Adrianne Shepherd
Independent reporter
Stettler and area athletes did very well at the Alberta 55 Plus Summer Games in Airdrie from July 23-26, scooping a total of 15 medals to bring home with one lady golfer writing an entry into the games history.
Gladys Groat had an amazing showing at the games, bringing home a gold medal in the 75+ women’s callaway golf with a score of 153. Not only did she win a gold medal, but also she had a hole in one on a par three 130 yard shot.
“I did lousy after that,” laughed Groat to the Summer Games reporter, “I could see it and thought ‘it’s getting closer, it’s getting closer’ then we all screamed.”
This was her first hole in one, and the first time participating in the games since 2001. Her hole-in-one is the first one recorded in Alberta Games history, and was the first memorable event of the games.
In the 55+ disc golf, Ken Fischer brought home a silver medal with a score of 141.
Fred Bozek played on the 65+ slo-pitch team winning a bronze medal.
Orest Holobetz also won a bronze medal in the 65+ men’s callaway golf with a score of 148.
Carol Stewart brought home a bronze medal in the 65+ shot put.
Stettler’s Bridie Forde brought home a total of five medals. In the 65+ women’s 1500 meter race, Forde had a time of 7:45.8, and 16:43.5 in 3,000 meter race and in the 10,000 meter race, she had a time of 1:03:05.6 and was awarded gold medals in all three races. In the 65+ women’s 200 meter race she was awarded a silver medal for her time of 41.4 seconds and a bronze medal in the women’s 4x100 meter relay for their time of 1:25.6.
Grace Fix made her debut at the games and won five medals in track and field events. In the 55+ women’s 100 meter dash she had a time of 17.8 seconds, in the 3,000 meter race she had a time of 15:45.4 and in the women’s long jump she had a jump of 2.8 meters earning her three silver medals.
Fix was also on the bronze medal relay team and won another bronze for her time of 7:10.5 in the 55+ women’s 1,500 meter race.
All of the athletes did a fantastic job at the games, and represented Stettler well.