Rocky View County atletes brings home huge medal haul from 55 Plus Winter Games

The 27 medals it brought home from 2013 55 Plus Alberta Winter Games was about par for the course for the representatives from Zone 2. The Games were held in Calgary Feb. 13 to 18.

The zone, which covers Rocky View County and Airdrie and extends to include Carstairs, Olds, Banff, Didsbury, Strathmore and Okotoks had 145 participants in the game and won 11 gold medals, as well as eight each of silver and bronze. It also won the Lieutenant Governor’s award as the most improved zone from the 2011 Games.

“Overall, it went very well and fairly smoothly,” said Zone 2 activity director Brian Wood. “The award was something we’ve never won before, so that was an accomplishment on its own.”

Wood was one of the zone’s gold medallists, taking first place with the 55+ Open carpet bowling team. His team included Karl Barfrieder, Roy Macfarlane and Valerie Ouellette of Airdrie.

Marilyn Conrad of Chestermere won gold in the 65+ women’s bowling. The 70+ men’s team also won gold and included Doug Stancer and Leigh Tseng of Cochrane and Ted Carter of Airdrie.

The 65+ men’s hockey team was another gold medal winning team and featured Bob Bridger of Airdrie and Ross Elgert of Chestermere while the 60+ team won bronze.

Don Whitehead and Harold Weidman were on the third-place roster. Norma Wedow and Inger Grieve, both of Airdrie, teamed up to take second in the 70+ open doubles table shuffleboard tournament and Doug Campbell of Cochrane won bronze in the 65+ men’s ice curling. Lynda Galeski won two bronze medals in the 55+ women’s five- and10-kilometre cross country ski lists.

A full list of results can be found at www.albertagames.com

Wood said that, despite the long days, the Games were a success.

“All of our athletes participated well,” he said. “That’s part of the spirit of the Games. You make new acquaintances and the competitions always tough.”

The gold medal winners from the Games now have the option to represent Team Canada at the 2014 Canada 55 Plus Games in Sherwood Park, but the next step will be the 2013 Alberta 55 Plus Summer Games, which will be held in Westlock and Barrhead in July.

“We’re hoping we get the same result or even higher of a goal (at the Summer Games),” Wood said.

“We also want to come home with the award for the zone that has the most amount of medals. The Winter Games were a step in the right direction with winning most improved so we’re working our way up.”

Playdowns for the Summer Games begin in May and for information on how to join the Alberta 55 Plus organization, to register for the playdowns and for a complete schedule, visit www.alberta55plus.ca