Local athletes are off to the Senior Games in Langley, starting next Tuesday.
Castlegar, Grand Forks, Greenwood, Kaslo, Nakusp, Nelson, Rossland, Salmo and Trail make up the Zone 6 contingent for the Games.
Mary Bermel has been involved in preparing the Cribbage crew for the trip. She will not be competing this time around, but says she’s enjoyed herself immensely in previous years at the Seniors’ games.
Paul Phipps is sort of in the same boat, having organized the ice curling program to decide who would represent Zone 6, but not traveling to the games, himself. This year it will a couple of Trail rinks: Paul Devlin and Marney Devlin teams. The latter team does have a Castlegar player, Verna Chernoff,
Phipps said coordinating the curling is fairly straightforward as long as the time frames are allowed for.
“It just takes a bit of organization,” said Phipps, “because the curling ice goes out in March, so you have to identify teams by then in case there’s playdowns here.”
Alex Bojey is the only Langley-bound golfer from Castlegar. He’s a keen competitor who has tasted success over the years, in more sports than one.
“I used to like ball (softball) more than golf, but I guess I’m too old now for ball,” he said.
On the diamond he had eight trips to the seniors’ games.
“I have two golds and two silvers, he said. I think I have one gold and one silver in golf.”
Those are great results, but he doesn’t forget the social part of the adventure.
“I like to have the fun that goes with it,” he added with a chuckle.
“It’s just like the Olympics,” he said of the opening ceremonies, “...where all the zones walk in and there’s lots of entertainment also.”
A partial list of Castlegarians to be involved follows, led off by Castlegar-based coordinators in various events:
Phyllis Dolgopol will have a handle on the tennis competition; Floor Curling, Mac Gregory along with players Susan Hamm, Diane and Dennis Bezaire, Bev Kennedy, Linda Wood, Connie Cropley, Don Moore and Kay Gritchin.
Dealing with dragon boat issues will be Lorraine Bell-Lebedoff; and carpet bowling, while Elmer Monk and Alvina Jans will compete in the Cribbage division.
Once again, best wishes to all.