OKOTOKS - A repeat bid was in full cycle for a committed Okotoks athlete.
Bob Wahlund won double gold in the 75+ division in cycling for the second consecutive year at the 2023 Alberta 55-Plus Games, held Aug. 17-20 in Brooks-Newell, to add to his growing list of silverware on the provincial and national stage
“It was good that I was able to hold up my past wins and come out on top,” said Wahlund. “What’s happening in my age now is there seems to be less competitors, we’re trying to get more competitors in the senior games overall.
“I’m keeping against pretty well the same people every time and they’re competing against me so we know how to race against each other in a way.”
A two-time national champion in cycling and veteran of the Alberta 55 Plus competition, he said it was a great experience with upwards of 800 attendees in Brooks.
Wahlund, a prostate cancer survivor, has committed to bicycling every two days in the warmer months along with extensive training at the Okotoks Recreation Centre with a small, dedicated group over the winter.
In Brooks, the conditions were largely favourable in both the 21.6-kilometre road race and 11.8-kilometre time trial events.
“It was flat all around, no hills,” he said. “I tried out the track the day before when it was 33 (Celsius) and very hot and the next morning when we did the official races, it was only about 12-14 with a pretty heavy north wind blowing.
“Everybody had to contend with that and it didn’t seem to cause too many problems, I had a good ride and it didn’t affect me too much.”
On day two of the competition, cyclists had the wind in their sails with a westerly gust actually serving as a benefit with the direction of the route in the road race.
“I was happy with my times,” he said. “I’ve been training for the same distance for two years in a row, pretty well trying to stick to the distance I’m required to race in.”
High River’s James Roberts, a previous medallist in track and field, showcased his acumen on two wheels with a double gold medal performance in cycling in the time trial and road race in the 80+ division.
Maggie Nichol-Bowen also did the double in the 55+ category, with gold in both the 21.6-kilometre time trial and 40.8-kilometre road race.
Foothills athletes had a field day in the track events as well.
High River’s Norma Dawson, who also heads up the Big Country Senior Sports Society, was in a league of her own at the Games with four gold medals in the 50m, 100m and 200m sprints along with the shotput in the 75+ category. Millarville's Paul Burns struck for a pair of silver in the 70+ javelin and shotput and added bronze in discus.
Elsewhere, Jim Vangilst was a distance running ace in the 65+ division with a silver in the 3,000m and bronze in the 1,500m race while Ernie Robson took silver in both the 75+ shotput and discus while Sandi Lightfoot claimed bronze in the 75+ javelin and discus.
In slo-pitch, the Foothills trio of Gary Paukert, Curtis Buck and Jack Bews helped Zone 2 hit it out of the park with a gold medal performance in the 65+ division. In the 75+ division, Warren Tiedje and Gordon Pyle took home the bronze.
Foothills athletes weren’t in a pickle in one of the fastest growing sports. On the contrary, in fact.
Five competitors from the area brought home medals in pickleball with High River’s Paulette McKinnon earning gold in the 75+ women’s under 4.0 division, Caroyln Mulholland and Gail Reiss teamed up for silver in the 55+ women’s under 4.0 and the duo of Heather Coonfer and Carrie Irwin taking silver in 55+ women’s over 4.0.
On the links, Bob Cheyne took bronze in the 80+ division with Judy Kenny and Jean Whyte also earning top-10 finishes.
In the cultural events, Nancy Neufield of Turner Valley won three first place ribbons for crafts with Wahlund also earning a second place in crafts. In photography, Barb Larson, from Foothills County, earned two second and two third place ribbons.
Zone 2 walked away with the highest medal standing in the competition.
For more information on the event, visit alberta55plus.ca.
