Senior Adults Enjoy Games, Time Together

Winds blowing at 20 m.p.h. and a chill in the air did not stop more than 300 senior adult athletes from trying their best at the 30th annual Northwest Arkansas Regional Senior Games.

Farmington, Prairie Grove and Lincoln senior centers were represented by 12 individuals and several brought home medals or ribbons for their efforts.

Tom Lockhart of Lincoln Senior Center said he comes each year to visit with seniors from other centers. He joked, though, that he has complained because the games do not have any events for “old cowboys.” Agnes Lombard, also of Lincoln, said she comes for the fellowship. Peggy Self of Prairie Grove Senior Center said she enjoys the Senior Games because of the camaraderie with others. “We like to play games,” added Ethel McKee of Prairie Grove. The games, sponsored by Area Agency on Aging of Northwest Arkansas, were held April 29 at Harrison High School’s F.S. Garrison Stadium and the school’s indoor athletic facility called Cash Center. Seniors could sign up to compete in 24 different events, including stationary cycling, spincasting, javelin throw, nail pounding, football throw, softball throw, long jump and shooting a Daisy Air Gun. Track events included a 100-meter dash, 200-meter walk and run, 800-meter walk and run and a 3K.

Sitting, mental games also were available and seniors could compete in Skip-Bo, a card game, or Dominoes.

Lisa McClelland, Farmington’s center director, said the Senior Games are her favorite event each year.

“It’s a chance to watch the seniors have fun and stay active,” McClelland said. “They get to interact with seniors from other centers they don’t see very often. I’m always amazed at what our seniors can do.”

Angie Dunlap, coordinator, said Area Agency sponsors the Senior Games as a fun event. It is not a qualifier for the state Senior Olympics. “We do it to help keep them active and healthy,” Dunlap said. She said having the seniors together is also an objective of the day. “Socialization is important as you get older. Older adults tend to get isolated and that can lead to depression,” Dunlap said.

In all, 317 senior adults, 188 women and 129 men, participated in the 2014 games.

Agnes Lombard of Lincoln Senior Center throws a bean bag in Baggo at the Senior Games in Harrison. Five senior adults from the Lincoln center participated in the annual event sponsored by Area Agency on Aging of Northwest Arkansas. Athletes received...

PHOTOS BY LYNN KUTTER ENTERPRISE-LEADER Bonnie Beeks of Farmington Senior Center has her game face on as she competes in the card game, Skip-Bo, at the 2014 Northwest Arkansas Senior Games in Harrison. The object of Skip-Bo is to be the first one to play every card in your stockpile. Beeks...

Spending the day with friends is just as important at the annual Senior Games in Harrison as competing in the many sporting events. Friends Peggy Self, left, Ethel McKee and Wanda Rieff, all of Prairie Grove Senior Center, enjoyed time visiting with...

Delmar Lombard of Lincoln plays Baggo, a beanbag toss game, at the Northwest Arkansas Regional Senior Games. More than 300 adults, 50 years and older, participated in this year’s games, including seniors from Lincoln, Prairie Grove and Farmington.

Mavis Barnes of Farmington competes in Dominoes at the Senior Games. Most of the events at the games were sporting and action events but two games, Dominoes and SkipBo, required senior adults to use strategy and mental skills. Four senior adults from...

Gene Marchbanks, left, of Farmington, watches the time as Nancy Bolstad, also of the Farmington Senior Center, rides the stationary bike at the Senior Games on April 29. Participants had to ride the bike for onehalf mile. Medals were given to the...