They are gathered in White Rock British Columbia on a Dales Sport Canada artificial surface , the same surface that will be used at the new facility at the Commonwealth Games.
The NTC will pick separate Triples and Pairs teams and a Singles player for the Women and Men to bring the travelling group to 12 players.
The seekers are:
Women - Amanda Berg, Alberta; Clarice Fitzpatrick, Manitoba; Shirley Fitzpatrick-Wong, Manitoba; Shirley Ko, Ontario; Rachel Larson, Saskatchewan; Josephine Lee, British Columbia; Harriette Pituley, Saskatchewan; Erin Roth, Ontario.
Men - Ryan Bester, Ontario; Hiren Bhartu, British Columbia; Jeff Harding, Ontario; Michel Larue, Quebec; Tim Mason, British Columbia; Steve McKerihen, Ontario; Keith Roney, Sasakatchewan; Fred Wallbank, Ontario.
I include the provinces simply for the reader's awareness. Once you are a National Team member your identification becomes Canada.
The camp got underway yesterday ( Sunday, May 23 ) with a team meeting and they will be in full gear and action to-day until Friday (the 28th) at noon. The few hours earlier termination time will allow the Ontario bowlers, for one, to catch a flight back to their District and compete in the Fours. It is an appreciated adjustment for competitive bowlers to allow them to maintain an active summer schedule leading to a possible fall trip to the CG.
Of course being there is the easy part compared to the cost and travel tribulations of some of the participants.
I am not referring to the Canadian resident bowlers. They take turns bouncing from province to province along with many winter trips to Arizona.
No, it is our keen bowlers who have wandered from their home nest to settle far enough away to negate dropping in for a visit.
My guess is Erin Roth's total trip is close to 8,000 km. one way. I believe there is at least a 14 hour plane ride as a part of this trip tik. Erin started out on Thursday so you know there was time to read Gone With Wind in her airport hours.Yes Erin, of the Isle of Guernsey, one of the English Channel Islands much closer to France than England, has come a long way in her young years.
Now Ryan Bester couldn't travel the leisure way like Erin. His earlier departure was hindered by a very important Pennant match at and against the St. Johns Park team on Saturday. A win against 5 players who all play for Australia, including Leif Selby, the only man to win back to back World Singles titles after this years win at Warilla, would clinch for Cabramatta the Zone Number One Pennant Flag and a trip the State Championships in August.
Not a bad warm up for the Canadian Camp.
Ryan flew out Sunday morning from Sydney Australia and by the magic of the southern hemisphere calendar
landed in Vancouver Sunday afternoon.
Did you know that you can 'drive' from Sydney to Vancouver. My Goggle Map instructions informed me that the 21,735 km would take 54 days and 13 hours. Curiously I followed the written directions and found it included kayaking 5,404 km across the Pacific Ocean to Japan plus two little similar trips to Hawaii and the USA. Pressed for time Ryan hurried here but can look into the return trip being a much more exciting adventure. As it was Ryan traveled 12,500 km over 18 hours to be on Canadian soil for this selection week.
He does plan on making a round about after this camp and visit family and friends in Ontario and roll a few at Hanover and London Fairmont, have a go at the men's Wednesday circuit and finish at the OBA Singles at Burlington on June 25th. Then it will be time to pack his boat for the return trip to Down Under.
Making the selections for the National Team is never an easy task nor is it ever embraced with resounding agreement.
And it will be the norm no matter who sits in the chairs.
We are involved in a sport that at any time the best bowlers may be defeated by one of lesser ability. That characteristic not only mindfully narrows the gap between those who are and those who are not worthy to be named the best but it also seemingly increases ones expertise to be a judge.
And judge we will in our regional scrums right across this bowling nation.
However let's not ignore the fact that the appointed decision makers are now watching in real life, bowlers from across the country on the same green. They are scrutinizing intensely, discussing at length and have the opportunity to order their week to meet their goal of determining the best combinations for representing Canada at the 2010 Commonwealth Games.
They will be the selectors. We need to be the supporters.
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