Wanda Garrison finished playing croquet and wandered to the baseball diamond at Nellie's Cave Park in Blacksburg to see what was going on. A new event was quietly debuting during the New River Valley Senior Olympic Games last week.

Two men were each rolling four 113-mm green and red resin balls on the dirt toward a 60-mm yellow ball.

The balls' diameter is measured in millimeters because the game, bocce, is more popular on its continent of origin, Europe, than it is in the United States. Only four seniors signed up for the bocce competition. Two of them had played it in the game's more popular locations: Italy and California. Of 23 upcoming U.S. Bocce Federation tournaments, 19 are in California. Several are sponsored by Italian organizations.

The ancient game dates back centuries, if not millennia.

Garrison watched Norm Eiss, 74, and William McCartney, 71, both of Blacksburg, take turns trying to roll their balls as close as possible to a smaller "jack" or "pallino" ball. Points are earned by being closer to the jack/pallino than the opposing player.

McCartney has been playing bocce with one or two other seniors each Friday at the Blacksburg Community Center for about a year. Before that, he spent several years playing with family. His wife is Italian, and they played it recreationally in Italy. Courses can be created on dirt or grass.

"My brothers-in-law take it seriously," McCartney said. "I'd never known there was such a thing. We'd just go out in the yard and throw. I loved it from the beginning."

He has his own wooden bocce set.

Eiss first saw a version of the game, lawn bowling, when he was living in England in 1970. People played it in parks. Now he plays it during visits California, where he has a time share.

McCartney and Eiss met when they arrived at the Senior Olympics competition on May 3. Nearly 230 seniors from across the New River Valley competed in 22 events from April 27 through May 4 at various recreation centers.

Montgomery County Parks and Recreation Supervisor Kemvia Adams-Bush, who coordinated the games this year, had the idea for adding bocce to the line up. She watched McCartney and Eiss throughout their game, which Eiss won 15-5.

As other seniors finished competing in horseshoes nearby, Garrison was joined by other spectators. They were full of questions about the game rules, which Eiss and McCartney were happy to explain. They were playing for fun. When McCartney lost, he simply threw up his hands and then told Eiss, "Good game." He then went to compete in horseshoes.

One of the remaining spectators approached Eiss and asked him to teach her to play.

Gold, silver and bronze medals will be awarded to senior games winners oat a closing ceremony at 2 p.m. on May 25 at the Event Centre in Christiansburg. Medals are awarded by age group and gender in each event.

Gold medals winners are:

 Three-on-three basketball: Hosea Blankenship, Larry Shelor, Roger Wagner.

 18-hole golf: William Murphy, 60-64; Michael Sporakowski, 65-69; Bill Davis, 70-74; Hal McGrath, 75-79; Gene Hardison, 80-84.

 Badminton singles: Women: Lianging Cai, 55-59; Connie Lee, 65-69; Helen Wilson, 70-74; Peggy Irwin, 75-79. Men: James Butler, 55-59; William Murphy, 60-64; Peter Clarke, 65-69; Averry Irwin, 75-79; Leonard Pourchot, 80-84.

 Badminton doubles: Women: Lianging Cai and Connie Lee, 55-59; Debora Warren and Helen Wilson, 70-74. Men: James Butler and Roberto Lee, 55-59; Roberto Lee and William Murphy, 60-64; Peter Clarke and John Sadler, 65-69; Averry Irwin and Ernest Smith, 70-74; Averry Irwin and Lee Perry, 75-79. Mixed doubles: Lianging Cai and William Murphy, 55-59; Roberto Lee and Helen Wilson, 65-69; John Sadler and Helen Wilson, 70-74; Averry Irwin and Peggy Irwin, 75-79.

 Basketball free throws: Women: Pat Ballard, 55-59; Dana Porterfield, 65-69; Doris Oliver, 70-74; Peggy Irwin, 75-79; Lill Ratcliff, 80-84; Sallie Grogan, 85-89. Men: Don Braffitt, 50-54; Jay Crockett, 55-59; William Murphy, 60-64; Wayne Worner, 65-69; Edward Walker, 70-74; Willis Webb, 75-79.

 Billiards: Women: Doris Oliver. Men: Nelson Moses.

 Bocce: Women: Dana Porterfield. Men: Norman Eiss.

 Bowling: Women: Wanda Garrison, 60-64; Katie Criner, 65-69; Greta Price, 70-74; Sue Keffer, 75-79; Sallie Grogan, 85-89. Men: William Murphy, 60-64; Carlile Price, 65-69; Stanley Larson, 70-74; Willis Webb, 75-79; Bill Bryson, 80-84; Leonard Howery, 85-89.

 Canasta: Virginia Webb.

 Duplicate bridge: Michael Alexander, Lewis Barnett, Patrick Palmer, Alexander Weiss.

 Party bridge: Louanna Epley, 55-59; Sudesh Tayal, 60-64; Sandra Phillips, 65-69; Ruby Meade, 70-74; Vivian Mah, 75-79; Mary Krayer, 80-84; Woody Webb, 85-89.

 Rook: Clarice Atkins and Lill Ratcliff.

 Croquet: Women: Wanda Garrison, 60-64; Louise Price, 65-69; Debora Warren, 70-74; Betty Hanbury, 75-79; Ruth Ogle, 80-84. Men: Marvin Ballard, 55-59; William Murphy, 60-64; Carlile Price, 65-69; Willis Webb, 75-79.

 Discus: Women: Pat Ballard, 50-54; Dana Porterfield, 65-69; Doris Oliver, 70-74; Lill Ratcliff, 80-84; Sallie Grogan, 85-89. Men: Randy Beach, 55-59; Van Webber, 60-64; Wayner Wormer, 65-69; Edward Walker, 70-74; Willis Webb, 75-79; Leonard Pourchot, 80-84.

 Frisbee: Women: Coreen Mett, 55-59; Phyllis Beall, 65-69; Linda Frazier, 70-74; Lill Ratcliff, 75-79. Men: Don Braffitt, 50-54; Van Webber, 60-64; John Leshyn, 65-69; Averry Irwin, 75-79.

 Horseshoes: Women: Barbara Messenger, 65-69; Doris Oliver, 70-74; Beatrice Waller, 75-79; Lill Ratcliff, 80-84; Sallie Grogan, 85-89. Men: William Murphy, 60-64; Carlile Price, 65-69; Jack Wade, 70-74; Willis Webb, 75-79; Leonard Howery, 85-89.

 Mini golf: Women: Judy Stephens, 55-59; Joene Burroughs, 60-64; Suzanne Jones, 65-69; Betty Gordon, 70-74; Betty Hanbury and Adrena Palmer, 75-79; Dorothy Simms, 80-84; Sallie Grogan, 85-89; Rita Burroughs, over 90. Men: Don Braffitt, 50-54; Jerome Taylor, 60-64; Donald Agee, 65-69; Jack Wade, 70-74; Edgar Zeigler, 75-79.

 Pickleball singles: Women: Lee Brown and Peggy Irwin. Men: Danny Sowers and Norman Eiss.

 Pickleball doubles: Women: Lee Brown and Peggy Irwin. Men: Averry Irwin and Danny Sowers. Mixed: Lee Brown and Danny Sowers; Averry Irwin and Peggy Irwin.

 Riflery: Women: Dana Porterfield, 65-69; Linda Frazier, 70-74; Beatrice Walker, 75-79; Ruth Ogle, 80-84; Sallie Grogan, 85-89. Men: Don Braffitt, 50-54; William Murphy, 60-64; Fred Terry Jones, 65-69; Fred Saunders, 70-74; Dean Gordon, 75-79; Leonard Howery, 85-89.

 Shotput: Women: Pat Ballard, 55-59; Dana Porterfield, 65-69; Doris Oliver, 70-74; Lill Ratcliff, 80-84; Sallie Grogan, 85-89. Men: Bill Parr and Edward Walker.

 Shuffleboard: Women: Coreen Mett, 55-59; Eunice Foster, 60-64; Louise Price, 65-69; Elina McCartney, 70-74; Peggy Irwin, 75-79; Dorothy Simms, 80-84; Pearl Whitt, over 90. Men: William Murphy, 60-64; Samuel Barnett, 70-74; Averry Irwin, 75-79.

 Softball hit and throw: Women: Pat Ballard, 55-59; Jan Lovell, 65-69; Linda Frazier, 70-74; Peggy Irwin, 75-79; Lill Ratcliff, 80-84; Sallie Grogan, 85-89. Men: Robert Austin, 50-54; William Murphy, 60-64; Carlile Price, 65-69; Kenneth Messenger, 70-74; Willis Webb, 75-79; Leonard Howery, 85-89.

 Swimming, 50-yard breast stroke: Women: Kathleen Byington and Judy Pierson. Men: Howard Butts, Paul Smeal, Robert Abraham.

 Swimming, 50-yard back stroke: Women: Trudy Dayton and Judy Pierson. Men: Howard Butts, Jim Hart, Robert Abraham.

 Swimming, 200-yard freestyle: Women: Kathleen Byington and Judy Pierson. Men: Dave Abraham, Gary Boyd, Bill Parr, Jim Hart.

 Swimming, 100-yard freestyle: Women: Kathleen Byington and Judy Pierson. Men: Dave Abraham, Gary Boyd, Bill Parr, Paul Smeal, Robert Abraham.

 Swimming, 50-yard sprint: Women: Kathleen Byington, Trudy Dayton, Judy Pierson. Men: Howard Butts, Bill Parr, Jim Hart.

 Table tennis: Women: Lee Brown and Peggy Irwin. Men: William Murphy, Waldemar Heinzelmann, Averry Irwin.

 Walk/run, quarter mile: Women: Louise Price. Men: Frank DuPont and Willis Webb.

 Walk/run, half mile: women: Betty Segar and Debora Warren. Men: Frank DuPont and Algie Martin.

 Walk/run mile: women: Judy Stephens and Louise Price. Men: James Wilson, Frank DuPont, Willis Webb.

nWalk/run 50-yard sprint: women: Betty Segar and Debora Warren. Men: Robert Austin, Carlile Price, Algie Martin.

Other news and activities

 The Blacksburg Chapter of AARP will meet at 11:30 a.m. on Tuesday at the Blacksburg Community Center. Brown bag lunch followed by speakers at noon. Guest speakers are former Virginia Tech President T. Marshall Hahn Jr., Tech history professor Peter Wallenstein and Warren Strother. Strother and Wallenstein are the authors of "From VPI to State University: President T. Marshall Hahn Jr. and the Transformation of Virginia Tech 1962-1974." Book signing in cooperation with Volume Two Bookstore. Also sponsored by the Virginia Tech Retirees Association. The meeting is open to the public.

Area senior centers and volunteer programs offer a variety of services, including crafts, dinners, seminars, picnics and trips. Most have newsletters and calendars listing monthly services and happenings. Contact each center for information.

Blacksburg Senior Programs: Blacksburg Community Center, 725 Patrick Henry Drive, Joy Herbert, 961-1134.

Christiansburg Senior Center: 1600 N. Franklin St., Tammy Caldwell, 382-2349.

Floyd RSVP: 323 Floyd Highway, PO Box 849, Judy Weitzenfeld, 745-2105.

Giles County Senior Center: 1320 Wenonah Ave., Pearisburg, Faith Plummer, 921-3924.

Giles County RSVP: 1410 Wenonah Ave., Pearisburg, Chris Blankenship, 921-2037.

Montgomery County and Radford RSVP: Health and Human Services Building, 210 Pepper St., Christiansburg, Angela Little, 382-5775.

Pulaski County RSVP: 106 N. Washington Ave., Ava Stilwell, 980-3969.

Pulaski Senior Center: 106 N. Washington Ave., Barbara Tate, 994-8627.

Radford Senior Center: 200 George St., Audrey Caldwell, 731-5517.

Senior shorts

 Badminton: Wednesdays, 10:10 a.m. to noon, Blacksburg Community Center. Open play for all adults. Free. 961-1880.

 Bingo: Wednesdays, 10 a.m., community room, New River Valley Mall, 382-6346.

 Easy motions: Less strenuous exercise class. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, 9 a.m. in multipurpose room 2A, Christiansburg Recreation Center. A doctor's note and registration are required, 382-2349.

 The Funeral Consumers Alliance of the Virginia Blue Ridge: Volunteer consumer-rights advocacy group that provides information about options available for funeral and other end-of-life arrangements, www.funerals.org/fcavbr, 953-5589.

 Gospel Singing: Public invited monthly for gospel singing of old hymns on the following schedule: first Tuesdays, 10 a.m. at the Christiansburg Recreation Center, senior activities area; and first Wednesdays at 2 p.m. at Wheatland Retirement Center, Christiansburg. Musicians and singers welcome. Bench warmers and listeners, too. Call Mary Dotson, 382-8543.

 Intrepid USA Healthcare Services: Provides free in-home evaluations to determine whether an individual qualifies for professional home-care services such as home health aid, medical social workers and physical therapy under Medicare, Medicaid or other insurance, 961-5464 or (888) 416-1428.

 H2U: Seniors 50 and older may receive national and local benefits from membership in the Montgomery Regional Hospital Chapter. Contact Betty Jahn, 953-5291.

 New River Valley Agency on Aging: Assistance with understanding Medicare, Medicaid and private health insurance. For information, call 639-9677 or 980-7720.

 Virginia Insurance Counseling and Assistance Project: second Tuesdays, 10 a.m. at the Blacksburg Senior Center; second Wednesdays, 10 a.m. at the Christiansburg Senior Center; second Mondays, 1 p.m. at the Radford Senior Center; Mondays and Wednesdays by appointment at the Pulaski Agency on Aging, 980-7720.

 Viva Club: Offers health screenings, insurance assistance and physician referral, 731-2572.