ROBERTSDALE, Alabama --- For the seventh straight year, seniors from the George P. Thames Senior Center in Robertsdale are gearing up to compete in the Masters Games Tournament.

Masters Games practices are being held beginning at 9:30 a.m. every Wednesday at the Senior Center on East Chicago Street. Practice on April 18 will be held at the PZK Civic Center. In addition, seniors meet every Friday for an outing of bowling.

Local competitions will be held throughout Mobile and Baldwin counties, May through July with the state competition set for October in Decatur, said Senior Center Director Sarah Duncan.

Over the last seven years, the Center has averaged around 22 competitors who have brought home 140 medals over the last three years of competition, including 28 gold, 37 silver, 29 bronze and 46 fitness medals, earned for walking a one-mile track at the competition.

“We have a lot of fun doing it,” Duncan said, “and we’re constantly adding new competitors.”

Local competition begins May 11 in Mobile, where basketball free throw, billiards, Frisbee toss, Nerfball toss, softball throw and horseshoe competitions will be held at Via! The Arlene Mitchell Campus on Dauphin Street.

On May 23, competitions move to Orange Beach, where shuffleboard and table tennis competitions will be held at the Orange Beach Recreation Center. Depending on participation, swimming and tennis may also be held at that time.

As they have for the last four years, the Senior Center will host the rook competition on June 21, Duncan said.

“We have competitors from throughout Escambia, Mobile and Baldwin counties,” she said. “We are currently looking for room players to participate, and we will find partner for you if you need one.”

Dominos and checkers competitons will be held June 26 at the Saraland Civic Center with double dominos competition July 20 at the Rec Center in Orange Beach.

Bowling qualification will be held later this summer in Mobile.

Masters Games are sponsored locally by the South Alabama Regional Planning Commission and the Area Agency on Aging include a one-time registration fee of $10. Registration deadline is April 27.

Contact Duncan at the Senior Center, 251-947-8973, for help with registration.  You can also contact Vivian Lea Barton, 2012 Masters Games coordinator, at 251-706-4654 or 251-433-6541 and registration forms can be mailed directly to the South Alabama Regional Planning Commission/Area on Aging, P.O. Box 1665, Mobile, AL 36633.