Three seniors showed up at Sammons Community Center on Wednesday, each walking away with gold medals, since all were in different age groups.

However, following the medal ceremony Ira Walton, 85, of Waco, and Sarah E. Turner, 69, of Houston, sat down to play a couple of games.

The other gold medalist was Ernest T. Knox, 61, of Temple.

Walton has played checkers since he was a child, getting his initial instruction in the game from his grandfather. He was always willing to give some helpful hints to his opponent, pointing out a bad move before it was made.

Checkers is a game that requires concentration and looking ahead at the next several moves, Walton said.

Ms. Turner hadn’t played the game in about 20 years.

Walton said if it had been an official game, he would have kept quiet.

Walton remains proficient in the games by playing every Wednesday at Sammons Community Center.

In August, Walton participated in the National Veterans Golden Age Games in Indianapolis, where he competed in checkers, table tennis, horseshoes and air rifle. He won three gold medals this year and has competed in the Veterans Games for 19 years.

Jessica Dawson, a recreational therapist with the Temple VA and volunteer at the senior games, said Walton received the Inspirational Award at the Veterans Games this year and will carry the torch at next year’s event in Birmingham, Ala.

As of Wednesday, Ms. Turner had a purse full of medals. She medaled in swimming, football throw and dominoes and has plans to compete in the 42 tournament, horseshoes and washer throw later in the week.

In swimming, Ms. Turner bettered her time in the 500, from 20 minutes three years ago in Austin to 15 minutes this year.

Ms. Turner began competing in the senior games when she was 55 and the 2008 games are her 14th. She has close to 400 medals.

Walton also competed in the Senior Games for a number of years.

Ms. Turner and Walton played three games.

“I was honored to beat him one game . . . he stumped me the second two,” she said.

Next year, Ms. Turner will move into another age group and away from a 67-year-old who has bested her in a number of swimming competitions.

“She has longer arms,” Ms. Turner said of her competition.

Ms. Turner is looking forward to the national games in Houston in 2011.

“I’ve been working out and doing weights,” she said.

Knox said he has been playing checkers competitively for about five years.

This is his second senior games.

Knox also was a participant in this year’s National Veterans Golden Age Games, where he competed in golf, shuffleboard and air rifle.

Knox said he has begun to concentrate more on his golf game. He played golf in this year’s senior games and will compete in shuffleboard on Friday.

Competition will continue today with tennis, racquetball, bowling and 42 dominoes. An ice cream social will be 6-8:30 p.m.