The Shamrocks basketball team, players associated with CP of the North Country and NYSARC, took the gold in the North Country Special Olympic Regional Games in Clifton Park recently.

The Shamrocks played two games and succeeded in overcoming both opponents, allowing them to take first place and win the gold.

One of the games was against Malone, which has been a tough competitor in the North Country Regional Games for years.

“It was hard at first but I knew we would do well. I was ready to play,” said Mark Ferriter, #4.

Special Olympics is not an event but a worldwide organization that has been around for over 40 years with a main mission to provide year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities, giving them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy and participate in a sharing of gifts, skills and friendship with their families, other Special Olympic athletes and the community.

For more information on what Special Olympics is, visit www.specialolympics.org.

To keep track of upcoming Special Olympic events in the North Country, check out CP of the North Country's website at www.cpnorthcountry.org.