Old age won’t stop this Woodend local from smashing sports goals.
Peter Share is set to join over 740 athletes, volunteers and spectators in their 50s to 80s to go head-to-head in the third annual GemLife Games on the Sunshine Coast
The 77-year-old will be part of a 31-strong contingent from the Macedon Ranges, the former Victorian Masters road cycling champion, and Essendon Athletic Club captain and distance runner, will compete in ten-pin bowling, with his wife Marilyn volunteering at the Games.
The couple will be joined by fellow GemLife Woodend residents Emanual and Christine Randich, who are competing in eight-ball pool, and table tennis and swimming respectively.
Designed for older athletes, the GemLife Games brings together over-50s from across Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria for two days of competition on September 11 and 12 at GemLife Palmwoods.
Eight sports will be contested including lawn bowls, pickleball, ten-pin bowling, tennis, table tennis, eight-ball pool, virtual golf and swimming.
As an ex-competitive sportsperson, Mr Share said he hadn’t ten-pin bowled for close to 60 years before moving to GemLife Woodend three years ago.
“I like the challenge of competing, and usually like to win, although winning isn’t everything — I’ve learnt that over the years,” he said.
“I’ve always been competitive in different sports but hadn’t done ten-pin until I moved here, not since my first date with my wife in the late 1960s.
“I’ve become part of a group that plays every Wednesday night, and really enjoy it, and the friendship and camaraderie that comes with it. I think we’ll go pretty well, as we have a good team and are fairly consistent, which is what you need — consistency and a bit of luck.”
