OLDS — The Royal Canadian Legion Branch #105 in Olds will soon be hosting Alberta 55 Plus open shuffleboard provincials.
Alberta 55 Plus treasurer and Zone 2 area director Nettie Neustaeter of Didsbury says this is the first time that 55 Plus shuffleboard provincials, which take place Sept. 9-10, have been held in Olds.
Neustaeter said normally, the tournament is held during Alberta 55 Plus Winter or Summer Games.
She said due to COVID, the Games weren’t held in 2020 and were postponed in 2021. Instead, both games were held earlier this year in April in Edmonton and June in Peace River respectively.
Neustaeter, her husband Dave, Earl Markham, and Linda Traquair (Drumheller) formed a bocce team from Didsbury for the summer games and brought home bronze medals. Markham also brought home a bronze medal in woodworking. Don James from Carstairs brought home a bronze medal in 75+ competitive men’s 20 kilometre and 40 kilometre time trial while Len McKetiak competed in pool (8-ball).
Neustaeter said neither of those games locations had facilities to accommodate the shuffleboard provincials.
But the Royal Canadian Legion Branch #105 does.
“Olds has six tables at the legion. It’s the perfect venue to hold this event, so we’re doing it as an open,” she said, stressing the event is open to all current 55 plus members on a first-come, first-served basis.
Neustaeter said registration is anticipated to begin on Friday, Sept. 9 at 2 p.m.
“Teams can be from the same zone or they can come from all over the province,” she Neustaeter.
The tournament is scheduled to begin on Saturday, Sept. 10 at 8 a.m. and is expected to wrap up at about 4 p.m.
A banquet will then be held starting at 6 p.m. Medal presentations are expected to follow at about 8:30 p.m.
