Laughlin Times: Local

LAUGHLIN - A total of 185 persons have signed up for the seventh annual Laughlin Senior Games and Carolynn Johnson called the 53 percent increase from last year's 121, “an excellent response.”

Johnson, the sponsoring Clark County Parks-Recreation Department's programs manager in Laughlin, is happy because most of those who register sign up for more than one of the 40 friendly, local competitions spread among almost a dozen facilities and locations (almost all of them in Laughlin) for the Nov. 3-8 competitions.

She, her staff and a large group of volunteers are holding the games a bit later this year, aiming to give more snowbirds an opportunity to participate since “the competition is for pure fun and camaraderie,” she said.

Competition will be for men and women age 50 or older in bowling, basketball shooting, swimming, pinochle, Italian lawn bowling (bocce), country dance, poker, walking, racquetball, tennis, track-field, golf, whiffle golf, horseshoes, hand and foot canasta, bridge, kayaking. There also will be a welcome breakfast, mixer and farewell dinner.

Medallions will be awarded at each event site upon the completion of that competition and will be given to first, second and third place winners by gender and age groups, as appropriate. In most cases, men and women will compete at the same time, but will be scored separately.

Check-in for all the events will begin Nov. 2 at the Spirit Mountain Activity Center, from 8 a.m.-4 p.m. PST and continue Wednesday-Friday, Nov. 4-6, from 8 a.m.-2 p.m. PST. The center is in Mountain View Park on the Needles Highway at Arie Avenue in upper Laughlin.

“The very popular mixer will double as our opening ceremony and will be held the Pavilion Room of the Tropicana Express on Casino Drive from 5-6 p.m. PST Thursday, Nov. 5,” Johnson said - although the first competition will begin at 7 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 3.

After that barbecue-themed dinner, the dance competitions will be held.

New this year will be welcome breakfast buffet from 6:30-8:30 a.m. PST Tuesday, Nov. 2, and a farewell prime rib dinner buffet from 5-6:30 p.m. PST Saturday, Nov. 7, at the Tropicana Express.

The hotel-casino also will offer a special rate per night from Nov. 2-7 for competitors. Call 702-298-4200 for more information.

Events will be held at Spirit Mountain, the Laughlin Community Aquatics Center off the Needles Highway on James Bilbray Parkway, Cougar Stadium's track at Laughlin High School, the Big Bend of the Colorado Nevada State Recreation Area, open land near the aquatics center, the Riverside Lanes, the Tropicana, Colorado Belle Casino-Resort across from the Tropicana, the Colorado River, the Mojave Golf Club at the Avi and Mad Dog Fitness in Riverview Mall on Miracle Mile in Bullhead City.

Event coordinators include Johnson, Brooks Rayborne, Charlie Clark, John Grieco, Dan Corliss, Kathy Fie, Bob Marsh, Jan Marsh, Mike and Paula Heckman, Alan Conklin, Walter McFadden, Bill Donigan, Virginia Foster, Joan Kurth and Helen Howard.