Sue and Mick Ford weren't surprised when they'd learned Salmon Arm would be hosting the 2024 55+ BC Games.
The couple, who will be competing in tennis events at this year's Games (Sept. 10-14), got an inkling of the possibility during the 2018 Games in Kimberly/Cranbrook from city mayor and fellow Salmon Arm Tennis Club member Alan Harrison.
"When we were in Cranbrook, Alan and Debbie Harrison where there also and I remember Al saying, 'I think we could put this on in Salmon Arm, these Games鈥�,'" said Sue, who hadn't considered the possibility before because of Salmon Arm's size. "I always thought we were a fairly small town. But when he planted the seed I thought, well, yeah, maybe. So when I heard it was actually going to come here I wasn鈥檛 that surprised, because when Al says something he usually gets it done."
At the 2018 Games both the Fords and the Harrisons won time on the podium. The Harrisons won gold in mixed doubles, 55-59, and Alan gold in singles, 55-59. Sue won gold in women singles, 65-69, and gold in mixed doubles with Mike Oosterhoff. Mick won bronze in men singles, 75-79, and bronze in mixed doubles, 75-79 with Nicholas Young.
The Fords said they've competed in about eight Games, but have been playing the sport for 45 years 鈥� one year longer than the time they've resided in Salmon Arm. Sue said she picked up tennis in grade school, while Mick got involved with it at BCIT. And while the athletic duo take advantage of numerous outdoor opportunities offered by the area, from cross-country skiing to hiking, cycling and canoeing, tennis is their passion.
"When we were younger we travelled a lot and we always took our tennis rackets with us鈥�," said Sue. "It was a great way to be social and get some exercise too."
Asked about their most memorable court time away from home, the Fords both said Palm Springs.
"We would go there in the winter some times a couple of months and we would really hang our activities on tennis and cycling," said Mick.
At the upcoming Games, Sue will be teaming up with Carol Ross in women's doubles, while Mick will be teaming up with Nick Young in men's doubles and Diana Inselberg in mixed doubles. Asked about the draw of the Games, the Fords explained it's an opportunity to play with/against people of a similar age.
"In a regular tournament you don鈥檛 always get that," explained Sue. "You might be competing on a skill level but the age difference can be quite varied, so being an older player we might in a regular tournament play with somebody who is the same level but a lot younger, so of course they have the advantage."
"We never reached a level where we were real hotshots at tennis," clarified Mick. "I don鈥檛 want to give that impression. We鈥檙e mediocre players and always sort of have been."
"Hackers," added Sue with a laugh.
In addition to playing tennis at the Games, Sue will also be volunteering, lending the skills she acquired as a former nurse. Both of the Fords have logged in considerable volunteer hours with the tennis club and at Larch Hills during cross-country skiing season. Mick said he also worked on the Askew's Tennis Centre.
Asked why tennis is their passion, Sue said explained it's a sport for life.
"It鈥檚 something you can do anywhere and meet like-minded people, it鈥檚 great for that," she said.
Mick stressed the sport is also accessible.
"I also want to mention, tennis doesn鈥檛 have to be really expensive," said Mick. "It can be if you want to 鈥� if you want to go for the full year, full membership inside the building and all that sort of stuff it can be fairly costly, but it doesn鈥檛 have to be. Just the regular outdoor courts, you can play during the summer, spring and fall for a modest amount.
"I think that turns some people off, they think it鈥檚 a rich man鈥檚 sport but it doesn鈥檛 have to be. And there are great public courts in this town."
For more information about the upcoming 55+ BC Games, visit 55plusbcgames.org/salmonarm/.
