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.
If you’ve ever been to Powell River, you will know that it has an absolutely beautiful setting for its lawn bowling club. On August 8th, the Powell River Lawn Bowling Club hosted its annual one day Mixed Triples Tournament and our Parksville club sent three teams across the water to participate. Overall winners of the tournament were Dean Penny, Linda Meers and Vern Greenhill of the Courtenay club. In second place was the team of Bob Allaby, Joey Merrell and Bob Merrell. Third went to our own Luise Norman, Karen Perrin and Martin Perrin.
Hospitality is always great at this historic club which has only 32 members. They all pitch in to provide snacks, drinks and even rides to and from the ferry. If you ever get the opportunity to go over to the Powell River Lawn Bowling Club, do it. The tournament and the experience are definitely worth it.
Many thanks to Bob Allaby who provided the details of this tournament for this article.
August 10th & 11th saw some pretty hot temperatures on our greens here in Parksville, but it was even more of a scorcher in Port Alberni. The small but mighty Port Alberni Lawn Bowling Club hosted the District Men’s and Women’s Novice and Intermediate Singles Championships this past weekend The greens were fast, the hosts were great, and the weather was some of the hottest of the summer. In the end, it was our Parksville representatives that were even hotter winning three of the top four events.
The Women’s Novice Single Championship was won by our own Debbie Taylor and the Women’s Intermediate event was won by Karen Perrin, also of our club.
On the men’s side, it was Gord Moffatt of Nanaimo winning the Men’s Novice Singles Event. Parksville was not to be denied, with our own Bob Ashton winning the Men’s Intermediate Singles Tournament.
It was a great tournament and we want to thank all those from the Port Alberni club who made it work so well: kitchen and grounds crew, umpires, photographer Chuck Benson, the games committee, club members who participated and those who came out to watch. Thanks to everyone who gave of their time to make this event a success. More photos to come. Carol Bucyk
Karen Perrin, winner of the District Women’s Intermediate Singles Championship. Photo by Chuck Benson.Debbie Taylor winner of the District Women’s Novice Singles Championship. Photo by Chuck Benson.
It’s a sure sign that autumn is around the corner when the crickets start to chirp and it gets dark before 9 P.M. It also reminds us that the spring and summer leagues for both Cut Throat and Mixed Pairs are now in the books. Here’s what happened earlier this Spring. Diane Cruickshank earned the honours for her win in Cut Throat and, in Mixed Pairs League, it was the team of Robbie Thomas and Don Urquhart.
The summer league for Mixed Pairs which wrapped up on August 6th, went to Ken and Carol Bucyk . The Cut Throat league finished up on August 7th, with Carol Bucyk earning top spot.
Here’s something that novice and tenderfoot members might want to consider. Cut Throat is a great way to develop skills as a lead, and it is the position that newer members play until they become either Third or Skip. Also, if you haven’t tried it, lawn bowling in the morning or evening leagues on our green is an absolute treat. We have one of the very best greens anywhere, in a lovely locale with truly friendly members. See you on the green!!
August 3rd and 4th were hot and busy days as the Courtenay Club hosted its well attended 2-4-2 Tournament. The hometown team of Vern Greenhill and Leone King were the overall winners of the tournament, beating out our own Chris and Martin Fereday who ended up taking second in “A” Event. Other winners included Mike Ward and Helen Roberts of Qualicum, Linda Mears and Brian Scheer of Courtenay and our own Bob Allaby and Sue Tompkins .
The 2-4-2 game is a nice change from the regular pairs event in that the lead throws 2 bowls, then the skip rolls his/her 4 bowls, and then the lead comes back and rolls their 2 bowls, all in alternate rotation with the other team. In the next end, the person who was skip becomes the lead and rolls his or her bowls in the above 2-4-2 format. It is a lot of fun and gives players a chance to be both a skip and a lead in the same game.
It was pretty hot in Parksville on the weekend, but even hotter on the green as the novice and intermediate lawn bowlers took to the green to showcase their skills. The Club Singles Novice and Intermediate Championship started on Saturday morning and wound up on Sunday afternoon with the final winners declared in both the men’s and women’s event. On the men’s side, the novice winner was James Sloan. Intermediate winner was Bob Merrell who was also the overall winner of both Group A & B. On the women’s novice side, Debbie Taylor came through to capture her event, while the Women’s Intermediate Championship went to Karen Perrin.
A very big thank you goes out to the following : the set-up and take down crew, greens people, markers, Lynn in the kitchen, bartenders, Chuck Benson (photos), Sandi Mitchell (ump. etc.), spectators, games committee and to the players who made this all possible.
On August 10th and 11th, the above winners will represent our club in the District Championships to be held in Port Alberni. Our winner from last year, Bob Ashton, has also been invited back to Port Alberni to defend his title. If you can, please come out and support your fellow club members in this event. Carol Bucyk
Here they are, the winners of this past weekend’s event. From left to right, Debbie Taylor (Novice) and Karen Perrin (Intermediate). James Sloan (Novice) and Bob Merrell (Intermediate), who also won the overall tournament from Group A & B.
You know it’s going to be a great day to play when the winds are gentle and the air is warm, but not too hot. That’s exactly how the weather played out in Parksville this past weekend for the Ferguson Exteriors Men’s and Women’s Open Triples Tournament. Great greens greeted the players on Saturday morning, and the greens were quite consistent throughout the weekend.
Winners on the men’s side was the team of Dean Penny, Vern Greenhill and Henri Saucier. Second was earned by our own Parksville team of Rick Dolley, Ken Bucyk and Graham Fowler. Third also went to Parksville team, that of Bill Burgess, Don Urquhart and Mike Kelly.
On the women’s side, it was our own Sandi Mitchell, Chris Fereday and Merry Danarti taking first place, while Diane Cruickshank, Kathleen Motley and Fay St. Marie, also of our club taking second. Rounding out the top three was the Nanaimo team of Mary Mulligan, Linda Cooper and Ann Yewer.
A very big thank you goes out to all who made this possible: Ferguson Exteriors who were the very generous sponsors of this tournament, the kitchen crew, bartenders, grounds crew, games committee, all those who came to play and those who came out to watch and support local lawn bowling.
It was an absolutely gorgeous night to be on the green as our zone wrapped up its interclub league for the season. The final standings for the league were Nanaimo in first place with 49 points. Second was the Courtenay team with 45 points. Our own club earned 28 and Qualicum Beach picked up 20 points.
A very big thank you goes out to all who took part from the greens keepers to the kitchen volunteers, games committees, and all of the players from all of the clubs who made this event possible. A note to all novices and tenderfoot players: please come out to these interclub events. They are a lot of fun and you get to play on some pretty great greens. It’s a great way to gain experience in a very relaxed setting, and the social meet-ups afterwards are really good, too.
Port Alberni played host to the Ramsay Lampman Rhodes Mixed Triples Tournament July 20th and 21st, and two clubs dominated in the event. Merry Danarti, Rick Dolley and Sandi Mitchell took first place and along with prize winnings will get their names on the trophy. Second place went to the team of Keith Terlson, Ken and Carol Bucyk. The other top spots in the event were earned by the team of Chris Windress, Adrian Hewitt and Kathleen Hewitt and Ann Yewer from Nanaimo. Rounding out the top four was another Nanaimo team, that of Vern Hagstrom, Linda Cooper and Ian Yewer.
A very big thank you goes out to our sponsor, Ramsay Lampman Rhodes who have been so supportive of our sport this season. Also, a big thank you to the Port Alberni club members from the kitchen crew, umpire, games, volunteers, greens keepers and everyone else who always make Port Alberni such a welcoming place in which to play. Carol Bucyk
The winning team from Parksville, Merry Danarti, Rick Dolley and Sandi Mitchell
Second place is Parksville’s Keith Terlson, Carol Bucyk and Ken BucykNanaimo’s third place team: Chris Windress, Ann Yewer and Adrian Hewitt. Not pictured is Kathleen Hewitt.Fourth place from Nanaimo: Vern Hagstrom, Linda Cooper and Ian Yewer
On Saturday afternoon, we witnessed a really rare event, a nine- ender being scored in a tournament. What it actually means is that one team was able to get all nine bowls counted in one end, and the other team got blanked. The team that pulled off the unusual feat on Saturday, July 13th was that of Graham Fowler, Maggie Webb and Linda Burgess. Well done! Carol Bucyk
Skip Graham Fowler, Lead, Maggie Webb and Third , Linda Burgess with Umpire Bob Allaby holding the team’s score card.
