Strathmore hosts summer games playoffs

Shannon LeClair
Times Reporter

 

Strathmore will be the host of 11 different 55 Plus Summer Games playoffs and qualifying events starting April 18.
“It is unusual but because we’re hosting the provincial senior games, the zone committee decided they would give us as much practice with our volunteers and people that are organizing the events to run zones before they run the provincials,” said Joss Binns, activities director for the Summer Games.
A lot of the volunteers may not have seen some of the events coming to Strathmore before, and this will give them a good idea of what to expect.
There are only six playoff events that won’t be held in Strathmore, due to a lack of equipment at this time, and also because Calgary offered to host cycling and athletics with Strathmore, because there are so few entries in those categories that it makes sense to do a meet with everybody.
Anyone 55 and older can sign up for the playoff events. You do need to compete in playoffs to continue on to provincials, which are being held in Strathmore this July 16-19.
“A lot of them (the events) are not really that competitive at all, like the card games are the first three coming up, whist and bridge and crib which a lot of people play for fun, hopefully we’ll see some local people come out, even if they don’t want to go to the games maybe they’ll come out and play a particular card game for half a day,” said Binns.
“People can enter up to a week before the playoff date.”
He said even if people don’t know how to play there will be sessions on some of the activities so that people can learn.
The first three events coming to Strathmore will all be held at the Happy Gang in the Lambert Centre: Bridge on April 18 at 9 a.m. – the contact is Rick Dunn, (403-324-5556); Cribbage on April 25 at 9 a.m. – Joss Binns is the contact (403-934-2458) and Military Whist is scheduled for May 2 at 9 a.m., the contact is Roger Lien (403-934-9240).
On April 15 there will be a free open house at the Strathmore Curling Rink for anyone interested in trying out for shuffleboard. Other ‘come try it’ dates will be announced at a later date.