Local pickleball players picked up six medals while local tennis players, cyclists, golfers and archers also made medal contributions as Terrace and area athletes bolstered the northwest zone at the 2022 55-plus BC Games held Sept. 13 to Sept. 17 in Victoria.
Of the 20 medals won by the North West zone, three-quarters could claim a Terrace connection.
In pickleball, the duo of Riaan and Jeany De Wit won gold mixed (55-64) 3.5 doubles, Wendy Guenter and Anne Gillanders won gold in women (65+) doubles and Ken Dahms and Anne Gillanders won gold in mixed (65+) 3.0 doubles.
Byron Guenter and Ken Dahms won bronze in men’s pickleball (65+) 3.0 doubles and Wendy and Byron Guenter claimed silver in mixed pickleball (65+) 3.0 doubles.
In tennis, Garry Otto was one member of the duo that took bronze in men 60-64 doubles and silver in men and women 55 mixed doubles.
In single athletic performances, local archer Tom Logan was a gold medal winner in men’s 63-69 3D-longbow and a silver medal winner in men’s 63-69 target-longbow.
Cyclist Deborah Helsdon, won silver in women’s 55-59 time trial recreational, gold in women’s 65-69 road race recreational and gold in women’s 55-59 hill climb recreational.
Golfer Ruth Hidber took gold in women 55+ Flight E for low net while Rod Wiese took golfing bronze in men 55+ Flight B for low gross.
In individual pickleball, Riaan De Wit won gold in men (55-64) 3.5 singles.
More than 2,600 competitors assisted by 850 volunteers took part in the provincial provincial 55+ games since before the pandemic.
One estimate placed the number of pickleball players, who are called ‘picklers’, at approximately 300 people.
Pickleball is a paddle sport combining elements of tennis, badminton, and ping-pong using a paddle and plastic ball with holes. It is called the fastest growing sport in North American
Venues across the Greater Victoria area played host to 22 activities and sports and including soccer, snooker, dragon boats, lawn and carpet bowling, archery, softball, cycling and track and field.
The City of Abbotsford will be hosting the 55+ BC Games in September 2023.