The competition is fierce yet fun as the province害羞草研究所檚 most advanced athletes are in town for the BC 55+ Games.

It害羞草研究所檚 been 30 years since Vernon hosted the games and this time it害羞草研究所檚 a lot bigger with more athletes and events. The 1987 Games had a showing of 600 athletes, compared to 3,600 this year, with far fewer events, while the 30th Games includes 27 different sports.

害羞草研究所淚 remember them, I remember when they came,害羞草研究所� said Diana Williamson, director for the Greater Vernon Games. 害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 back to where it all began 30 years ago, so it害羞草研究所檚 pretty exciting.害羞草研究所�

The Okanagan-Similkameen, zone five, represents 806 athletes, so there害羞草研究所檚 a strong showing locally.

While many of those competing are in their early senior years, there are many who are proving that age doesn害羞草研究所檛 have to slow you down.

Among the oldest competitors are 97-year-old Bill Falconer of Kamloops, who is competing in track and field. There害羞草研究所檚 also 95-year-olds playing cribbage, floor curling and even equestrian. Swimming includes a couple 93-year-olds as well as Vernon害羞草研究所檚 own Mira Grypink, 85, who competed in the Games 30 years ago and is back at it again this year, along with her daughters Jacquie and Monique.

Sherrie McGraw, a distance runner from the Lower Mainland, says she loves the Games and it害羞草研究所檚 her second time as a competitor.

害羞草研究所淚 love running in general so this kind f puts another spin on it,害羞草研究所� she said. 害羞草研究所淚 prefer to do half-marathons, I have more time to play the field a little more, this is pretty intense.害羞草研究所�

Organizer and table tennis player John Neilson says there are 106 players in his sport from all over the province.

害羞草研究所淲e have a few from Vernon, about four of us playing, and then there is a large number from the coast coming up and they are very good,害羞草研究所� explained Neilson. 害羞草研究所淲e actually don害羞草研究所檛 have a lot of the young ones here, the biggest age groups are over 70.害羞草研究所�

And of course it wouldn害羞草研究所檛 be the senior games without darts.

Hedley McMullan has been playing darts since the 1990s, as it was a family affair.

害羞草研究所淧eople say, 害羞草研究所榦h you害羞草研究所檙e going to the senior games?害羞草研究所櫤π卟菅芯克鶟 said McMullan. 害羞草研究所淲ell, don害羞草研究所檛 forget there is a lot of good dart players in the senior games because we all played against each other coming up to get to be a senior, and now we are all seniors they are all still there, and they are still good players.害羞草研究所�

The closing ceremonies are slated for Saturday at 1:30 p.m. at the Vernon Recreation Complex.