95-year-old George Carey still taking his cue from the pool table
George Carey has been playing billiards for a long time. He first picked up a cue when he was 12 years old.
That would have been 1939 or so.
83 years later, Carey is still setting them up and knocking them down. Carey says he loves the challenge.
"Let’s put it this way," he said.
"It's a job and a half to control that ball."
STILL PRACTICES
Carey resides in Tudor Manor in Okotoks and if you want to find him it's a good bet he'll be spending some time around the pool table. But he says he doesn't have many opponents.
"When I get the chance to play I play," he said.
"Often I come down here and there's nobody playing and you can't beat yourself," he lsays, laughing.
PASSING ON HIS SKILLS
If you're a Carey you were born to play billiards. George has passed on his skills to all of his children and grandchildren.
His son Bill says it was great to learn from his dad.
"You know he was 12 when he started and I was 12 when I started," he said.
"Then I taught my kids and he taught my kids and so on and so forth so it's been fantastic."
Grandson Trace says everyone knows George in Okotoks and that he's a walking legend.
He says he's learned a lot from him over the years.
"Lots about this sport for sure. Definitely not to play it like a shotgun so that's always a good thing," he said.
"I don't know just lots of values with it. It was pretty good to be honest."
STILL COMPETITIVE
George is still competitive and doesn't like to lose. He says there's only one problem with passing down all those skills.
"Yeah now they're beating me," he laughed.
GRANDSON WILL PLAY IN FINAL
George is celebrating a big birthday this week. He turned 95 on Wednesday and it was perfect timing.
His birthday coincides with the start of the annual George Carey nine ball billiards tournament.
49 players signed up right away to take part and his grandson Joel has already advanced to the final which will be played on Saturday.
"It would be great to get my name on there (the trophy) again. It felt good the last time so it would be great," he said.
"That would be just minor, that's secondary compared to just being here," Joel says. "Yep that's the most important thing.
"It's great," he says. "Not many people can say they can play a game of pool with their 95-year-old grandparent."
DOESN'T LIKE LOSING
George is also going to play in the tournament and he's going there to win. When asked if he's going to kick some butt? George replied "I'm going to try."
The Careys all say the best thing about the tournament is the whole family gets to spend time together.
They also give back to the community. Money raised from the event goes to the Okotoks Food Bank.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
There's actually no such thing as vegetables. Here's why you should eat them anyway
The rumours are true: Vegetables aren't real — that is, in botany, anyway. While the term fruit is recognized botanically as anything that contains a seed or seeds, vegetable is actually a broad umbrella term.
BREAKING Israeli forces seize Rafah border crossing in Gaza, putting ceasefire talks on knife's edge
Israeli tanks seized control of Gaza’s vital Rafah border crossing on Tuesday as Israel brushed off urgent warnings from close allies and moved into the southern city even as ceasefire negotiations with Hamas remained on a knife’s edge.
The Met Gala was in full bloom with Zendaya, Jennifer Lopez, Mindy Kaling among the standout stars
The Met Gala and its fashionista A-listers on Monday included Jennifer Lopez, Zendaya and a parade of others in a swirl of flora and fauna looks on a green-tinged carpet lined by live foliage.
'It looked so legit': Ontario man books $7,700 luxury villa on Booking.com, but the listing was fake
An Ontario man says he was charged more than $7,700 to book a luxury villa on a popular travel website -- but the listing was fake.
Noelia Voigt resigns as Miss USA, citing her mental health
Noelia Voigt, who was crowned Miss USA in November 2023, has announced she is resigning from her role, saying the decision is in the best interest of her mental health.
Putin begins his fifth term as president, more in control of Russia than ever
Vladimir Putin began his fifth term Tuesday as Russian leader at a glittering Kremlin inauguration, setting out on another six years in office after destroying his political opponents, launching a devastating war in Ukraine and concentrating all power in his hands.
Winnipeg man admits to killing four women, argues he's not criminally responsible
Defence lawyers of Jeremy Skibicki have admitted in court the accused killed four Indigenous women, but argues he is not criminally responsible for the deaths by way of mental disorder – this latest development has triggered a judge-alone trial rather than a jury trial.
Mediterranean staple may lower your risk of death from dementia, study finds
A daily spoonful of olive oil could lower your risk of dying from dementia, according to a new study by Harvard scientists.
An El Nino-less summer is coming. Here's what that could mean for Canada
As Canadians brace themselves for summer temperatures, forecasters say a weakening El Nino cycle doesn’t mean relief from the heat.