Cochrane and Bearspaw athletes participating in the 55 Plus Canada Summer Games in Saint John, NB are returning with a little extra weight in their luggage.

Local area members of the Team Alberta won a number of medals from the games, held Aug. 21-24, in addition to having many memories to cherish.

From left, Doug Campbell, Debra Hawker and Nancy and Karl Gibbie are among the area athletes returning with medals from the Canada 55+ Summer Games hosted by Saint John, NB.

Karl Gibbie and Doug Campbell struck gold in men’s 70+ lawn bowling. Both were multi-medalist with Campbell winning silver in lawn bowling 55+ mixed event with partner Debra Hawker and Karl and Nancy Gibbie winning bronze in 70+ mixed.

Roswitha Schmitt-Blouin won a gold in the 200m 65+ women’s predicted swimming event and finished fourth in the 400m. She also won bronze as a part of Alberta’s relay team.

Bill Gibbons is returning with another 8-ball pool to add to his collection. He won silver in the newly created 75+ men’s event.

Gibbons has now medaled in eight-ball in four consecutive national games. He has won gold, silver and two bronze medals in addition to many provincial medals.

Clint Docken, of Bragg Creek, won gold in the 65+ men’s recreation cycling

The men’s ball team, which included Cochranites Nick Radmanovich and Pat Drinnan, finished fourth after facing Ontario in the bronze medal game.

Alberta sent the second strongest delegation to the games, a feat in itself considering the distance to New Brunswick. They placed first with 89.5 per cent of their 319 athletes finishing in the medals. Collectively Alberta won 48 gold, 28.5 silver and 13 bronze. Ontario had 388 participants and 67 per cent of their participants medaled.

Over 30 of Alberta’s athletes came from Big Country (Zone 2) that includes the Cochrane area. There’s a wide range of sports disciplines included in the national games in addition to some card and board games. The national games are held every two years.

Up next in the 2018 Alberta 55+ Fall Games being hosted in Edmonton, Sept. 7-9.

Kamloops, B.C. is hosting the 2020 Canada games.