There are a number of sports at the B.C. Seniors Games that can test the physical mettle of folks of any age.
From cycling to swimming to dragonboat racing, some sports demand strength and endurance.
There are also a number of events that emphasize with reflexes, patience, and intelligence over raw physical power.
With the B.C. Seniors Games coming to Langley starting this Sept. 9, there is a chance for local seniors to participate and compete with people from around the province in a variety of these activities.
• Horseshoes: Played with individuals or in teams of two, this backyard favourite actually uses large stylized metal U-shaped bars, bigger than a real horseshoe. It will be played this year at the Cloverdale Horseshoe Club on 64th Avenue.
• Carpet bowling: A variant on indoor bowls, and related to the similar outdoors lawn bowling, carpet bowling is popular in parts of England. Single players, or groups of two, three, or four players in teams participate in an attempt to get their shots closer to a rolled jack than their opponents. It will be played at the LEC on 200th Street.
• Floor curling: Much like its on-ice version, but designed for those who can’t ice curl because of back or knee problems. There is no sweeping, and the “rocks†are made of wood. The game is played on a wooden floor waxed for pushing the rocks, and the game is scored like traditional curling. Games will be played at the George Preston Recreation Centre on 42nd Aveue.
• Darts: A pub favourite, now played with a standarized round dart board and a specific set of rules. Darts will be played in the Coast Langley Hotel on Fraser Highway.
• Cribbage: A card game for two, three, or four players that involves grouping cards to gain points. The cribbage board is used for scorekeeping, and there is a complex scoring system including points for groups of cards that total 15. Competitions will take place at the Langley Seniors Resource Centre on 51B Avenue.
• Whist: A classic Victorian-era trick-taking card game, derived from earlier games like Ruff and Honours. The straightforward rules allow a variety of strategies. Games will be played at the Langley Seniors Resource Centre on 51B Avenue.
The games run from Sept. 9-13. To sign up as a volunteer, contact the local games organizers at 604-533-8065.