Cypress nearly passes Hat in medal count at games in Taber
Cypress County nearly did the unthinkable at the Southern Alberta Summer Games: they almost got more medals than Medicine Hat.
Despite a smaller team, the Cypress crew totalled 85 medals (34 gold, 28 silver, 23 bronze) at the games this past weekend in Taber, just two shy of Medicine Hat’s 87 (41 gold, 30 silver, 16 bronze).
Though it’s a participationcentric event, the Southern Games certainly brought out the best in Cypress’ collective will to win, as the county wound up seventh in the overal medal count. As usual, the host team (this time, the MD of Taber) ran away with the medal haul with 318, including 137 gold.
As there were more than 1,500 medals handed out, to athletes of all ages, there were a lot of highlights between the Medicine Hat and Cypress contingents.
For Cypress, the medal difference really happened at the equestrian events. Ronna Magotiaux alone claimed eight medals, including three gold. Combined, Cypress got 46 medals via equestrian events — more than half the team’s total medal count.
As for their team medals, three came in badminton doubles, the under-10 ball hockey team took gold, as did the 14-16 girls beach volleyball team of Claire O’Connell, Zaira Miller-Shakleton and Lindsay O’Connel.
In pickleball, Bonnie Ewasechko and Joanne Anhelher won their 50-over women’s doubles division, while Guy Riddell and Gordon Masson took silver in 65-over men’s doubles.
Medicine Hat pickleball players rang up plenty of wins too. Tim Jacobs and Marcia Garmen won the 65-over mixed crown, Marcia Garmen and Sheila Donner were the 65-over women’s champs and Jim Hancock and Brian Hoffner teamed up for silver in men’s 60-over.
Hat equestrian riders combined for 18 medals, led by Ridley Elliot’s five gold in the peewee age group.
Perhaps the most wideranging display came from MaryAnn Westgard. Westgard won bronze in the photography competition for a people photo, then went on the track to win masters women’s javelin gold, then silver in both shot put and discus.
Medicine Hat’s 18-under co-ed ball hockey team won its tournament, with the under-14 side taking silver. Badminton wins in 15-under girls and boys plus mixed doubles silver and a tennis mixed doubles gold were among the other big team victories. Pincher Creek will host the games next year, just as they followed Taber in 2014. Medicine Hat hasn’t hosted since 2011 and Cypress hasn’t been the host since Bow Island in 1996.