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Big medal haul for local athletes at 55-plus B.C. Games

The West Kootenay took in 49 gold, 52 silver and 30 bronze at the Games
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The West Kootenay’s slo-pitch team shows off their gold medals. L-R, back row: Mike Roch, Bob Murray, Nona Kutcher, Bruce Borsato, Barry Benner, Chris Wayling, Rick Loewen, Alta Pinney, Carson Erickson, Joe Capriglione. Front row: Ken Haynes, Collin McLean, Manny Mota, Chris Mota, Luree Gould, Lorne Wuori. Not pictured: James Ross. Photo submitted

Local athletes returned home from the 55-plus B.C. Games with a major medal haul.

The West Kootenay Boundary accounted for 49 gold, 52 silver and 30 bronze at the Games, which took place Sept. 11 to 15 in Kimberley and Cranbrook.

Familiar names led the way.

Nelson swimmer Marylee Banyard won three golds in women’s 80-84 50-metre butterfly, 100 individual medley and 200 IM, respectively. She also took bronze in the 200 freestyle, the 25 butterfly, the women’s free relay and the medley relay.

Nelson cyclist Sharisse Kyle, meanwhile, took gold in the women’s 60-64 hill climb, gold in the time trial and silver in the road race.

Slocan’s Don Currie also powered his way to five track and field medals. Currie finished first in the men’s 80-84 1,500 as well as the 5,000 power walk, a silver in the 400 and bronze medals in the 50 and 100 races, respectively.

Keep reading below for more medal winners.

Badminton

Roger Kirby: gold in men’s 85-plus singles open, silver in 80-84 mixed doubles open with partner Margaret Oxnard of Port Coquitlam.

Bridge

Nelson’s Patrick O’Neil and Sandra Edson: gold, men’s and women’s 55-plus duplicate.

Nelson’s Peter and Doris Laktin: silver, men’s and women’s 55-plus duplicate.

Cribbage

Nelson’s Doreen Reimer with partner Mary Bermel of Castlegar: silver, men’s and women’s pairs

Nelson’s Eleanor Thomas and Dave Thomas: silver, men’s and women’s pairs

Dragon Boat

Kootenay Dragons: silver

Golf

Nelson’s Howie Ridge: silver, men’s 70-74 Div A

Hockey

Kootenay Kings (Nelson’s Norm Deverney, Pat Severyn, Mike Grace, Brent Mason and Andrew Kyle): silver, men’s 60-plus.

Kootenay Glaciers (Nelson’s Greg Banks, Darrell MacKay, Terry Maglio): bronze, men’s 55-plus.

Glacier Kings (Nelson’s Dan Maglio, Doug Kennedy, Joe Williams, Bill Kestell, Doug McMullin): bronze, men’s 65-plus.

Slo-pitch

West Kootenay team (Nelson’s Ken Haynes, Rick Loewen, Joe Capriglione, Lorne Wuori, Luree Gould, Mike Roach, Salmo’s Alta Pinney): gold, men and women 55-plus mixed.

Track and field

Nelson’s Jim Reimer: bronze, men’s 65-69 1,500; bronze, 5,000.

Salmo’s Monte Comeau: gold, men’s 60-64 10-kilometre road race; gold, 5,000.

Swimming

Nelson’s June Johnston: silver, women’s 70-74 200 IM; silver, 100 breaststroke.

Nelson’s Peter Lee: bronze, men’s 4 x 25 freestyle relay; bronze, mixed 4 x 50 free relay.

Related: Nelson to pass on bidding for 55-plus Games