Parksville Qualicum Beach area athletes came back home with a haul of medals from the 55+ BC Games in Victoria.
Some were multiple gold medallists in different disciplines. Among them was one of Nanoose Bay’s most senior athletes, Joe Giegerich, who in his 90s,excelled in a myriad of events in the track and field competition. Giegerich highlighted the men’s 90-94 age group when he collected seven gold medals in the 50 metres, 100 metres, 200m, high jump, long jump, triple jump and pole vault.
Another Nanoose Bay athlete, Harry Keen, won five gold medals and one silver in the men’s 85-89 age group swimming competition. He came in first in the 200m free, 400m free, 100m back, 25m back and 50m back and was second in the 25m free.
READ MORE: Nanaimo looking to put together bid for 55-plus B.C. Games
In cycling, Paul Connor of Qualicum Beach won a trio of gold medals in the men’s 70-74 competitive age group, topping the road race, hill climb and time trial. In the recreational division, Kerby Lowen of Qualicum Beach also took home three gold medals in the road race, hill climb and time trial. Carol Doering of Errington notched two gold medals in the women’s 55-59 recreational division with two first-place finishes in the time trial and road race.
Overall, district 69 athletes helped Vancouver Island North win 215 medals, the fourth highest among 13 zones. Vancouver Island South (Zone 1) topped the medal standings with a whopping 542.
Here are results of District 69 athletes.
Archery
Gold – Bob Lyford of Qualicum Beach, Men 70+ 3D-Recurve Bow without sight
Silver – Bob Lyford of Qualicum Beach, Men 70+ Target-Recurve Bow without sight
Bronze — George Jeffrey of Qualicum Beach, Men 63-39 3D-Compound With Sight & Release
Cycling
Gold — Paul Connor of Qualicum Beach — Men 70-74 Time Trial (Competitive), Men 70-74 Road Race (Competitive), Men 70-74 Hill Climb (Competitive)
Gold – Carol Doering of Errington — Women 55-59 Time Trial (Recreational), Women 55-59 Road Race (Recreational)
Gold — Kerby Lowen of Qualicum Beach — Men 70-74 Road Race (Recreational), Men 70-74 Hill Climb (Recreational), Men 70-74 Time Trial (Recreational)
Silver — Brock Johnston of Qualicum Beach — Men 65-69 Road Race (Recreational), Men 65-69 Hill Climb (Recreational), Men 65-69 Time Trial (Recreational)
Equestrian
Silver – Diane Floyd of Errington, Men and Women 55+ Dressage - First Level
Bronze – Helen Chapman of Errington, Men and Women 55+ (2’3-2’6 Working Hunter)
Dragon Boating
Gold — Sterling Warriors, Men & Women 55+ (Platinum B) — Denice Deck of Parksville, Patricia Ganczar of Qualicum Beach, Leanne Parsons of Qualicum Beach
Silver — Salish Finest, Women 55+ (Platinum A) — Denice Deck of Parksville, Patricia Ganczar of Qualicum Beach, Leanne Parsons of Qualicum Beach
Bronze – Island Divas, Women 55+ team — Cheryl Ann Kelly of Nanoose, Patricia Pawlett of Parksville
Bronze — Mixed Masters, Men & Women 55+ — Patricia Pawlett of Parksville
Hockey
Gold –Old Buoys (Men 75+) – David Dolson of Parksville
Bronze — Old Puckers (Men 60+) – Lucky Butterworth of Parksville, Frank Gabiniewicz of Bowser, Al House of Nanoose Bay, Mark Selva of Qualicum Beach
Pickleball
Gold — Women’s doubles 65+ (3.5) doubles — Denise Hogge of Parksville and Melissa Koehle of Nanoose Bay
Gold — Men 65+ mixed (4.5) doubles — Michael Murphy of Nanoose Bay and Shirley Knorr of Salmon Arm
Silver — Women 55-64 (3.25) doubles — Sharon Fox of Parksville and Lisa Sawatsky of Campbell River
Slo-pitch
Silver — Island Gals, Women 55+ competitive – Ann McVey of Qualicum Beach, Robyn McDonald of Qualicum Beach, Lynn Laursen of Parksville
Soccer
Gold — Eagles, Men 55+ – Mike McMillen of Qualicum Beach, Stewart Cook of Nanoose Bay, Robert Gregson of Qualicum Beach, Russ Hannay of Errington
Gold — Island Force, Women 55+ (7-a-side) – Cindy Bachman of Nanoose Bay, Jill Grisdale of Parksville, Caroline Lambert-Mimnaugh of Qualicum Beach, Christian Bieg of Qualicum Beach, Margo Gregson of Qualicum Beach, Barbara Wildman-Spencer of Parksville
Gold — United, Men 60+ – Terry Brown of Qualicum Beach
Silver — Golden Eagles, Men 70+(7-a-side) – Ian Miller of Parksville, Neil Worboys of Qualicum Beach, Alan Farmer of Qualicum Beach, Jim Moore of Parksville
Bronze — Grey Eagles, Men 65+ – Keith Watson of Nanoose Bay, Dietmar Baumeister-Quint of Qualicum Beach, Mark Lane of Qualicum Beach, Jim Wilson of Qualicum Beach, Alan Ross of Nanoose Bay, Andrew Dunham of Nanoose Bay, Michael Lohse of Bowser
Bronze — Dreamers, Men 70+ (7-a-side) – John Hayley of Nanoose Bay, Rob Jonas of Parksville,
Swimming
Gold — Harry Keen of Nanoose Bay – Men 85-89: 200m free, 400m free, 100m back, 25m back and 50m back.
Silver — Harry Keen of Nanoose Bay — Men 85-89: 25m free
Silver — Russell Sharock of Parksville – Men 65-69: 400m free, 25m back, 25m free, 25m butterfly, 50m free
Bronze — Russell Sharock of Parksville — Men 65-69 100m Individual Medley
Track and Field
Gold — Joe Giegerich of Nanoose Bay – Men 90-94: 100m, high jump, 200m, long jump, triple jump, pole vault, 50m
Gold — Pattie Rogers of Nanoose Bay — Women 60-64: 100m, 400m
Gold — Glenn Befus of Nanoose Bay, Men 70-74: 800m, Men & Women 4X100m relay,
Gold — Terry Riggins of Nanoose Bay, Men 75-79: 4X400m relay
Gold — Jane Waite of Nanoose Bay, Women 55-59: 4x100m relay, long jump, 400m, 100m, 200m
Silver — Glenn Befus of Nanoose Bay, Men 70-74: 400m
Silver — Terry Riggins of Nanoose Bay, Men 75-79: 800m, 200m
Bronze — Jane Waite of Nanoose Bay, Women 55-59: Hammer Throw
Bronze — Terry Riggins of Nanoose Bay, Men 75-79: 400m