SATURDAY, MAY 17, 2025 | Active Aging Week 7
A HOLE LOT OF FUN By Jim Timlick
C ornhole has been called one of the fastest growing sports in North America, and this summer it will make its official debut as part of the Manitoba 55+ Games. The game, which is also referred to as bean bag toss, is one of the new additions to this year’s roster of sports for the 55+ Games, which will take place June 3-5 in Steinbach. It was offered as a demo sport at last year’s Games and proved so popular that organizers decided to make it an official offering in 2025. As many as 100 men and women are expected to take part in the Games’ one- day cornhole competition. It will be an open event with the only requirement being that competitors must be 55 years of age before Dec. 31, 2025, to take part. Jeff Munday, president of the Manitoba Cornhole Association, says his
organization is delighted to see the sport become part of the Games. “Our mission at the Manitoba Cornhole Association is to grow the sport across the province and get more people participating in it. I think the Games will give us more exposure and help make that happen,” he says. “I think it’s a great way of getting more people participating in it that may not have otherwise if they didn’t know it was part of the Games.” Cornhole is a North American creation and has been around in one form or another since the late 1800s. Players or teams take turns throwing fabric beans bags at an inclined board that features a hole in its far end. Points are scored by landing a bean bag on the board (one point) or in the hole (three points). The sport has enjoyed exponential growth in Canada over the past several years, including here in Manitoba. Two competitive leagues were formed in Winnipeg – one in St. James, and another in West St. Paul – over the past two years. There is also a handful of leagues in other parts of the province including Ile des Chenes, Portage la Prairie, Winkler and Steinbach. Munday attributes the recent growth of the sport to the increased exposure it has received. For example, American Cornhole League games are now broadcast on American sports giant ESPN and the sport has become a viral sensation on social media platforms like Instagram, Reddit and YouTube. “Anytime you look it up on something like YouTube you can see these massive tournaments with huge prize payouts
and sponsorships,” Munday says. “The average person is seeing it more now on TSN or ESPN and realizing that they really enjoy playing it at the campground or at the lake, and maybe they’ll join a league because its
more organized.” He thinks one of the best things about cornhole is the fact that there is a place for everyone in the sport regardless of age or ability. “A lot of the players that are in my Winnipeg West Cornhole League are over 55 years old. Some of them are highly competitive and others are just coming for a fun night out with some great people.” Munday adds that those new to the sport don’t need to be concerned about their skill level. “The first thing I tell new people is don’t worry about how good or bad you think you are. There are people of all skill levels that are participating in the leagues. You’re not going to go in there and get killed or kill someone else. The other thing is it’s a fun night out. People are very welcoming. Its very inclusive.” Munday believes cornhole is going to be a perfect fit for the Manitoba 55+ Games and its participants. “Anybody can play regardless of age or athletic ability. It’s low impact, it’s easy to
Cornhole is one of the fastest growing sports in North America.
learn and a cost-effective sport. All the equipment is provided to the players so they can just show up and start throwing bean bags,” says Munday, who hopes that cornhole will eventually become part of the Canada 55+ Games. Best of all, anyone from age 55 to 90 can participate. “The other nice thing is it’s not necessarily age dependent. If someone can throw a bean bag they can play and if they come from any sort of background of playing horseshoes or bowling, then they’ll be pretty good at it.”
CORNHOLE IS A NORTH AMERICAN CREATION AND HAS BEEN AROUND IN ONE FORM OR ANOTHER SINCE THE LATE 1800S
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