The Face of Bowls is that of the Young

With the sport of lawn bowling being introduced to our young through high school phys ed programmes among other places; the stigma of an 'old man's game' is finally going by the wayside and the word is getting around that this is indeed a sport worth considering....especially with the token cost ($30. for anyone under 20 at the Burlington Club).  Like our winter cousins, curling, the strategy and excitment of executing the perfect win is exhilirating and not so easy to come by.   But let's let one Canadian 'young'un' tell you what it was like in 'his day'....

To stun or not to stun…that is the question.

15 years ago bowls was a sport mocked by the young. In grade school I kept it a secret from my friends that I bowled for 2 years because it was not a ‘socially accepted’ sport to play. At the time, perhaps it was true. Those involved wore plain white clothes, and rocked some plain white hair. The young were across the street doing basketball, baseball and laughing at how much fun they were having.  Bowls? I heard crickets and light clapping. Enticing it was not. But I tried it anyway, more so out of respect to my Granddad who had been rolling since the 1970s. The funny thing was that I couldn’t stop thinking about it after each time I went out and rolled a few.  I caught on to the basics and my competitive edge made me want to exceed expectations. At age 11, I played my first Provincial Junior event and somehow found myself beating some 15 year old 21-19 in the final. I also was trying to comprehend Nationals in PEI at age 11. It was bizarre and overwhelming, and quite hilarious. This so called ‘old person’ game is now sending a high-voiced skinny kid to a National event. I finished 5th and was the youngest in the event. I had the time of my life and ended up meeting some ‘cool’ 16 year old kids who wanted to hang out and ‘look after’ me. Needless to say, I became a full fledged member for the years to follow and eventually told my friends back home what I do during the summer. They laughed but I didn’t care because this whole new world of travel and competition opened up before my eyes! From then on Bowls was the sport, and everything else was second nature. From 1997-2001, I competed in the Junior Nationals and managed a few medals in the process. From 2003-2010, I played in the Under 25 National Qualifier and came home with a few more shiny things. In 2008, I had achieved what I had always dreamt of, and that was representing Canada internationally. What a wild experience!! After all these years on the Junior circuit I began to think, “is this really an old person’s game anymore?” Young faces were popping up everywhere, nationally and internationally. The Under 25 bowlers were wearing casual shorts and flashy bowls shirts instead of the usual whites. The ‘kids’ were starting to fist pump and yell at their bowls! Instead of light claps the young were cheering on the sidelines, hyping up the bowlers. The shift is happening! Bowls is becoming a sport…finally. The 2011 Canadian Nationals had the youngest playing field across the country in the tournaments history. Both Men and Women’s Fours teams won the gold medal, and the average age between the two teams was under 30. Three of the Women’s Singles players were under 30, one of them winning Bronze. The Men’s Singles final consisted of a 30 year old versus a 25 year old. The entire Saskatchewan Men’s team had an average age of 28! Hell, after winning the team award the SK men leap-frogged one another up to the podium, not just for show, but to firmly plant some excitement and desire into this ‘quiet’ game! Approximately two-thirds of Canada’s 2011 National Team is within the age range of 25-35 years old. Now that is scary. The funny thing is it’s not just happening in Canada, but all over the world. A young 20-something woman from England won the Women’s Singles Gold at the 2010 Commonwealth Games. Another 20-something woman from South Africa also won a Gold Medal in the triples at the same event. Young men from the UK, Australia, New Zealand, and Malaysia are currently some of the World’s most promising bowlers. And every one of these bowlers are licking their chops and preparing to feast on what’s to come. Many of my fondest memories are from Bowls, whether it’s on the green or off. I end up meeting young people who really just want to have a few cold ones, roll some good bowls, and create some good times. The face of Bowls is that of the young. It is not a revolution, it is a reality. Every “young stunna” should try it, and once you do I will guarantee you’ll be ‘having a time’ on a daily basis.

Alex Scott, Age 25, Current National Team Member

2012 OPEN HOUSE

ALL WEEK, FROM MONDAY MAY 7TH TO FRIDAY MAY 11, 2012 AT 1:30 AND 7:30 P.M..  EVERYONE WELCOME...WEAR WHATEVER YOU LIKE, WITH FLAT SHOES.

SPECIAL BEGINNERS TRAINING EVERY WEDNESDAY EVENING AT 7:30 ALL SUMMER LONG.    YOU BETTER COME AND TRY THE SPORT FOR EVERYONE.

2011 Open House - May 2 to May 6, 1:30 & 7:15 p.m.

Join others and learn to lawn bowl any day Monday through Friday, May 2nd to May 6th, 1:30 and 7:15 p.m.    It's fun; It's great exercise; It's social; It's the place to be.   Let Us Show You How.

Not available that week, not a problem....we provide free beginner lessons any Wednesday evening at 7:15, May through October.  Just show up,wearing flat soled shoes.

BURLINGTON LAWN BOWLERS IN THE ORIENT

All the excitement of bowls doesn't take place in Burlington, but we usually have a member or two of world class caliber  to add to the roster on the world stage.   The following is just one "stage" on which  to compete..  

14th Tiger Bowls World Invitation 2011
“Hong Kong Tour” & “China Tour”

2011 will see the advent of the Tiger Bowls-World Invitation in Hong Kong Tour and China Tour in Shenzhen, China. In the past few years Burlington has been represented at these games by not one, but three of our competitive athletes.   These prestigious tournaments are endorsed by World Bowls Limited and are poised to become one of the signature events on the international bowls calendar. Our aims are to promote the sport of lawn bowls internationally whilst also increasing the players’ skills through competition against world-class teams. At the same time, we hope to build friendship amongst associations across the globe.

With this in mind, we want to cordially invite your association to send your national team to participate in these truly world class bowls events.   I understand from at least one of our members that hopefully Burlington will be wearing the Canada colours there again this coming year.

We look forward to welcoming many top international competitors from overseas countries including: Argentina, Australia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei, Canada, China, Cook Islands, Cyprus, Dubai, England, France, Fiji, Guernsey, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Isle of Man, Israel, Japan, Jersey, Kenya, Korea, Macao, Malawi, Malaysia, Malta, Namibia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norfolk Island, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Portugal, Samoa, Scotland, Singapore, Spain, South Africa, Swaziland, Thailand, Wales, USA, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

The competition will run from 12th to 17th March, 2011. However, we expect that players will arrive at Hong Kong on or before 11th March, 2011 and depart on 18th　March 2010. The organizers will arrange transport from Hong Kong to Shenzhen, China.  Prize presentation dinners will be hosted on Sunday 13th March and on Thursday 17th March 2011.


Let us enjoy the bowling experience and atmosphere together in the Tiger Bowls World Invitation. We very much look forward to welcoming your team.

Yours in Bowls,

Jacky Wong
President, Hong Kong Lawn Bowls Training Centre
Chairman of Organizing Committee, Chinese Multi-Bowls Association

Burlington Lawn Bowlers know how to Party

One of the things members of the Burlington Lawn Bowling Club enjoy is our monthly socials held on the holiday Mondays.  Our Profile picture was taken at the Canada Day Champagne Breakfast and Jitney.  This article is all about our Labour Day Monday Western Corn Roast and BBQ Social.  

That’s our hard working committee, Diane, in charge of the “Diane’s Chuck Wagon”, and Leanne and Murray, in charge of “everything else”.  The “Howdy Partner” greeting was repeated and repeated throughout the day by the more than 100 members and friends in attendance. So “Howdy Partner”, let's recap.

Now no spread can run smoothly without some handy ranch hands helping out. And we have some of the best at the BLBC Ranch, including all three of our Presidents: Present, Lenore, with her side-kick Sheriff Peter  in the “Jailhouse” (office); Past Pres, Tony manning the bar in our “O.K. Saloon”, and Vice Pres, Diane  and her trusty crew in the "DIANE'S CHUCKWAGON"  HOW’S THAT FOR PUTTING THE BRASS TO WORK!

With so much to see (Leanne & Murray) went all out with the signage, the table decorations, the ‘hanging tree’, the celebrity pics and cowboy movies, the donated door prize display in the “General Store”, and the sing-along music, it took some time to settle the folks down, but once they did and Murray shot his gun in the air for the start of our very first “WAGON WHEEL” spider, it was non-stop fun. By the way, we raised $179. in the wagon wheel for ‘our’ soon to be Defibrillator.

80 of our members took over 14 rinks  for the two game jitney and the good times and competition continued in earnest. Two game winners were: TRIPLES, 1ST Sheena Holmes with Kathleen Mein and Jim Young with 32 for and 12 against, 2nd, Donna McFadden with Mary Wootton & Muriel Watson with 32 for and 14 against, and 3rd, June Pinkney, Micky Dean & Fred Alcock with 31+ 1 for and 17 against WOW, NOW THAT’S CLOSE. TOP PAIRS: Betty Pearson & Charlie McKague 30 for and 8 against.  With the help of our wonderful sponsor, JO-ANNE MONTEIRO, OPTOMITRIST all day was “over the top”

There were plenty of prizes and give-aways to go around. Prize for best “Western Costumes” went to Al and Sylvia Heywood, with June Pinkney coming 2nd. The door prize table held everything from a MP3 Player, gift bags, delicious preserves and more. Everyone received a Jo-Anne Monteiro “gift bag”, and even the delightful centerpieces (made by Leanne, with the help of the tin of beans) were part of the day’s give-aways. Told you our committee went above and beyond to give us the “best day ever”, and I haven’t even mentioned the $6. dinner menu of Corn on the Cob, hamburgers/sausages, beans, salads, desserts and ice cream. If you were there: “wasn’t it great?” If you couldn’t make it, you missed a fantastic day. Don’t make that mistake next month. Yippee Ky-Oh-Ky-Ay

CANADA WINS ALL 7 TROPHIES AT THE NORTH AMERICAN CHALLENGE,

The Lawn Bowls, North American Challenge was held this year in Milwaukee WI in September.
30year old Mike Bester, a 16 year veteran of the sport is usually found on a Thursday evening playing at the local Burlington Lawn Bowling Club. However in September he played a major part in the Canadian upset as the Jarvis group Skip for the 3’s and Vice for the 4’s in the North American Challenge between the US and Canada in Milwaukee WI. The Jarvis men’s final was considered the most exciting finish of the tournament. Going into the last round, the Canadians were 2 wins and 51 shots behind the American Jarvis team. Both Bester’s team and our Jarvis single, Jurgen Fessler from London Ontario, had to win, and combined they had to win by 26 shots to bring home the men’s Jarvis trophy. Fessler won his game 21-14, which meant Mike’s team had to win by 19. We were ahead by about 10 halfway through the game when Fessler finished so we kept the pressure on and scored the 2 shots we needed on the last end to win by “exactly” the needed 19, and the men’s Jarvis by 1 point on shot differential. Bester said “It made a forgettable 2-4 record feel memorable”.



To read more about the great Canadian Lawn Bowling win go to the NAC web site. http://nac2010.wordpress.com/

Lawn Bowling presentation from the Ontario Lawn Bowls Assoc.