Sending huge team to 55-Plus Summer Games

Zone 2 is sending one of its largest teams ever to the Alberta 55-Plus Summer Games this August.

As of late last week, 109 have qualified and more are expected after slo-pitch rosters are finalized and cultural event participants are announced in mid-July for painting, ceramics, crafts, photography, writing, needlework & woodworking.

"We have a larger team than Edmonton this fielding, so we're really proud of that," says Doug Campbell, Alberta 55-Plus director.

He says 55-Plus offers 34 different activities, ranging from the physical to the mental to the creative. Typically, there are 700 to 800 participants in the games. When you include all the volunteers and officials, over 1,000 people are involved.

There's also the opportunity to advance to the national games next August in Quebec City.

Cambell says Cochrane has had many athletes advance to the nationals in Sydney, NS., St. John, NB, Brampton, ON., and last year in Kamloops, B.C.

Currently, Zone 2 is searching for players to represent the zone in cornhole, an event being offered for the first time at the summer games. Time is short, though. The paperwork needs to be submitted to games officials by Monday.

Those wanting more information can contact Campbell by phoning 403-932-6866 or emailing dec@cabsi.ca. 

Zone 2, better known to some as Big Country, is one of eight Alberta sports zones and stretches from the mountains to the Saskatchewan border, north to Olds in the north and High River in the south. Calgary is a separate zone.

West Rocky View County leads the way for the zone with 40 players participants from RVC west of Hwy. 2, with four from Bearspaw, three from Bragg Creek, one from Springbank, and 32 from Cochrane.

The athletes all reside in Cochrane other than those whose locations are bracketed:

Pickleball: Lina Danis, Julie Clark, Lorraine Makowecki, Catherine Burdett, and Barb Imeson in women's; Steve Katulka (Bearspaw), Gary Hawkes, Bill Cooper, Jim Bend, in men's; Catherine Burdett and Zahir Lakha, Lina Danis and Mark Lenson, and Barb Imeson and Colin Gilbert (Bragg Creek) in mixed.

Bocce: 55+ team led by Myrna Fink with Marcia Wilson, Sharon Barnden, Tracy Hindle (Bearspaw); 70+ team led by Monique MacKenzie with Bonnie Friesen, Jennifer MacKenzie, & Jim Paramchuk.

Track & Field: Lynda Gross (Bearspaw), Sandi Lightfoot (Bragg Creek), Brian Hill  (Springbank) Lyndon Emro, and Randy Molitor.

Cycling: Bob Martens, Brent Gross (Bearspaw), and Clint Docken (Bragg Creek).

Golf: Joan Logan, Chris Loganm, and Karl Gibbie.

Contract Bridge: Lucia Ciupa and Ken Munro.

Floor Shuffleboard: Nancy Gibbie and Doug Campbell

Horseshoes: Gerald Burkholder

Swimming: Joan Gunn-Allard. 

Zone 2, better known as Big Country, is one of eight Alberta sports zones and stretches from the Mountains to the Saskatchewan border, north to Olds in the north and High River in the south.

The summer games are being held in Brooks from Aug. 17 to 20.