JANUARY 2008 – Our GO2 Champions are a Team in the Okotoks Senior’s Curling League
Gordon Berry, lead; Gerald Rutherford, second; Serge Thibault, third and Wayne Rowland, skip; are only one of many teams who play in the Okotoks Senior’s Curling League. Besides a great way to stay active, just as important to all four men is the social aspect of this sport. During a two year period, they will have the opportunity to team up with everyone.
Wayne Rowland, 59, started curling forty-six years ago when he was in junior high school and has continued in the sport ever since. His team mates say that Wayne is an excellent curler and it is nice to know that they can always count on him to come through with a good shot. During the summer when he can’t curl, Wayne stays active with golf.
Serge Thibault, 58, took up curling just six years ago as a winter retirement project. Because he lives on an acreage, Serge says that he gets more than enough activity everyday cleaning the corrals and hauling water for his llamas. In the summer he adds golf to his activities and in the winter, besides curling, he also does 10 pin bowling twice a week. In addition to this, Serge adds a cardio work out at home with weights and tubes that he does three times a week. He likes to stay busy and physically active.
Gerald Rutherford, 74, started curling when he was in high school. He continued curling until he moved to the United States where he found out that their idea of curling was making a circle in the middle of the ice. After a 22 year hiatus, he moved back to Canada and has been curling again ever since. Gerald has experienced some knee problems so instead of kneeling to throw the rock, Gerald uses a special stick that he can push from a standing position. Besides curling, Gerald also works out at a local gym three times a week. During the summer he adds golf to his busy life and he adds more activity by looking after the Okotoks Community Garden.
Gordon Berry, 89, is not only the oldest member of this team, but as he proudly says, “I am the oldest one at the rink.” When asked why he curls, Gordon says it because he is too old to play hockey, baseball and football; sports he enjoyed playing in his younger years. Gordon has curled for 60 years and he also uses the stick to help him make his shots.
Gordon stays in shape by golfing in the summer and doing plenty of walking all year.
These four men are role models of what living an active life can mean for longevity and they certainly qualify as our local GO2 Champions.
