This week’s District 1A Senior Games here isn’t just about beating opponents on the lanes, links, or card tables.
“I just love the way everyone gets together,” said local participant Clara Medhurst, 89, while watching the opening rounds of the table shuffleboard tournament yesterday morning at the Sister Kennedy Centre.
“It’s a good chance to meet different people and really enjoy ourselves. Winning is nice, but I just enjoy being out here,” she added.
More than 170 participants from Dryden, Kenora, Stratton, and host Fort Frances are competing in euchre, snooker, cribbage, darts, golf, carpet bowling, bridge, five-pin bowling, horseshoes, and table and floor shuffleboard through tomorrow.
And there is an incentive for winners. Gold medalist from each event will have a chance to compete at Activefest 2002 (the provincial games), which is being held in Kingston in August.
Two years ago, 17 locals seniors participated in Activefest.
“The participation has been really good,” said event co-ordinating assistant Diane Martin, who was giving longtime convener Nick Wihnan a hand with registrations yesterday.
Local businesses have been getting into the act, too, with 72 prizes will be drawn throughout the games.
Besides participating in cribbage, floor shuffleboard, and euchre, Medhurst has helped raise funds by selling tickets for a home-made tablecloth.
“My husband [Hubert] even kept track on how much time I spent on it,” she said, pointing to a label on the tablecloth that read she spent “30.62 eight-hour days” working on it.
Tickets, which cost $1 each, will be on sale today and tomorrow morning, with the draw being held that afternoon.
Opening ceremonies, including a welcome by Mayor Glenn Wither-spoon, were held yesterday morning in conjunction with a pancake breakfast.
Fort Frances Times
Local News from Across the Rainy River District
