Going For The Gold

The 31st annual Lancaster Senior Games, held May 6 to 10, had another record-breaking year for attendance with a total of 1,004 participants and more than 335 volunteers. According to organizer Lisa Paulson of the Lancaster County Office of Aging, this was the first time that participation numbers broke the 1,000 mark.

"People are having fun, and they just love doing it," remarked committee member Sandy Hess in regards to the record-breaking participation. "The whole idea is to get anybody 55 and up to keep moving. And it's not just physical; it's about using your mind, too."

The bulk of the events took place at Spooky Nook Sports, with shuttle buses running to events held at other locations, including the Lancaster YMCA, Amos Herr Park, Hempfield High School, Evergreen Golf Course, Leisure Lanes, Buchmiller Park, Overlook Golf Course, and Rocky Springs Lanes.

Darts, bocce, and cornhole were among the most popular events, with more than 300 registrants each. Hess, who has been volunteering on the Senior Games committee for more than 20 years, noted that organizers adjust the event offerings from year to year according to what people seem to be interested in. "Every year we tweak something to make it work a little better," said Hess.

For instance, bridge is no longer offered due to waning interest, but now there is a pinochle tournament. Sometimes event demonstrations are scheduled into the week to test the waters before adding something to the official competition list for the next year. New additions for 2019 included ladder golf, a Nook exercise sampler, and Pilates, as well as a rock climbing demonstration with an opportunity to climb.

Volunteers begin meeting monthly in September each year to plan and continue the planning process right up until the events launch in May. "To me it's rewarding, and I think it is to everybody who's doing it or we wouldn't be doing it, because we all volunteer," said Hess.

Lititz resident Carl Risser was among the dozens of individuals gathered under sunny skies at Amos Herr Park in Landisville on May 7 for the horseshoes competition. Risser earned first place for the 80- to 84-year-old division and also participated in bocce, ladder golf, shuffleboard, basketball, and the soccer penalty kick. "I love all of the games," said Risser. "I love water volleyball too, but they don't have that yet."

Formerly of New Holland, Risser said that it was when he moved into Brethren Village in 2007 that he really became active in recreational sports. He does a lot of running, goes to the exercise room on a daily basis, and has been participating in the Senior Games for at least eight years.

Alan Ruby of Akron and Barry Lynch of Lancaster took first and second place, respectively, in the 85- to 89-year-old division for horseshoes. This was not the first time that Ruby and Lynch had contended against each other for the championship in horseshoes, and yet: "We're still friends," said Ruby with a laugh.

Neither Ruby nor Lynch practices horseshoes throughout the year, but they both work out regularly at a local athletic club where they are part of the Silver Sneakers program. Ruby remarked, "I just love the people here and the fellowship that we have. It's all about the people."

To learn more about the Lancaster County Senior Games, readers may visit http://www.LancSeniorGames.org.