Ace photographer Chuck Benson recently took this wonderful photo of our effervescent friend and lawn bowling pro, Mavis Gooding. She had just jumped out of a plane and was sailing along on the thermals with her parachute and her instructor. All this on the occasion of her 80th birthday. All we can say is “Congratulations, Mavis, on a jump well done, and a very Happy Birthday to you.”
The annual Cowichan/Parksville Challenge was held again, this time in Cowichan on September 10th. Conditions were great with lovely greens and perfect weather, and the home club was a superb host for this one day event. Our visiting Parksville team took home the honours scoring 25 points over the home club’s 13. Thanks to everyone who made this day such a great one. See you all in Parksville next year.
Trevor Motley, our Parksville President, receives the trophy from Sue Higbie, Cowichan Club’s Games Director.
The ever popular George Gibson Tournament was held September 4th and 5th and had a solid turnout to the event. Players came from Nanaimo, Qualicum Beach, Courtenay as the Parksville Lawn Bowling Club hosted the tournament.
Winners of this year’s event was the team of Rick Quibell, Mary Mulligan and John Kendal from Nanaimo and Courtenay. Second place was our own Andy Burton, Sandi Mitchell and Peter Scott. Nanaimo’s Adrian and Kathleen Hewitt and Chris Windress took home third place. Parksville’s Bob Ashton, Miriam Gunn and Betty Nordick came in at fourth place.
A big round of thanks go out to Lynn in the kitchen, Colleen who umpired for both days, the bartenders who kept us hydrated, Marg and Gerda and their awesome computer skills, the grounds crew who made a great green for us to play on, the clean-up and put away folks, Chuck for his photos, Joey for organizing this event and all the participants who came and played as well as the gallery who came out to watch.
This was the last of the open tournaments to be held this year at the Parksville club. Next up is the Gloria Wilcox Men’s and Women’s Triples to be held September 18th and 19th. Immediately after that event is over, the mini-tournament for the prized Salmon Can Trophy will take place as part of the Battle of the Sexes Tournament. Bring your pompoms and best voices to cheer on your respective teams. This one will be a lot of fun.
Winners of this year’s George Gibson Mixed Triples Tournament, John Kendall (Courtenay), Mary Mulligan and Rick Quibell (Nanaimo).
Parksville’s Andy Burton, Sandi Mitchell and Peter Scott in second place for the tournament.
Third place honours go to Chris Windress, Kathleen Hewitt and Adrian Hewitt of Nanaimo.
The final big event of the lawn bowling season is fast upon us. The Gloria Wilcox Men’s and Ladies’ Club Triples Tournament happens on September 18th & 19th here at our club. The Games Committee is looking for a few more players, specifically four women and one man to round out the roster. If you want to be a part of this event, contact Kathleen Motley. Contact her at games@parksvillelawnbowlingclub.com.
Don’t forget that The Battle of the Sexes happens right after this tournament and the top three men’s and women’s team play off against each other in a five-end game for the coveted Salmon Can Trophy. It is an event not to be missed with bragging rights going to the victors. Could it be the women this year? Sign up, get on a team and have some fun.
The Cowichan/Parksville Challenge on September 10th is fast approaching but our games committee needs a little help. We are in need of three more players to fill out our team and to have a complete roster. If you have never been to Cowichan, here’s a great chance to check out this green and meet fellow players from the South Mid-Island. The games will be at 10 A.M. and 1 P.M. and there is a limit of 24 players. You are asked to bring your own lunch to this event. If you are interested, please contact Kathleen Motley. Her email address is games@parksvillelawnbowlingclub.com.
As lawn bowlers, we all have our own little routines, tells and rituals. However, this was a little different and for something fun, and with Robbie’s permission, we thought we would share this action picture. At that particular moment, Robbie was seen and heard talking to her bowl. It must have worked because both she and Wayne Larocque won the tournament.
Robbie Thomas telling her bowl just what it had to do at that moment.
One of the club’s most popular tournaments was held Aug. 28th and 29th and it did not disappoint. The weather, greens and attendance were great. An almost full slate with two flights were a sign of this tournament’s popularity. A unique feature of this event is that the men (Jacks) skip two games and the women (Jills) skip two games.
The overall winners of the event were Robbie Thomas and Wayne Larocque who came from the Early Draw. Second in that draw was the team of Debbie Taylor and Barry Conn who were in a make up team with Carol Bucyk and Andy Burton. Third in the early draw was Luise Norman and Martin Perrin. In the late draw, first went to the team of Kathleen Motley and Barry Knowles, while second went to Sandi Mitchell and David Stamp. Anne Holland and David Perry took third.
There were two mystery draws as well. Early draw winners were Maggie Webb and Ken Bucyk, while late draw winners were Donna Dunn and Ken Olenick.
There are many moving parts to making an event like this happen and happen smoothly. With that in mind, our thanks go out to the following: the games committee, kitchen crew, bartenders, groundskeepers, set-up and take down folks, photographer, novice, intermediate and seasoned players and spectators. Everyone had a hand in making the Jack and Jill Tournament the success that it was.
Next up is the George Gibson slated for early September. This tournament will be bringing in players from around the district and promises to be a good one.
Robbie Thomas and Wayne Larocque receive recognition as winners of the jack and Jill Mixed pairs Tournament for 2024.
Kathleen Motley and Barry Knowles, first place in Late Draw.David Stamp and Sandi Mitchell, in second place in the late draw.Anne Holland and David Stamp in third place late draw.Barry Conn, Carol Bucyk and Andy Burton, second in early draw. Missing is Debbie Taylor.Luise Norman and Martin Perrin, third in the early draw.
The Nanaimo Mixed Pairs Open Tournament was held Aug. 24 & 25 under almost perfect conditions. The green was in superb shape and the weather was pretty much perfect. What else that was pretty much perfect is the fact that four out of the five teams that placed came from our club. The number one team was that of Nanaimo’s Rick Quibell and Mary Mulligan. Second through fifth went to our club with Rick Dolley and Merry Danarti taking second, Chris and Martin Fereday earning third, Diane Cruickshank and Bill Burgess scoring fourth and Joey and Bob Merrell placing fifth. Four out of the top five places is quite an accomplishment and congratulations to our club members who played in the tournament, and to those who earned recognition for their efforts.
A very big thank you goes out to everyone at the Nanaimo club who were great hosts and players. Thanks to the kitchen and greens crew, the umpires, the players , Chuck Benson who took pictures, and Martin Velsen, the very generous sponsor of this tournament.
Believe it or not, September is just around the corner and that means all kinds of great tournaments are on the horizon before we wrap up the outdoor lawn bowling season. One of the best is the Gloria Wilcox Men’s and Women’s Tournament happening on September 18th & 19th here at our club. There will be 4 – 14 end games with a $10.00 entry fee per person. Lucky players could win bag tags, trophies and cash prizes. Registration begins August 26th and the cut-off date is September 12th. Register as individuals and the teams will then be announced.
Along with the tournament, the ever popular Battle of the Sexes will be happen again this year. The five-end game will determine who gets to hoist the beautiful Salmon Cup Trophy for 2024. The top three men’s and women’s teams will be vying for this masterpiece, a great example of true west coast art. A perfectly cylindrical salmon can in a lovely black matte finish which sits affixed a piece of genuine B.C. scrap lumber will be there for the winners to hold and celebrate. It’s a lot of fun to watch and cheer on your favourite team. Sign up, have fun and we’ll see you on the green.
The Parksville Lawn Bowling Club’s Men’s and Women’s Singles 2024 edition wrapped up Thursday, August 15. The three day event was full of great shot making, close games and perfect weather. In the end, it came down to the final four with Chris Fereday winning a very tight and exciting game over Luise Norman. Rick Dolley battled it out with Peter Scott, with Dolley taking the title in the men’s division. Scott and Dolley have battled this event out six times over the past few years, with each of them winning the title three times.
This tournament was a great success and it is all due in part to the many people who volunteer at our club to make events like this happen. Thanks to the kitchen, bar and grounds crew for their hard work. Also, we are grateful for the work put in from the Games Committee, as well as Chuck Benson, our chief photographer. Thanks to all of the markers and to Sandi Mitchell who was our “umpire” when needed. Our thanks finally go out to the club members who came out and watched and to those who played their hearts out on the green. This year, the field included both seasoned players and a number of intermediate players who had a great playoff experience. Well done, everyone!
Carol Bucyk
Chris Fereday, with her trophy after winning the club’s Women’s Singles Championship, August 15th. Chris stated that “This day was 25 years in the making.” Well done, Chris.
Rick Dolley collects his trophy after winning the club’s Men’s Singles Championship on August 15. This is Dolley’s third win in six years.
