Rolling the ruby reds

Danette Goulet

FAIRGROUNDS -- It was neck and neck for a while, but it was with

determination that Jesse Aliff beat out the stiff competition Thursday

and took third place in the men’s grapefruit bowling.

“That one that I did won’t hold up,” he said to his wife in a worried

tone between rounds.

Aliff was one of more than two dozen senior citizens who competed on

the Heritage Stage in the center of the Orange County Fair on Thursday in

the Golden Grapefruit Bowling contest.

“We come every year to do it,” Florence Gordon said. “We do the

putting as well.”

Thursdays at the fair is Seniors Day. There are special rates, perks

and events for anyone 55 and older.

“Old age is for the birds, but this makes it better,” Eileen Hoffmann

said with a laugh.

The Santa Ana Heights resident was having the time of her life on the

stage, which was packed with fun-loving seniors rolling ruby red

grapefruits at bright plastic bowling pins filled with sand.

The sight of the energetic elders winging fruit across a stage,

combined with the running commentary of announcer Judy Wade, drew quite a

crowd.

“No points for hitting the sounds guy’s equipment -- sorry,” Wade

joked.

“Did I forget to explain you’re meant to hit the pins, not miss them,

ladies,” she added at the next roll.

But it was all in good fun, and that’s just what they had.

“It’s a lot of fun,” Hoffmann said. “It’s the highlight of my life --

or the year. I do the putting contest, the hats and the bowling. I won

first place in the putting.”

Not only did each contestant get a ribbon of some sort, they also each

received a grapefruit -- some a bit bruised -- and a free meal at

Hometown Buffet.

Next week on Seniors Day, there will be the Lemon Juice Squeeze, a

Golden Wedding Ceremony for couples married 50 or more years to renew

their vows and a senior record-holders competition.