Ten Peace region seniors compete in Abbotsford 2023 55+ BC Games

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — Ten Peace region seniors competed in the Abbotsford 2023 55+ BC Games this week, and each athlete placed within the top three of their sport. 

Held each year to improve the health, lifestyle, and image of British Columbia’s 55-and-over population, the games feature a variety of sports, including archery, cribbage, horseshoes, cycling, golf, and more. 

Five athletes from Fort St. John and five from Dawson Creek made the trip to Abbotsford to compete in the games, which began on August 22nd and will come to a close on the 26th. 

Fort St. John cyclist Samuel Keats took gold in the men’s 70 to 74 competitive time trial after finishing with a time of 25:58.3. He also took home bronze in the competitive road race and silver in the competitive hill climb.

Two Fort St. John golfers competed at the games as well. Bruce Christensen earned bronze in the men’s 55 to 74 flight category, and Art Lang took home bronze in the men’s 75+ flight category. 

Dorthy Trask also earned gold in the women’s 75+ flight category, and Marcel Pinette earned gold in horseshoes.

Three Dawson Creek golfers competed in the games as well. Brian Haddow and Don Stredulinsky both took bronze in the men’s 55 to 74 flight category, and John Garlinksi earned bronze in the men’s 75+ flight category. 

Dawson Creek swimmer Elizabeth Ollenberger earned herself three medals in swimming at the games, taking home gold in the women’s 55 to 59 25-metre backstroke, bronze in women’s 55 to 59 100-metre individual medley and silver in 55 to 59 25-metre butterfly.

Robin O’Reilly, a swimmer from Dawson Creek, earned bronze in the women’s 75 to 79 100-metre freestyle, as well as five gold in 75 to 79 50 -metre Butterfly, 50-metre freestyle, 200-metre freestyle, 25-metre Butterfly, and 25-metre freestyle

A full list of results by zone from the Abbotsford 2023 55+ BC Games can be found here.