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HOT鈥圫TART 鈥� Yukoners show their team spirit by waving flags during the opening ceremony of the 2014 Canada 55+鈥圙ames in Strathcona County, Alta., Wednesday. On the first day of competition Thursday, Team Yukon won 27 medals. Photos courtesy TEAM鈥圷UKON
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ANOTHER鈥圧OUND 鈥� Stan and Joyce Fuller are attending their seventh Canada 55+ Games 鈥� a Yukon record. Photos courtesy TEAM鈥圷UKON
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EYES鈥圤NE鈥圲P 鈥� Bob Edzerza lines up a shot in men鈥檚 eight-ball billiards action in Strathcona County,鈥圓lta. Photos courtesy TEAM鈥圷UKON
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KEEPING CALM 鈥� Ida Calmagane waits for the opening ceremony to begin Wednesday. Photos courtesy TEAM鈥圷UKON
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DELIGHTING THE CROWD 鈥� Senior gymnasts from Alberta amazed Canada 55+ Games participants during the opening ceremony Wednesday. Photos courtesy TEAM鈥圷UKON
Team Yukon hauled in an impressive 27 medals in the first day of competition at the Canada 55+鈥圙ames in Sherwood Park, Alta.
Team Yukon hauled in an impressive 27 medals in the first day of competition at the Canada 55+鈥圙ames in Sherwood Park, Alta.
The team, which consists of 130 athletes, earned a slew of medals thanks to some standout individual performances in cycling, track and field, and swimming.
鈥淲e are doing exceptionally well,鈥� said co-chef de mission Sue Meikle told the Star yesterday.
The majority of the territory鈥檚 medals came in track and field, with several athletes winning multiple medals yesterday.
Brenda Dion earned three gold in sprint and javelin, long distance runner Richard Zral earned silver and two bronze, while John Hall won gold and two bronze in sprint and long jump.
In the 75+ 100-metre event, Hall recovered from an early fall to win his second bronze medal on the day.
Meanwhile, Tom Parlee picked up gold in javelin and long jump, runner Dave Kalles earned two silver, and Roger Hanberg, Hank Leenders, Nick鈥圫tratis, Sheila Senger, and Laurie Drummond also picked up medals.
Parlee, president of the ElderActive Association of the Yukon, was impressed by the early medal tally.
鈥淚鈥檓 not the only one with gold medals hanging around my neck,鈥� he said. 鈥淲e鈥檝e got quite a raft of them. We did surprisingly well, considering that Alberta has 800 members and we have only 130 out and about.鈥�
Parlee, 67, threw a seasonal-best 25.41 metres to win gold in 65+ javelin, but pointed out Leender鈥檚 toss of 25.78 metres in the 75+ category was much more noteworthy.
Parlee wouldn鈥檛 reveal what distance won him his long jump gold.
鈥淚鈥檓 not even going to talk about the distance,鈥濃�坔e chuckled.
In the pool, three Yukon swimmers picked up two medals each, with Nesta Leduc winning two gold, Linda Augustine earning gold and silver, and Steven Duncan pacing to both gold and bronze.
Cyclists Gail Graigen and Mike McCann each scored a gold medal of their own yesterday, while Louise Girard rounded out the Yukon medal count with a bronze.
The Canada 55+ Games will conclude Saturday, when the team sports wrap up their tournaments.
See full results in the Star next week.
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