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Many of the participants in this weekend's carpet bowling and floor shuffleboard competition at the Canada Games Centre say they are warming up to join Team Yukon at the Canada 55+ Games.

Eighteen teams with competitors from six communities played in the two-day tournament organized by the ElderActive Recreation Association (ERA).

The top three teams to emerge in carpet bowling were from outside Whitehorse.

The Tagish Trumpeters, made up of Ida Calmagane, Paul Dabbs, Heather McGeachy, Renie Smith and Lois Taylor, took home the $400 prize for first place.

The runner-up prize of $200 went to Roll Another One from Faro, made up of Tessie Grant, Jerry Johnson, Charlene McCool, Gerald McCool and David Rogerson.

Third prize, $100, went to the Faro Wits 鈥� Sally Baker, Marilyn Boyle, Doris Unruh and Michelle Vainio.

It was a different story in shuffleboard. The three teams tied atop the standings refused a playoff and decided to split the prize three ways.

The three-way champions included the Golden Sliders (Dorothy Drummond and Edna Knight), the Rosalie-Rushton team (Gail Rushton and Rosalie Rogers), and the Raymond-Boyle team (Eileen Boyle and June Raymond).

"ERA holds a winter tournament every year at this time,鈥� explained Tom Parlee, president of ERA and territorial representative on the national Canada 55+ Games.

"Typically, when we are preparing to form Team Yukon for the national games which are held every other year, the interest in the local competition intensifies.鈥�

Team Yukon will be going to the Canada 55+ Games in Sherwood Park, Alta., in late August. The team is organized by ERA with support from the Sport and Recreation Branch of the Yukon government.

Parlee says he expects 125 to 150 Yukoners over 55 years of age will participate in the event.

"There are 24 sports and recreation activities in which people can compete,鈥� he said. "Some competition is very athletic like hockey or track and field, while other activities such as bridge and cribbage emphasize social interaction. But we are all committed to staying active; that's what ElderActive is all about!鈥�

This weekend's tournament was organized by Ken Bourke, a longtime member of the ERA.

He said the subsidy for travel and accommodation helped assist players from the communities to come to Whitehorse for the tournament.

Competition began Friday afternoon and continued all day Saturday. Play was followed by dinner and the presentation of cash prizes at the Golden Age Centre.

The ERA wants Yukoners interested in participating in the Canada 55+ Games Aug. 27 to 30 to complete a form indicating in which sport they would like to compete.

The 鈥業 Might Go!' form is due at the end of February. It can be found on the ERA鈥坵ebsite www.yukon-seniors-and-elders.org or by calling the ERA office at 456-8252.

The Team Yukon organizing committee needs an approximate idea of numbers to be able to plan effectively.

Practice sessions for carpet bowling and floor shuffleboard are organized by Bourke Monday mornings at the Canada Games Centre. Playoff competition to determine which teams will represent the territory at nationals will be held in March if required.

With files by Spence Hill