102-year-old Vancouver woman sets Guinness World Record for oldest curler

A 102-year-old Vancouver woman says she's received phone calls from as far away as England after clinching the Guinness World Record for oldest curler this month.

"It's wonderful," Lola Holmes toldCBC Radio'sOn the Coast.

The centenarianstarted curling when she was 25, while studying nursing in Sudbury, Ont. After having two kids and a busy life, Holmes said she gave up the sport.

Shepicked it up again when she moved to Vancouver to retire with her husband at the age of 80.

"It's good to be physically fit, to go down and do what I doon the ice," Holmes said.

A few years after returning to her favourite sport, Holmes developed carpal tunnel syndrome in her wrist andalmost had to stop playing when she was 83.

She eventually discovered that stick-assisted curling was allowed in competition and took lessons to learn how to use thedevice.

"For all these years since I've had my carpel tunnel syndrome surgery, I was told,'You can't curl any longer,'" she said.

"And then out came this stick and I've had it for about six years now and I love it."

Routine on hold

The pandemic has put the sport on pause, but twice a week from morning to noon, Holmes would get together with her team at the Vancouver Curling Club. They would curlfor a few hours and then enjoya cup of coffee and some treats together.

"I love having them and we have a great talk together and socially, I miss it very, very much," Holmes said.

When the clubdonated a rock in her honour for her 100th birthday, sheaskedthem not to displayit behind a glass cabinet,insteadrequesting that the rock be available for anyone to use.

"Everybody comes along ... and they say, 'Oh, we won the game because we played with your rock,'" Holmes said.

"That is a great help in knowing that I'm helping someone do a worthwhile activity."

On top of curling, Holmes said shedoes Tai Chi at the local community centre, which has also closeddue to recent COVID-19 restrictions.

She attributes her long life to keeping mentally and physically active and being health-conscious.

"Take interest in something," she said."Keep active, don't give up ...and don't be a couch potato."