Staying active with age is not a problem for a group of St. Paul area residents, who were selected to compete in the Alberta 55 Plus Summer Games and left their mark on the competition. Local representatives were part of the Northeast Zone 7 team.
The games took place July 21-24 in Fairview with competitions in athletics, bocce, bridge, cribbage, cycling, floor curling, floor shuffleboard, golf, horseshoes, pool, slo-pitch, swimming, tennis, creative writing and military whist. The competition saw about 1,200 participants including volunteers.
“It’s nice to get away and see something new,” said five times summer games competitor Daisy Fraser. “I really enjoy going to the competitions and seeing all the participants.”
The Zone 7 trials for the event were held in St. Albert. Winners from the zone competition advanced to the provincial games.
Among the successful competitors was the four-person bocce team selected to represent Zone 7. Members of the team included Joe and Pauline Ibach and Sandy and Ann Brown of Vilna. The team was able to secure a silver medal finish in the competition.
Fraser was also a successful member of the Zone 7 team and represented the region in the sport of swimming and put on a dominating performance, finishing the competition with a total of seven medals. Fraser was awarded four gold medals for the 50m backstroke, 25m backstroke, 50m breaststroke, and 100m breaststroke. She was also awarded three silver medals in the 100m freestyle, 50m freestyle and relay event.
The St. Paul athlete, who trains at the St. Paul pool said “I’ve always been physically active.” Previously, she used to compete in marathon and triathlon events, but due to knee problems has found a new competitive outlet in swimming.
“I really enjoy competing and meeting new participants, it’s very enjoyable. I met four new people in their 80’s who are still competing and it is amazing what kind of shape they’re in,” Fraser said. “If the doctors could do it and it was possible to get new knees I would keep running, I would go back to track and field because I love to run, but for now I will stick to swimming.”
Another successful athlete at the event was athletics competitor Barb Tchir, who finished the weekend with two gold medals. Tchir won gold in both the 100m and the 200m events and also came close to adding another medal to her collection with a fourth place finish in the discus throw.
Competitors were provided with accommodation, meals and transportation from venue to venue at the summer games. There were also opening and closing ceremonies among other social events included in the competition weekend.
“It was an excellent competition, we were fed well and had lots of fun,” Tchir said. “There was lots of entertainment.”
This was the fifth time Tchir has competed at the summer games and plans to continue on with the event in the future.
“It’s such a good motivator, it keeps you going and drives you to keep competing,” Tchir said. “Seeing 80-year-olds still competing is very motivating.”
To prepare for the meet Tchir said she would walk about 45 minutes a day and a few months before the competition she added more running into her routine. Tchir trains hard in order to make the team and is motivated by the thought of being able to reconnect with old friends at the competition, she said.
“I’ve developed many friendships at the games, we are like a big family,” Tchir said.
“Friendship is a big reason to go and also to try and keep up with the level of performance, since I am getting older.”
Another motivator for summer games competitors is the chance to qualify for a national level competition.
Winners of gold and silver medals at the provincial summer games competition are given the opportunity to compete at the national level the following summer.
“Being able to go to nationals is another motivator to do well, I went two years ago,” Tchir said.
After winning two gold medals at the provincial meet, Tchir has the opportunity to attend nationals next summer and is planning to go she said.
Fraser also plans to attend the Canada 55 Plus Games, which will take place in Sydney, Nova Scotia in the summer of 2012.
She has been to four previous national competitions and said she enjoyed the experience.
“You go as a team to represent Alberta,” Fraser said. “You cheer on the ones you were booing at provincials,” she added laughing.
Barrhead and Westlock will host the next Albert 55 plus games jointly in 2013.
Competitors such as Fraser and Tchir hope to see more people coming out to participate in the games and elevating the level of competition here in northern Alberta.
“It’s too bad there aren’t more participants,” Fraser said.
“55 years is young of age to get out and meet people and be active.”
