THE EXCITMENT OF HEADING TO A PROVINCIAL FINAL - NEVER OLD

Ontario Fours  - District Playdown Weekend

 

For many competitive tournament bowlers in the Province the first dates set aside on their playing schedules are the District Playdowns weekends. No decisions to contemplate here . . Fours, Pairs , . . maybe Singles. These weekends are booked and locked up early . . forget entering any other events . . . Oh no, an invitation for cousin Matt’s wedding on June19 . . . . . what an inconsiderate couple . . .  that’s the same day as the District Pairs.. How do I get out of this one  . . I’ll figure out a way . . he’s just a bloody 2^nd cousin anyway. 

 

OK, some family occasions may take precedent . . and other special times too. I did go to Matt’s wedding in Beaver Creek Alberta (250 miles NW of Edmonton) for a week in 2008 and missed some bowling . . and my poker groups gambling wkd at the cottage has kept me and friend Eric out of the Fours several times . . . but on a whole the playdowns usually take priority.

  

All across Ontario this past weekend was the time for the best of the best to gather for their local District’s Fours Playdowns . . and I don’t like to miss it.

- Some travelled from afar to get to their local club (McKerihan & Wallbank from B.C.) so as not to miss their chance.

- Some crossed County lines to play with old friends or better their chances at the big prize.

- Many grabbed their bowls and headed for the local club willing to put out $20 just to play a couple good games of bowls knowing they had only a slim chance to move on.

 

Most Districts have the same rivalries carried forward from year to year. You pretty well know who’s going to be there  . . .  who’s going to be tough to beat . .  .  .  who beat you last year that you owe one to. In our District, although most clubs have similar membership numbers (5 hovering around 100 and a couple smaller ones) we normally only get entries from 3 clubs. In the Fours this basically held true . . 2 from Cosburn, 5 from Balmy Beach, 3 from Agincourt, 1 from Kew Beach. (with a couple Cosburn players filling in as 4^th men on Balmy’s teams). For some reason this has been the case over the last 15 yrs.

 

In any event, one thing is usually certain. The last one out of the clubhouse when its over will be the District Chairman, sitting trying to get all the paperwork wrapped up while others are celebrating with a few cold refreshing beverages (not iced tea). Sometimes a thankless job, but truly appreciated by those who have been there before.

 

All my experience in District play has been in District 10 (Basically all clubs in Toronto east of Yonge Street) . . . .  sometimes wonder what’s the story in other areas . . maybe you do too . . probably all run quite similarly. I thought I’d give you a quick replay of how a typical Playdown weekend (this years Fours) goes by in my home base.

 

 Fours Playdowns – District 10 – Balmy Beach Style

 

Planning starts early . .  can’t wait til game day to do everything. Must keep the masses informed. The week before the first jack is thrown the edict had been eMailed out to all participants. “Come early . . . new check in rules on bowls . . new District Convener . . limited parking at Balmy Beach . . . hot weather expected so lather up with lotion”. 

 

I arrived early at 8:35 for a 9:30 start. Playing at Balmy Beach or Kew Beach on a warm spring or summer day means searching for parking which is sometimes non existent if you get there after 9 am. Coming down to watch later, my wife had to go a mile away to find a parking spot . . . something you get used to in the beaches area . . but didn’t mind as it meant a nice long walk along the boardwalk to the club. Say what you will (and many do) about Balmy’s greens in May . . but the location and clubhouse are 2^nd to none.

 

Once there I was surprised to see I was just about the last one to arrive as most had obeyed the early arrival request. Was also surprised to see such a long line up at bowls check in. Umpire for the day, Eric Brands (who has tirelessly done most District 10 playdowns the last few years) had a busy agenda as the new bowls checking procedure included recording the make, colour, year and serial number of every player’s bowls. After initial mumblings about the necessity of this new requirement and the long wait in line (44 bowlers to check) most settled in to the usual pre game chatter at our playdowns . . much of it from the grumblers . .  

- Why are the Ladies playing all in one group (5 Team Rd Robin) while the Men have to go in 2 Groups (of 3)?  - How come it costs $20?  - Why are we on the east green and the Men on the West . . isn’t the West better? . . . .Why don’t we play Double K.O. (if we were playing Double K.O, the same people would say “Why don’t we play Rd Robin) . . . and so on and so on. After 7 years as District Chairman I learned to let most minor grumblings go in one ear & out the other. (Good luck Jan . . taking over this year).

 

Convener Jan Ferguson was busy recording OLBA card numbers and taking money. Could be heard many times saying “Go away . . come back when you have your whole teams money” Club rep Joe Green had his best 6 rinks set up for play and co-coordinated with Jan on green assignments for game 1.

 

When the appointed time arrived and Jan called for everyone’s attention . . . the rules were read from the OLBA script . . . and the games were underway. Men quickly checked who was in their group. Damn, we drew Larry Wales & Albert Wu . . won’t be easy getting to Day 2.

 

Got a bye in game 1 therefore wouldn’t be playing until about noon. Had a decision to make. Stay and watch the 1^st game . . or walk along the boardwalk down by Kew Beach (only 15 minute walk away) where a women’s volleyball tournament was on. Very tough decision . .NOT.   By the time I got back most games were in about their 10^th end. Lots of time to go and throw a few before my game.

 

As is normal in our District, the players were supported by their family, friends and club mates. Over the course of the 2 days there was usually about 15-20 spectators watching the proceedings at any one time. (Some between trips to the main clubhouse for refreshment breaks . . .which usually included the bowlers with a Bye).

 

Now . .The bowling: If not spectacular (very tough greens) the play was truly exciting as all the action came down to nail biting finishes.

 

Ladies: On day 2 of the round robin the only undefeated teams met in the morning with the Jeri Lynn Lamb team winning out over Debbie McCourt. Lamb however lost her final Rd Robin game, giving Debbie a 2^nd chance as they both finished at 3W 1L in Rd Rbn.

 

In an exciting playoff match the two teams were tied going in to the last end. A bowl rolled right on the jack by Jeri’s front end managed to stay there despite the opponents best efforts to dislodge it (I knew Fours was a front end game) and the victory for Jeri was sealed. Good luck to a nice group of ladies heading to the provincials for the 1^st time.

 

Men: Day 2 morning action couldn’t have been any closer. In Single K.O. competition both semi final games went to an extra end. Tom Marley of Balmy Beach stepped up for the last bowl of the extra end in his game against Albert Wu down one and facing a clogged head. His Hail Mary bullet caromed off 3 bowls before coming to rest . . . beside the jack for the win.

 

Eric Brands had to make a great takeout in the 15^th end of his game against Joe Green to preserve a tie (way to go skipper!) . . . then in the extra end, down 2, Joe’s vice Bert Harvey threw a heavy bowl hitting the jack dead on and looked like it would carry it to the ditch for the win . . . but it bounced off another bowl and went about 3 feet forward to the shortest bowl on the rink (mine) . . where it stayed for shot the rest of the way.

 

Brands then went on to win the final match over the Marley four who had run out of steam. An ‘Opening of the Deck’ party at the lakeside clubhouse with strict security (Members Only Please) couldn’t keep the Brands team from finagling their way in for a few brown pops in celebration . . . . but judging from the list I just saw of who the opposition will be in Burlington, the celebration may be a short one!

 

Sound a lot like what went on in your District this weekend?  Probably . . . except for the Volleyball!

 

BB in the GTA