Briana Shymanski/Rocky View Publishing

NEW WINNER - Peter Watmough, a 61-year-old bowler and softball player, has been named the Special Olympics Airdrie athlete of the month.<br />.

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Club's oldest athlete wins award

Airdrie Special Olympics is honouring is an experienced gentleman as its athlete of the month.

At 61, Peter Watmough is the organization’s oldest athlete. He competes in bowling in the winter and softball in the summer. He’s been bowling with Special Olympics Airdrie for seven years and playing softball for five year. The latter has become his favourite.

“I like getting home runs and running the bases,” he said. Of course, Airdrie is his favourite team.

“It’s something to do,” he said. “It gets you out of the house so you’re not lonely at home.”

Diane Smith, the coach for the Special Olympics Airdrie bowling team, said being involved with the group and its sports has helped Peter come out of his shell and has become something he looks forward to every week.

“He loves socializing and seeing his friends,” Smith said. “He has a good sense of humour and he’s really opened up a lot. He was a little shy when he first joined and he didn’t want to try any of the sports, but once he did, he loved it.”

The bowling teams travels to locations like Foothills, Olds and Drumheller for tournaments and will next compete at a tournament in Cochrane, March 15. Often the tournaments include a dinner and dance. Watmough said he enjoys travelling to the different events and the festivities.

“I like the loud music,” he said.