Seniors show offer their athletic skills
Elise Gee
FAIRGROUNDS -- Ethel Lerner’s training regimen for her blue
ribbon-winning bowling game didn’t come from hours of practice -- it was
crosswords.
Lerner, 86, competed Wednesday along with nearly 400 other seniors in
the 12th Annual Senior Games at the Orange County Fairgrounds.
Lerner scored two strikes during the bowling competition, earning
herself a blue ribbon.
“The real secret of staying young is keeping your mind active,” said
Lerner, who uses newspapers, magazines, crossword puzzles and news shows
to keep her mind sharp. “Keep your mind active and your body will stay
active with it.”
The Orange County Activity Director’s Assn. began hosting senior games
20 years ago in the parking lots and lawns of various nursing homes. The
Orange County Fair became a sponsor 12 years ago.
The event gives seniors opportunities to succeed and helps them keep
their quality of life high, said Candace Bartsch, spokeswoman for the
association.
Seniors participated in events such as baseball, volleyball, discus,
wheelchair races and horseshoes. But the thing that caught 79-year-old
Dorothy Nix’s eye was the target shooting. After watching one of her
peers raise the air-powered paint-ball gun to his eye, Nix was determined
to be part of the action.
“I want to try that,” she said with excitement.
Others, such as 4-H’er Charles Agnus, tired themselves out during the
warmup exercises. Agnus shot numerous baskets during warmup, but had just
enough energy to shoot two baskets and earn himself a ribbon for the
effort.
Sisters Carol Oliver and Betty Sue Reed both flew down from Northern
California to watch their mother Jane Oliver compete.
Oliver, 79, has come to the event every year since it began. She
nearly missed coming this year because of leg surgery but was determined
to compete in her favorite event, the discus.
“It’s so important to her to look forward to this every year,” Carol
Oliver said. “It’s what keeps her going.”
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