Track and field competitor Cindy O’Brien Hugh had a tremendous showing at the recent 55+ B.C. Games in North Vancouver.
The Cloverdale resident earned four gold medals and one silver medal in individual track and field categories, and helped her Fraser Valley teammates sprint their way to gold in three relays at the event.
That adds up to eight medals for O’Brien Hugh, and what makes it all the more remarkable is this was her first appearance at the games – and it’s her first year of track.
She joined the Greyhounds Track and Field Team (Masters 35+) in January and has been training with them since.
“It was a great experience and I hope to be able to keep training and take part again next year,” she said, describing the Greyhounds team as “super people.”
The annual 55+ BC games draw participants from across the province to compete in a variety of sporting events, including track and field.
O’Brien Hugh earned gold in high jump (55-59), and sprinted her way to gold in three running categories: 400m, 200m and 100 m. She also won gold in high jump.
Her two silver medals were in long jump.
O’Brien Hugh was also on the Fraser Valley A mixed mens and women’s 4×100 metre relay that took gold, and the gold-winning Fraser Valley women’s 100 metre relay team.
Cloverdale’s Surinder Shah (Men 72), also competed in several track events, winning bronze in the 200m, taking silver in high jump and earning bronze in weight throw.
Other Cloverdalians in the medal count at the games include Norma Neudoerffer, who earned gold in 55+ dressage (first level).
Cloverdale’s Susan Beuk is one of members of the Karen Lepine Rink of Surrey, which won gold in women’s curling (55 to 64).
Delores Gock of Cloverdale and White Rock’s Chuck Belotte won a bronze medal in mixed table tennis (75-79). Gock also won bronze in women’s table tennis, where she was paired with partner Michelle Deneault of Langley in (70 to 74) doubles recreational division.
Fraser Valley athletes took home 477 medals from the 55+ B.C. Games in North Vancouver, held Aug. 25 to 29.
They earned 199 gold, 145
silver, and 133 bronze for a total medal count of 477.
Founded in 1987, the BC Seniors Games has evolved into a successful, multi-sport event drawing competitors from across the province.
The B.C. Seniors Games Society changed the name of its annual games to something more in keeping with the spirit and vitality of older British Columbians.
The City of Vernon will host the 2017 Games.
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