Eight women and three men attended the Vernon 55+ BC Games last week from the Cocoons swim club of the West Kootenay and Boundary, winning a total of 45 individual medals and one bronze medal in the 300+ Women’s 4 x 25m Medley Relay.
Participants were: Barb Roberts (Rossland) — two bronze medals. Richard Mathers (Grand Forks) — four bronze medals. Joan Gale ( Grand Forks) — five gold and one bronze medal. Marilyn Johnstone (Castlegar) — four silver and two bronze medals. Ken Soroka (Grand Forks) — two silver and two bronze medals. Doug Pinkerton (Castlegar) — four silver medals and one bronze. Marylee Banyard (Nelson) four gold, two silver and one bronze medal. Katherine Marsh (Trail) three silver and three bronze medals. Joan Hooper (Christina Lake) — one silver and three bronze medals. June Johnston (Nelson) — one silver and one bronze medal. Yvonne Konar (Grand Forks) — one gold, two silver and one bronze medal.
The team attributes their success from the year-round training in their local pools and coaching by Lesley Beatson in partnership with the Castlegar senior swim program.
Next year, the 55+ BC Games will be held in September in Cranbrook and Kimberley. Swim Coordinator June Johnston hopes to attract more swimmers to the team and can be contacted at 250-352-2373.