In sports, often times extra effort pays off in dividends. That was true for Allen Smith, Bill Hughes, Arlene Miller and Rodney G. Phillips from the Muncy area who competed in the Huntsman World Senior Games in October 2008.

These four athletes all came home with medals from various events at the games.

Smith, who won the Gold Medal in the Horseshoes competition, said, “This is my first sanctioned horseshoes tournament. I was well pleased with the facility and how the tournament was conducted.”

Phillips won the Silver Medal in the Horseshoes competition. When asked about his experience with the games, he said “This was my first year participating in the games, and I was very happy to come away with a Silver Medal.”

Hughes came away with three Gold Medals in the Cycling Hill Climb, Down Hill and Cross Country events, a Silver in Individual Time Trial and Bronze in the Criterium Roadracing.

Miller, formerly of Jersey Shore, took home the Bronze Medal in the Singles-Tennis competition, said of her experience, “This is my third year participating. It’s been a great experience and we’ve met a lot of fantastic and interesting people, and have have made some good firends.”

The Huntsman World Senior Games is a world-class, Olympic-format, international sporting event for athletes ages 50 years and older. Founded more than 20 years ago, the Games currently hosts over 9,500 athletes annually. Each October, for two weeks, the event is held in colorful St. George, Utah, less than a two-hour drive from Las Vegas, Nevada. At the 2008 Games, athletes will compete in 25 different sports.

Participants enjoy the Parade of Athletes, Opening Ceremonies, Concert and Celebration, Social Events, Banquets and Free Health Screenings, to name only a few of the additional activities that enhance the athletic experience. The Huntsman World Senior Games is truly a celebration of life after 50.

The 2008 Huntsman World Senior Games will host approximately 9,700 participants from all 50 of the United States and 20 foreign countries. The majority of the participants are male–about 66 percent–and the average age is around 64 years.

While almost all of the athletes’ first trip to the Games was prompted by the athletic competition, by their third year, many of the participants list social aspects such as “meeting new friends” and “renewing acquaintances” as their primary reason for attending the Games.

For additional information on the Games, call 1 (800) 562-1268 or visit the web site at www.seniorgames.net.