Nine local residents recently competed in the 2011 B.C. Seniors Games, held in West Kootney.

The games are an annual, multi-sport event hosted by a different B.C. community each year and are one of the largest games organized within B.C.

Approximately 3,500 participants from across B.C., aged 55 and over compete in a range of sports and activities such as cribbage, curling, track and field, swimming, golf and cycling each year.

Local athletes represent the Bulkley Valley Lakes District zone 11, which covers an area from Vanderhoof to Hazelton.

Approximately 40 athletes participated under the banner of zone 11 this year.

Locals, Marie and Pete Hiebert, who have now been to 14 past seniors games competitions, claimed both gold and bronze medals in the men and women pairs cribbage this year.

Last year they won silver medals and three years ago they retuned home with double gold medals in cribbage.

Pete said that ÑÇÖÞÌìÌà Lake cleaned up the medals in the cribbage competition this year as Doris and Paul Jean also returned home with silver medals in the event.

Konrad and Gerda Feldmann are also games veterans, participating in three previous games competitions and say they thoroughly enjoy the experience.

Gerda retuned home this year with a bronze medal in the 70 - 74 years, 20 kilometre road walk competition, while Konrad competed in the 70 - 74 years time trial cycling event, coming in fourth place.

He said that for him it is not just about getting a medal, but about the participation.

Aidan Carroll competed in the men's 60-64 years time trial coming in sixth place and competed in the 60-64 years road race and hill climb cycling events coming in eighth place. This is the second year running that he has participated in the games.

He said the competition in the cycling events is very competitive. "The cyclists from down south are able to get in a lot more training time and compete in more competitive events throughout the year so they get more practice. Cycling is very weather dependent," he said.

John and Sandra Barth have also been to four previous B.C. Seniors Games competitions.

This year they both competed in a number of track and field events.

John placed fourth in the men's 65-69 years 10 kilometre road race, and fourth in the men's 65-69 years pentathlon. He claimed the bronze medal in the men's 65-69 years 5,000 metre run and gold in the men's 60-65 year 5,000 metre power walk.

Sandra took home a bronze medal in the women's 60-64 years 10 kilometre road walk, came in fifth place in the pentathlon and fourth in the women's 5,000 metre power walk.

"We all had a great time and the communities were very friendly," Sandra said.

This year, events were spread across a number of communities. Track and field events were held in Trail, cycling was held in Nelson and other events including cribbage were held in Castlegar.

Competitors are divided into five year intervals for age groups in most events and ages range from 55 years plus. Cribbage is an exception where competitors ages range from 55 to 95.

"There are 90 years olds cycling, but they compete within a five year age interval," Sandra said.

She said that next year zone 11 would like to boost the number of seniors competing in the games.

"We would like to have 100 participants," she said.

Cribbage requires competitors to pre qualify, but most of the events just require pre-registration.

"We always have a great time. There is a lot of organization that goes into the games, it is just like a mini Olympics," Konrad said adding that they had nice weather over the three day competition.

Each zone 11 athlete was given $200 each from a Community Gaming Grant and the Lakes District Seniors Society also pitched in funding to help local athletes with travel costs to and from the games.

If local seniors are interested in participating in the 2012 B.C. Seniors Games in Burnaby from Aug. 21 to 25, they should contact Sandra Barth on 250-692-3371 for more information.

Competitors are required to register by June 2012.