With 14 athletes from Grand Forks and four from Christina Lake, the region will be well represented at the BC Senior Games in Kamloops. The games, which go from Aug. 20 to 24, feature hundreds of athletes from across the province competing in 24 different events.
Grand Forks archer Bryan Schneider is looking forward to heading to the senior games and seeing old friends and new ones as well.
“It’s the camaraderie,” he said. “It’s great to see the people I compete with. We’ve been friends all through my time there.”
Schneider said that everyone tries to improve on his or her results each year. “But it’s more about the fun than the competition,” he added.
Swimmer Don Caskey from Grand Forks has been to the BC Senior Games for most of the last 12 years and is also looking forward to returning.
“There’s a whole social aspect, but it’s competitive as well,” said Caskey. “In swimming they do international rules, so you have to do it right or you’re eliminated. Mostly it’s all about having fun.”
The BC Senior Games take place every year and rotate around the province. In 2011, the West Kootenay hosted the games with 3,000 athletes competing in events in Nelson, Trail and Castlegar.
Competing in Kamloops in 2013 from Grand Forks are: Mervyn Allin, Larry Podmoroff, Bryan Schneider and Cameron Watson (archery); Suzan Breedveld (badminton); Julie Hilde, Jean Johnstone (cribbage); Virginia Peters (equestrian); Ken Kambeitz (ice hockey); Randy Breedveld (slo-pitch); Betty Brussel, Don Caskey, Joan Gale and Richard Mathers (swimming).
Competing in Kamloops in 2013 from Christina Lake are: Joan Thompson (curling); Ian Turner (golf); Frank Webster (swimming); and Theo Huitema (track and field).