 108 Mile Ranch, which she earned in shot put.
“I had a good time. That’s the main thing.”
She competed in a number of track-and-field events, including 500-metre speed walking and the 200- and 100-metre dash.
“I improved in all of them. There was a lot of competition in my age group.
“The younger people are not coming, but the older people are still coming.”
Ruth Leblanc of 108 Mile Ranch and her partner Mick Jackman took home a bronze medal in mixed-doubles darts in the 65-and-older group.
Leblanc says the experience was excellent.
“This is my first medal, but not my first time at the Seniors Games. We’re trying to promote darts in [the 100 Mile House] area, but it’s a hard job.”
Leblanc runs dart competitions out of the 100 Mile House and Forest Grove Legions.
Bill Graham of 100 Mile House played in a golf event for participants aged 70-74.
Andy Christopher of Canim Lake played in the aged 65-and-older ice hockey event.
Kitty Carroll of Sheridan Lake, Marion Mickelsen and Rob Magnusson and Rose Magnusson of Lone Butte took home a silver medal in carpet bowling.
Neil Endacott and Cy White, from 100 Mile House, teamed up for cribbage, which saw close to 100 players.
“We didn’t have very good cards, so we didn’t do very well,” Endacott says.
“We ended up in ninth place of the nine teams in our flight. That’s just the way it goes sometimes.”
On Aug. 23, the duo looked to improve on the previous day’s results.
“We did a lot better. We were eighth instead of ninth,” Endacott adds with a laugh.
The 2014 BC Seniors Games will be in held Langley from Sept. 9-13.
It’s good sportsmanship and fellowship, Endacott says, adding you get to know a lot of people.
