Ready to play
Deadline is today for entering 2018 P.E.I. 55+ Summer Games
Holding a ball in her hand, Margaret Wiggington demonstrates her bowling arm swing on the patio of her Charlottetown home.
This summer the sportsminded woman has one goal in mind.
It’s to have fun at the 2018 P.E.I. 55+ Summer Games.
“I don’t go in with the idea of winning, I go in with the idea of playing my best and seeing my friends,” says the 83-year-old athlete who has signed up for five events.
This year she is competing in doubles in crokinole, singles in crokinole, team bowling and single bowling. She also competed in lawn bowling for the Games, which was held earlier this summer.
“I’m pleased to go in them. I like the people I meet and the stories and the laughs we share.”
Wiggington will be one of the athletes competing in the provincial competition that runs Sept. 10-15, hosted by the Rural Municipality of North Shore. And organizers are enthusiastic.
“We’re excited. It’s always great to see people coming out for it,” says Dhuey Pratt, provincial president.
Early signs are promising. “Planning is just about finished. It looks like our numbers will be good. . . We’ll be accepting registrations until Aug. 30.”
Pratt says there are many benefits for attendees.
“It’s a great opportunity to stimulate mind and body and meet new people who have the same interest as you do. It’s also a great way of seeing a new area of P.E.I.”
Athletes will have a variety of events to register for, including auction, bocce, contract bridge, cribbage, crokinole, cycling, darts, euchre, golf, horseshoes, pickleball, running, scrabble, shuffleboard, softball, walking and washer toss.
“Participating in the Games gives people a sense of belonging.
It also gets them out of their communities,” says Pratt.
Wiggington says participating in the games helps her maintain an active lifestyle.
“I really feel that I’m blessed to have such energy. I’ve always been active. As a child, I skated and played baseball. At Prince Street school I played hockey and the janitor was our coach. Now I walk every day, winter or summer.”
“I really feel that I’m blessed to have such energy. I’ve always been active. As a child, I skated and played baseball. At Prince Street school I played hockey and the janitor was our coach. Now I walk every day, winter or summer.” Margaret Wiggington