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Rimbey seniors bring home medals and smiles from Alberta Summer 55+ Games

Although not everyone came home with medals from the 2015 Alberta 55, everyone who attended is surely a winner.
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Bill Howe and Russ Picketts

Although not everyone came home with medals from the 2015 Alberta 55 Plus Games held in Strathmore earlier this month, everyone who attended is surely a winner.

The Games, the province’s premier multi-sport and cultural event, promotes physical, intellectual, and social wellness regardless of age or ability. The event is the ideal mix of sport, competition, and fun. Participants must qualify in Zones to compete in the Games. Host cities provide participants with full accommodation, food, and entertainment. Sport and cultural competitions are accompanied by a torch relay, kick off/closing ceremonies, and host city events.

This year’s Games marks the 35th anniversary of the event, which is held every two years in communities across Alberta.

Seniors from Rimbey who attended the event did themselves proud, many of thing bringing home medals, and all of them being great ambassadors of the community in which they live.

Floor curling

In the 55+ Open Floor Curling the team consisting of (skip) Gordon and (second) Brenda Mounteney and (third) Vivian and (lead) Dave Mulligan struck gold.

Mulligan, who played lead for the team, said it was a humbling experience.

“It was humbling, but it feels good. It’s an experience like never before.”

Mulligan said there were no runaway games.

“The most we won by was two points,” he said.

The Rimbey team took on Edmonton for the gold medal game and the score was tied until the last end when Rimbey forged ahead with a single point.

“It was a hard fought game,” said Mulligan.

Mounteney’s Rimbey team played seven games, losing their second game to a team from Lethbridge.

Open Military Whist

Bill Howe, Russ Picketts, Gladys Wilson and Alice Picketts from Rimbey came home with a bronze medal.

“It was an awesome experience," said Alice Picketts. “We would have liked to have done better, but we are happy to have won a medal.”

Pickets said the experience of attending the Games is wonderful and one that every senior should take advantage of.

“It is a wonderful thing to do. And for seniors to be active is a wonderful thing.”

Pickets stressed Rimbey’s Drop In Centre is a great place for seniors to pursue activities such as whist, noting in order to advance to the Provincial level, players need to win at Zones.

She said the Drop In helps card players such as herself and her husband keep on the top of the game and face competitions with the level of skill necessary to move on.

Golf

Debbie Retzlaff brought home a bronze medal in the 55+ ladies low gross golf competition.

“It was good,” she said. “It all went fairly well.”

Retzlaff played 18-holes on the Strathmore golf course which she said had some tricky greens.

“I love golf and the Games were great. The fellowship, the people you meet, they’re all fun to golf with. The experience is always great. It was beautiful out there.”

Arts & Crafts

Harry Tucker struck gold in the miscellaneous craft category with an acrylic pen. Barb Patey won a silver medal with a Christmas quilted wall hanging and Brenda Restall also won silver with a stuffed teddy bear.

Creative writing

Brenda Restall received a bronze medal with her poem entitled The Dance of Fire. Alvin Goetz, also from Rimbey, won a bronze with his non-fiction humorous story entitled Leroy Brownlee – Unsuspecting Millionaire.

Lethbridge is hosting the Alberta 55 Plus Winter Games on February 19 – 22, 2016.