MAY 7, 2009 ISSUE
High Country Senior Games Returns May 16 to June 6
“I don’t even accept the medals anymore,” said Betty Hayes, a 12-year participant of the High Country Senior Games. After so many years, she’s won quite a few.
“For me, it’s really just about having fun,” she said.
The Senior Games return to the High Country on Saturday, May 16, and run through Saturday, June 6. As a division of the North Carolina Senior Games, the event is dedicated to providing health promotion and education to seniors. More than 50 sports events are available to contestants from Watauga, Avery, Mitchell and Yancey counties. Early bird registration is open through May 13. Those who register before that day will pay the discounted price of $10 per person. After May 13, the fee goes up to $12.
Watauga County Parks and Recreation organizes the event. All registered participants will receive a free High Country Senior Games t-shirt, designed by parks and recreation employees and printed by MPrints in Boone.
The registration fee allows participants entry to as many events as they choose. Those who enter can even try to keep up with Hayes and her friend Celia Trivette. The two have registered for nearly every competition that the games offer.
“They call us The Sawdust Twins,” said Hayes, “cause wherever you see one, you see the other.”
They are especially looking forward to the bowling, Hayes said. Through year round competition in bowling leagues, the two have honed their skills and have, in the past, made it to both the State and National level Senior Games.
This is a chance available to every participant as long as they place in the top 3 of their chosen event. And the Games are not only open to those interested in sports. Artistic-minded contestants can enter the SilverArts competition, which includes a variety of visual, literary, heritage and performing arts. Hayes is even entering this part of the games. She plans to turn in some cross-stitching.
The North Carolina Senior Games began in 1983 and, according to its website, “is a holistic approach to body, mind and spirit staying fit while enjoying the company of friends, family, spectators and volunteers.” There are more than 60,000 participants in 54 Local Games divisions that serve all 100 counties in the state.
According to Watauga County Parks and Recreation Specialist and SilverArts coordinator Karen Poteat, the biggest day of the games will be on Thursday, May 28, when the majority of the Track and Field events will take place. Watauga High School has offered its Jack Groce Stadium to host this portion of the Games.
“We have a good time when we get together,” said Hayes. The competition is especially meaningful for her this year as doctors have recently informed her that the leukemia she has dealt with over the past few years has finally gone into remission. It certainly hasn’t slowed her down.
“As long as I can do it, I’m going to keep at it,” said Hayes. “It beats sitting at home and staring at four walls by a long shot.”
For more information or for a complete schedule and registration form, call Watauga County Parks and Recreation at 828-264-9511 or email event organizer Stephen Poulos at stephen.poulos@ncmail.net.
For more information on the North Carolina Senior Games, click to www.ncseniorgames.org.
2009 Schedule of Events
Saturday, May 16
1:30pm, Horseshoes, Appalachian Brian Estates
Monday, May 18
9:00am - 10:00am, Enter Silver Arts Visual Entries, Appalachian Brian Estates
10:00am - 12:30pm, Bowling - Doubles, Boone Bowling Center
1:00pm - 3:30pm, Bowling - Mixed Doubles, Boone Bowling Center
Tuesday, May 19
9:00am, 1500 M Race Walk, Watauga HS Track
Wednesday, May 20
9:00am, 1500 Meter Run, Watauga HS Track
9:15am, 800 Meter Run, Watauga HS Track
9:30am, 5K Race Walk, Watauga HS Track
Thursday, May 21
10:00am - 1:00pm, Bowling Singles, Boone Bowling Center
2:00pm, Billiards*, Family Billiards Country Retreat
Thursday, May 28 (Rain Date: Tuesday, June 2)
9:00am, 100 Meter Run, Watauga HS Track
9:15am, 200 Meter Run, Watauga HS Track
9:30am, 400 Meter Run, Watauga HS Track
10:00am, Awards for Track Events, Watauga HS Track
10:15am, Bocce Singles, Watauga HS Track
10:30am -12:30pm, Table Tennis, Watauga HS Track
10:30am -12:30pm, Spin Casting, Watauga HS Track
10:30am -12:30pm, Softball Throw, Watauga HS Track
10:30am -12:30pm, Football Throw, Watauga HS Track
10:30am -12:30pm, Discus, Watauga HS Track
10:30am -12:30pm, Shot Put, Watauga HS Track
10:30am -12:30pm, Standing Long Jump, Watauga HS Track
10:30am -12:30pm, Running Long Jump, Watauga HS Track
12:00pm, 1 Mile Fun Walk, Watauga HS Track
1:00pm, Awards for Field Events, Watauga HS Track
2:00pm, Racquetball Tournament, Wellness Center
2:00pm, Basketball Shooting, Wellness Center
3:00pm, 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament, Wellness Center
Wednesday, May 27
2:00pm, Shuffleboard Tournament*, Linville Land Harbor
5:30pm, Volleyball, Old Cove Creek Gym
5:30pm, Softball, Big Industrial Field
Saturday, May 30
7:30am - 8:30am, On-Site Registration for 5K & 10K Run and Kids One Mile Fun Run Wynne Picnic Shelter - WCP&R
8:30am, 10K Road Race, Greenway Trail
9:30am, Kids One Mile Fun Run, Greenway Trail
10:00am, 5K Road Race , Greenway Trail
Monday, June 1
9:04am, Golf - First Tee Time, Boone Golf Course
Tuesday, June 2
10:00am - 11:00am, Pick-up Silver Arts Entries, Appalachian Brian Estates
Thursday, June 4
5:30pm - 9:00pm, Grand Celebration Banquet, Old Cove Creek Gym,
Silver Arts Visual Display, Southern Style Coverdish
9:00pm, Pick-up Silver Arts Entries, Watauga High School
Saturday, June 6
9:00am, Tennis, Sugar Mountain
8:00-9:30am, Swimming, Watauga Swim Complex
Sunday, June 7
2:00pm, Tennis, Sugar Mountain
*Transportation provided from Watauga County Parks & Recreation Office, Boone, NC. Call for departure time.
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