The Okanagan-Similkameen had a great showing at the 55-plus B.C. Games held in Vernon last week.
The zone finished second overall with 293 medals, falling just behind Fraser Valley who finished with 306 medals.
Penticton athletes helped bring home eight gold medals including the Southern Swoop women’s competitive slo-pitch team, the Penticton Golden-Dragons dragon boat team and the Okanagan Oldtimers men’s 65-plus soccer team.
Penticton soccer players Tim Polukoshko and Gordon McLaren (along with Summerland’s Don Russell and Harry Higson) helped the Okanagan Oldtimers to gold on the pitch, going undefeated throughout the tournament.
Southern Swoop were lifted to the gold medal with the help of Penticton’s Vicky Horton, Pam Cayer, Bonnie Birch and Sue Dilabough. Also on the squad were Gloria Luypen and Jan Campbell (Oliver), Donna Eaton, Teresa Boyer and Donna Evans (Summerland) and Patti Soroke and Bev Smith (Keremeos).
Medal winners from Penticton/Okanagan Falls/Kaleden:
Vern Benedictson - two golds (mens road race recreation cycling and time trial cycling recreational).
Gail Johnson - gold (golf women 75-79).
Vi Ward - silver (women’s golf 75-59).
Brian Graham - bronze (track and field, men’s 70-74 triple jump).
Rick Felker/Susan Hatfield - gold (3.75 mixed doubles pickleball).
Janice Clary/Gord McKay - silver (3.0 mixed doubles pickleball).
Penticton Golden Dragons - gold (women’s 55-plus dragon boat)
Okanagan Oldtimers — gold (mens 65-plus soccer)
Southern Swoop - gold (women 55-plus competitive slo-pitch)
Davene Cumming/Jeannine Johnson - bronze (women’s 65-plus doubles darts).
Helmut Jost/Marian Nelmes - bronze (mixed doubles 75-79 rec badminton).
Cathy Cole/Patty Wadson - gold (women 55-59 doubles rec badminton).
Ron Johnson/ Helmut Jost - silver (men 70-74 doubles rec badminton).
Andy Rupp/Garry Wadson - silver (men 60-64 doubles rec badminton).
Tammy Brennan, Glen Brennan, Tony Blashko (Kaleden), Lil Blashko (Kaleden) - gold (mixed 55-64 ice curling).
Susan Hatfield (Penticton) / Marilyn Tamblyn - gold (women’s 3.0 doubles pickleball).
Heather Jackson (Okanagan Falls) - gold (55 to 59 200-metre freestyle, bronze (50- and 100-m freestyle).
Oliver:
Bill Ford - bronze (men 70-74 golf).
Ron Ostermeier - gold (men 63-69 compound bow archery - target and 3D).
Mary Ostermeier - silver (women 63-69 compound bow archery - target and 3D).
Gord Young - silver (men 4.5-plus singles pickleball).
John Hong/Brad Pape - gold (men 55-59 doubles competitive badminton).
Marian Nelmes/Anna Robitaille - silver (women 75-79 doubles rec badminton).
Cathy Adams/Shirley Kodyman - bronze (whist co-ed pairs).
Adams/Kooyman - silver (whist co-ed pairs).
Nancy Rhea/Gord Young - gold (mixed 4.5 doubles pickleball).
Danny Stang/Gord Young - silver (men 4.5 doubles pickleball).