Oregon Senior Games profile: Cornhole player Rich Gilbert

The Oregon Senior Games return to Corvallis this August. In anticipation of events to come 50plus met with participating athletes and volunteers. Their stories are fun and fascinating, and on this they all agree: “The games are a blast — for participants and spectators alike. See for yourself! Today, meet cornhole player Rich Gilbert.

 Since its inception in the mid-1880s, what we now call cornhole has also been known as sack toss, bean bags, corn toss, doghouse and soft horseshoes. You’ll find cornhole events — and Rich Gilbert — at this summer’s Oregon Senior Games.

“My family and I have won multiple state championships in competitive horseshoes, so I thought the transition to cornhole wouldn’t be too difficult,” Rich says. Last year, he and his brother Ken tried their hand (no pun intended) at tossing bags into a hole on a slanted board. “We did quite well,” he says modestly.

  “My advice to anyone wanting to try it is to have fun and stick with it. You will improve in due time.”  

• RANDAL C. HILL