Ontario Leading at Canadian Juniors in Winnipeg

Stephanie Miller will play for gold Thursday after winning two more games to-day. The clincher was her 2nd victory this week over former Canadian Champion Katelyn Brierley. The real battle is to see who is going to play Stephanie for the top prize. Will it be Lindsay or Katelyn?
Stephanie Miller from up Brighton way came to play. Two games down and she has knocked off last years gold and silver medal winners. In fact Katelyn Brierley from BC won gold in 2006 and followed with a silver last year. Stephanie dispensed with Katelyn 21-14. Her second game of the day was against the little lefty from Nova Scotia. Gold in 07 for Lindsay LaFresne didn't shine in Miss Miller's eyes - the final score 21-11.
The 4 girl competitors are playing a double round robin so Stephanie immediately jumped into the drivers seat to play for gold on Thursday.

Round 4 of 6 Completed

Stephanie Miller (ON) W-4 L-0 Pts 8
Katelyn Brierley (BC) W-2 L-2 Pts -4
Lindsay LaFresne (NS) W-2 L-2 Pts 4
Alison Walker (AB) W-0 L-4 Pts-0

Jacob lost his first game , and it was a squeaker, to Erik Kodnar from Alberta 20-21 after 7 straight wins. This pair with the addition of Cameron LaFresne will be playing for a medal. The final question is what colour?
Jacob of Hanover will get his full complement of games in his first trip to the Canadians. Four games a day for two days and then 2 more on Thursday followed by the medal round. And it looks like Jacob intends to play all eleven.
He was behind 1-11 to Grant Wilkie of Sask. but showed the same persevering trait as in the Provincials and worked his way back to a 21-17 victory. He sandwiched that comeback around a 21-9 over Manitoba and a 21-13 win against Alberta. He finished the long day with a 21-16 win over BC. Off to bed and do it all over again to-morrow.

Round 8 of 10 Completed

Jacob Schuknecht (ON) W- 7 L-1 Pts-14
Erik Kodnar (AB) W- 6 L-2 Pts -12
Cameron LeFresne (NS) W-5 L-3 Pts- 10
Devon Nickerson (MB) W-4 L-4 Pts 8
Grant Wilkie (SK) W-2 L-6 Pts-4
Nolan Gierc (BC) W-0 L-8 Pts-0

LADIES THREE DAY - HANOVER 2008

That title looks like a three day- hangover. That isn't the reason but it is a bubbly event for the distaff side. The very popular Ladies 3 Day completed its 24th annual long weekend tournament with another 'sold out' entry list. Hanover was the location this year as the ladies moved through Pairs, Fours and Singles to complete another successful gathering.

Bowler of the Tournament - LAURA HAWRYSZKO

First in Pairs with Susan Smith ( 3 wins ), Third in Fours with Smith, Laura Seed, Heather Comba ( 3 wins ) and 2 wins in Singles.
This young bowler has been a force this summer. Leading for Susan Smith in the Provincial Pairs, Laura was an important contributor in that team rolling to a silver medal.
2nd - Joyce Kruss , 3rd Laura Seed. [ Both Joyce and Laura Seed also won 8 of 9 games over the 3 days. It took the tiebreaker to unscramble the dandy results of the top three.]

More results later

Professional Bowls in Canada

WORLD INDOOR SINGLES CHAMPION - EASTERN CANADA
JEFF HARDING
Jeff saved his best for the last event. He beat the 'close but no cigar day' of Kevin Jones in straight sets 5-3, 8-7. Five events and 6 different winners heading west in September to decide the Canada entourage. Harding has his eyes set on Potter's Resort in England.

WELSH OPEN SINGLES CHAMPION - EASTERN CANADA
JOHN BEZEAR
John just recently arrived from Australia and brought his Down Under skills with him.
He rumbled through this competition winning 7 straight sets and then his last set tie with Mike Bester clinched the try for a trip to Wales in early 2009.

SCOTTISH OPEN SINGLES CHAMPION - EASTERN CANADA
MARTIN HAALSTRA
Martin lost his first set of the day 3-5 and then went on 6 win tear. He came back to win the second set 7-1 against Kevin Jones and then a close tiebreaker 2-1. His march to the title was completed with wins over Colin McLuckie and Mark Sandford in the final. Perth, Scotland beckons the east-west winner.

INTERNATIONAL OPEN SINGLES CHAMPION - EASTERN CANADA
MIKE BESTER
Mike won 4 games on Sunday including the final over James MacGowan 7-3, 6-2. Bester also heads to Vancouver in September to play the Western Champ. That winner will make the journey to Sheffield England for the November 23rd start. Full results below for the International and the other 3 Singles events still in progress.

PROFESSIONAL PAIRS CHAMPIONS- EASTERN CANADA
REMI CANUEL and MIKE SPADAFORA

The Niagara area pair will now head to British Columbia and play the Western Champions for the right to be the Canadian reps at the World Indoor Pairs at Potter's Resort in England.
This is a set competition. Two seven end sets are played and in the case of a tie, play a two out of three ends playoff ( just win the end ).
Check the scores for all events below

The PBA is underway.
Starting to-day at London Fairmont and continuing August 3,4 at the Woodstock LBC.
The winners in these Eastern Canada single elimimation events will travel west to meet the Western Canada winners for the right to be the Canadian PBA reps to selected WBT events.

Here are the spoils:

Most, if not all, of your expenses are covered to fly and and stay in British Columbia for the play-off.
The WBT ( World Bowls Tour ) then cover the costs of sending the Canadian reps over to play in the events.
If you lose in the first round of the SINGLES events, you receive a minimum of approx. $1,800 CAD and lose in the second round the return is approx. $2,500 CAD.
The PROFESSIONAL PAIRS pay approx. $2,500 CAD per pair when losing in the first round.
Of course the return is greater the further you advance, as well as the quality, as you are playing many of the best bowlers in the world.

THE EVENTS

Scottish International Open - Perth Scotland Nov 8-15, 2008

International Open - Sheffield England Nov. 23-30 , 2008

Welsh International Open - location tba Jan 31-Feb.6, 2009

World Indoor Singles - Potter's Resort, England Jan.2009

World Indoor Pairs - Potter's Resort, England Jan. 2009

Enter them all and earn a trip to the UK.

James Covell and Martin Haalstra are the current Eastern glue that is allowing Canadian bowlers this opportunity. Results and further information to follow.

PAIRS
Preliminary Round
Steve Bezanson (NS) /Colin McLuckie 4-6, 8-7, 2-0
Mike Bester / Shirley Ko

Peter Wong/ Susan Karlins 7-6, 5-5
James MacGowan/ Greg Wilson

Round 1
Steve Bezanson/ Colin McLuckie 9-2, 8-6
Kevin Jones/ Scott Wiley (QUE)

Remi Canuel/ Mike Spadafora 5-4, 3-6, 2-0
Mark Sandford, Jeff Harding

Darryl Fitzgerald/ Brian Broome 9-0, 7-2
Laila Hassan, Pauline Hill

John Bezear, Martin Haalstra 6-2, 9-4
Peter Wong, Susan Karlins

SEMI-FINALS
Remi Canuel/ Mike Spadafora 7-4, 5-5
Steve Bezanson/ Colin McLuckie

Darryl Fitzgerald/ Brian Broome
John Bezear/ Martin Haalstra 9-2, 7-2

FINAL
REMI CANUEL / MIKE SPADAFORA 7-1, 7-1
John Bezear/ Martin Haalstra

SINGLES
INTERNATIONAL OPEN
Preliminary Round

Remi Canuel
Shirley Ko 8-2, 6-2

Susan Karlins
Kevin Jones 8-3, 7-3

Peter Wong 7-7, 6-4
Darryl Fitzgerald

Greg Wilson 4-9, 8-3, 2-0
Steve Bezanson

Scott Wiley 9-5, 0-9, 2-1
Mike Spadafora

Round 1
Shirley Ko 9-6, 3-8, 2-1
John Bezear

Martin Haalstra
Kevin Jones 10-6, 7-4

Laila Hassan 6-5, 7-3
Jeff Harding

Mike Bester 6-4, 9-1
Peter Wong

Greg Wilson
James MacGowan 2-8, 8-2, 2-1

Brian Broome 8-2, 4-7, 2-1
Colin McLuckie

Pauline Hill 7-6, 2-10, 2-0
Mark Sandford

James Covell
Scott Wiley 6-8, 6-2, 2-0

Round 2
Shirley Ko
Kevin Jones 0-9, 7-2, 2-0

Laila Hassan
Mike Bester 8-3, 5-4

James MacGowan 11-2, 8-1
Brian Broome

Pauline Hill
Scott Wiley 6-8, 6-2, 2-0

Semi-Finals
Kevin Jones
Mike Bester 6-2, 5-2

James MacGowan 5-4, 14-4
Scott Wiley

Final
MIKE BESTER 7-3, 6-2
James MacGowan

SCOTTISH OPEN
Preliminary Round

Susan Karlins 4-7, 9-2, 2-0
Pauline Hill

James Covell
Greg Wilson 8-5, 5-5

Mike Bester
James MacGowan 6-1, 5-9, 2-1

Round 1
Susan Karlins
John Bezear 7-2, 7-1

Peter Wong 10-1, 6-4
Remi Canuel

Mark Sandford 9-0, 3-6, 2-1
Scott Wiley

Brian Broome
Greg Wilson 5-6, 7-4, 2-0

James MacGowan
Kevin Jones 8-1, 6-1

Martin Haalstra 0-8, 10-2, 2-1
Steve Bezanson

Mike Spadafora
Darryl Fitzgerald 3-5, 7-5, 2-1

Colin McLuckie 9-2, 9-2
Jeff Harding

Round 2
John Bezear
Peter Wong 8-3, 6-8, 2-0

Mark Sandford 6-5, 5-4
Greg Wilson

Kevin Jones
Martin Haalstra 3-5, 7-1, 2-1

Darryk Fitzgerald
Colin McLuckie 1-8, 8-2, 2-0

Semi-finals
Peter Wong
Mark Sandford 6-2, 8-3

Martin Haalstra 6-4, 6-5
Colin McLuckie

Finals
Mark Sandford
Martin Haalstra 7-5, 6-3

WELSH OPEN
Preliminary Round

Greg Wilson
Kevin Jones 2-7, 8-0, 2-1

Susan Karlins
Laila Hassan 8-4, 10-7

Martin Haalstra 7-6, 4-3
Pauline Hill

James MacGowan 10-0, 8-7
Jeff Harding

James Covell 10-3, 7-2
Colin McLuckie

Round 1
Kevin Jones 7-2, 8-4

Darryl Fitzgerald

Mike Bester 9-4, 91

Laila Hassan

Mike Spadafora

Mark Sandford 9-5, 6-2

Brian Broome

Martin Haalstra 7-2, 7-5

James MacGowan

Steve Bezanson 9-6, 7-5

John Bezear 4-3, 7-2

Shirley Ko

Peter Wong

Scott Wiley 6-8, 8-4, 2-1

Remi Canuel

James Covell 8-2, 4-4

Round 2

Kevin Jones

Mike Bester 5-6, 9-2, 2-1

Mark Sandford 3-8, 7-3, 2-0

Martin Haalstra

Steve Bezanson

John Bezear 5-4, 6-2

Scott Wiley

James Covell 8-3, 6-2

Semi-finals

Mike Bester 6-2, 7-3

Mark Sandford

John Bezear 5-3, 11-1

James Covell

Final

Mike Bester

John Bezear 5-4, 5-5

WORLD INDOOR SINGLES
Preliminary Round
Mark Sandford 3-6, 6-1, 2-1
Brian Broome

Steve Bezanson 8-1, 6-6
Susan Karlins

Scott Wiley
Greg Wilson 6-8, 10-1, 2-0

Remi Canuel 7-6, 3-8, 2-1
John Bezear

Darryl Fitzgerald 6-6, 7-7, 2-1
Shirley Ko

Round 1

Mark Sandford

Colin McLuckie 9-6, 1-10, 2-1

Peter Wong 10-6, 9-3

Steve Bezanson

Kevin Jones 7-5, 5-6, 2-1

James MacGowan

Mike Bester 1-13, 8-5, 2-1

Greg Wilson

Remi Canuel

James Covell 7-2, 7-5

Pauline Hill

Laila Hassan 6-5, 10-5

Martin Haalstra

Jeff Harding 7-5, 8-1

Mike Spadafora 7-2, 8-3

Darryl Fitzgerald

Round 2

Colin McLuckie

Peter Wong 2-9, 9-1, 2-0

Kevin Jones 5-5, 8-4

Mike Bester

James Covell 10-0, 7-3

Laila Hassan

Jeff Harding 6-5, 4-11, 2-1

Mike Spadafora

Semi-finals

Peter Wong

Kevin Jones 6-5, 5-5

James Covell

Jeff Harding 7-7, 8-2

Final

Kevin Jones

Jeff Harding 5-3, 8-7

OLBA 2008 MIXED PAIRS DISTRICT WINNERS

To Uxbridge LBC, August 9,10

D1 Tom Roth and Laurie Roth

D2 Jim Roth and Sue Roth (2)

D3 Muriel LaPlante and Neville Williams

D4 Pete McFalls and Gloria McFalls (4)

D5 George Wilson and Diane March
[ 2007 Ontario Gold, Canadian Silver ]

D6 Hugh Bertram and Kathie Smith
Hugh and Kathie beat Bill Falconer and his daughter Sherry Riddick on the last shot of the game. Another nailbiter. [ Chone Chatterton ]

D7 Bev Houston and Les Houston

D8 Sean Schuknecht and Christine Schuknecht

D9 Anna Carr and Eldon McFadyen (16)
District 9 had a great playoff. A perfect draw with 4 groups of 4.
A record for D9. One group had a three way tie for first and another had a three way tie for second. Thank goodness the tie breakers were so well defined making it easy to determine who played who and who had the bye. Port Credit were great hosts. [ Heather Comba ]
* Change from original winners Frank Dinardo and Mary Meldrum due to contravening OLBA rule 5g. Replacement governed by OLBA rule 7(c). Since the Runner-up skip is unable to participate due to health reasons a substitute is allowed- rule 7(a). The substitute, Eldon McFadyen, must lead- rule 7(b).

D10 Joe Green and Chrystal Shephard (14)
Joe and Chrystal bested a field of 14 teams going 6-0 over two days defeating Eric Brands & Lidia Krawtschenko in the final. Eric & Lidia led much of the way but a 7 end proved their undoing, losing 19 - 13. The cream rose to the top again as Joe & Chrystal have now won the District 10 Mixed Pairs 5 or 6 times, going on to win 3 Provincial Gold, 1 Bronze and a Silver medal at the Canadians.[Bob Bates ]

D11 Vince Donohoe and Jackie Hogan

D12 John Whyte and Gloria Cheung

D13 Frank Zazzara and Jean McCron ( 17 )

D14 Jim Butler and Linda Butler (9)

D15 Mike Rehner and Norma Kearns

D16 Dave Jefferies and Sandra Jefferies
[ 2007 Ontario Silver, Canadian Bronze ]

Seniors Qualify For 2008 Provincials

WOMEN

D1 Verna Roth, Jean Grey, Barb Bellemore

D2 Freda Gersok, Julie Foley, Cathy Townsend
Townsend Ontario gold in 2004

D3 Shirley Hague, Marg Ross, Lois Hunningford
Ross skipped 2005 Ontario gold team

D4 Marj Kells, Myrna Wilkinson, Mickey Dean * (D5 RU)

D5 Shirley Vidler, Julia Farrell, Joyce Anderson

D6 Lynne Coull, Beverly Jamieson, Chone Chatterton

D7 Hazel Reid, Ellen Edwards, Shirley Filsinger

D8 Gerry Belair, Glenda Ellig, Winnie Allen

D9 Lorna Hollran, Monica Rooke, Kay Kynoch

Had to defeat the Sheila Lumley team 3 times to claim the District title.

D10 Jo Waites, Barb Kelly, Glenna Boston

D11 Jeanne Christie, Helen Wright, Joyce Kruss
Christie and Wright Ontario Gold in 2007

D12 Helen Culley, Emma Varga, Isabelle Humphries

D13 Shirley Lenarduzzi, Elaine Stevenson, Deb Hare

D14 Anna Panton, Maureen Guppy, Mary Mininch
Heavy going with the day two rain on the Whitby greens {MW}
Panton Ontario silver in 2005

D15 Norma Kearns, Phyllis Peters, Helen Warner

D16 Joelle Massey, Joan Fedorchuk , Sandra Jefferies

MEN

D1 Don Thornton, Frank Duransky, Fausto Angelini

D2 Chuck Townsend, Doug Hoskin, Bill Baxter
Ontario Silver medal in 2007. Townsend & Baxter Canadian Champs in 2005.

D3 Silverio Papais, Gord Gilbert, Bob Forbes

D4 Peter McFalls, Colin McLuckie, Bruce Marshall

Ontario and Canadian Silver in 2006

D5 Lock Morgan, Frank Pring, Bob Saunders

D6 Hugh Branston, Bill Falconer, John Bush
Canadian Champs in 2006

D7 Joe Murphy, Don Fitzgerald, Peter Bauman

D8 Ross Walters, Leander Meyers, Len Meyers

D9 Eldon McFadyen, Frank Schneider, Alex Graham

D10 Larry Wales, Ken Uyesugi, Eric Brands
The Wales team knocked out the defending ONTARIO and CANADIAN Champions ( Joe Green, Al Ferguson, Bill Stevenson) .{ BB }

D11 Harold Danby, Greg Steele, Bob Christie

D12 Aldo Milani, Rick Matthews, Bob Crawley

D13 Keith Johnson, Jim Lupton, George Kimber

D14 Wayne Wallwork, Jim Butler, Gord Terwilleger
Three down in the last end, Jim Butler's trail of the jack to near the ditch proved the potion for more Wallwork team magic. The count ended up 4 making the final score 12-11 and ensuring the trip to Burlington. {MW}
Butler and Terwilleger Ontario GOLD in 2004

D15 John Sager, Charlie Peters, Don Adams

D16 David Jefferies, Elmer Janzen, Gerry LaPorte

SINGLE GOLD AND SILVER NUGGETS ARE FOUND- 2008

Finally stayed home for a day and will expand on the play at Heritage on the weekend past.
But I must tell you about the neat ballpark at the home of the Lansing Lugnuts. It was a minature Toledo Mudhens AAA field, built below street level with all the trappings of the bigs except for size. This team, their rally cry is Go Nuts, is a Class A Toronto Blue Jay farm team.
It fit for my son Robb and I because we are baseball nuts. We did 7 games in 7 days in Florida in March. Back to bowls.

Suffice to say at this time that there was dominance and squeakers, something old and something new. Finally for one and almost for another, surprises to consider and bad fortune out of the blue.
Ontario are now ready to board the team ship and set sail for Nova Scotia. It's a good crew, full of vim and vigour. Raise the canvas, set the course and let's see where this new journey will take us.

GOLD MEDAL GAMES

It was a downhill run for Kevin Jones to win the gold. The highest count against him was 10 in his four games and once he got rolling it was quick and decisive. Everything pointed to a dandy battle between Jones and Mervyn Horn in the Championship game Sunday but the opposition was immaterial to Kevin as he raced to a 9-1 lead, watched Horn work his way back to 11-8 then closed the door with a final run straight to 21. Besides a hot opponent, Mervyn also was affected by a medical condition that eventually led him to withdraw from further play.

Helen Wright had to be nudged to enter the Districts and look at her now. A gold crown as bright as Helen's smile after she surprised herself but not her supporters. As mentioned earlier, her 2nd round 8-19 comeback to defeat Katherine Smith 21-20 was the defining moment followed by consistent play to claim her title. Susan Karlins was the talk of Saturday with a strong effort including wins over two former Ontario Singles reps to the Canadians in Elaine Stevenson and number one pick Shirley Ko. But day two is anew and the red bowls were Wright spoiling Karlins effort to make a spectacular return to the Ontario competitive bowls scene.

This is Susan's first year of Provincial eligibility after returning to Ontario last year ( after January 1st ). She spent 7 years of that abscence working in Houston, Texas. Sandy remembered that when we played in the Provincial Mix Pairs in Simcoe in 1994, Susan played with Les Abro out of Willowdale. I marvel at people who can tell you the opponents, the score, the important shots of every game they have played. I can't remember who I played last month. I think I am undefeated in the last 15 years - except for July of this year.

Women - D7 SUSAN KARLINS 11 vs D11 HELEN WRIGHT 21

Men - D2 KEVIN JONES 21 vs D12 MERVYN HORN 8

Silver Medal Games

D14 ANNA PANTON 21 vs D9 KELLY MCKERIHEN 20

D10 BOB BATES 21 vs ROB RIENZO 6

Anna Panton's strength is her weight adjustment. It invariably keeps her near the jack and if her opponent doesn't match this consistency, it is game,set,medal. Kelly McKerihen was ready and able. Just off a 21-20 win over Susan Karlins, the battle for silver sparkled. The trend was set early. Anna would take the lead and Kelly would battle back. Anna up 12-7 , laying shot and Kelly takes out the shot bowl to lie three. Two close measures go to Anna as she moves toward the victory, 20-12. McKerihen the young won't concede as she wants to win it for her nana Jackie who has watched every bowl in the long day. The trend continues 14-20, 17-20 and another 3 with a superb last bowl takeout of the shot bowl. Tied at 20, both playing well, a fitting ending. Anna is 10 feet past the jack with her 1st bowl and then adjusts to draw the eventual winner 6 " behind and to the right. Kelly just missed the jack on her second as she put 3 in a row a yard behind. The 4th was wide. Two winners in this game but one called Anna is going to Halifax.

Twenty years of bowls and Bob Bates can remove the 'close' label and replace it with a Canadian National appearance. He simply goes quietly and competently about his business. No fanfare, no fuss just bowls that draw their way to the jack doing the talking and it was loud and clear that he is a worthy medalist. Oh, he had his moments. Leading Mike Bester 19-11 in the 1st round, he suddenly found himself down 19-20, a trick that Mike is known to do. But Bob escaped his closest game of the weekend by taking the jack to the ditch for two and the win. Relegated to the 'B' side by a lost to Merv Horn, Bob won a close match over Alan Steffen 21-17, then waltzed to the medal in his final two games.

Women Round 5 'B' Semi-Finals

D12 Gloria Cheung 10

D14 Anna Panton 21

D9 Kelly McKerihen 21

D7 Susan Karlins 20

Men Round 5 'B' Semi-Finals

D10 Bob Bates 21

D5 Dave Burrows 9

D12 Mervyn Horn ( Withdrew - Medical )

D16 Rob Rienzo

Women Round 4 'B'

D12 Gloria Cheung 21

D15 Pauline Hill 16

D14 Anna Panton 21

D6 Katherine Smith 6

D10 Shirley Ko 17

D9 Kelly McKerihen 21

Men Round 4 'B'

D10 Bob Bates 21

D14 Alan Steffen 17

D5 Dave Burrows 21

D9 Eldon McFadyen 14

D16 Rob Rienzo 21

D6 Herb Nesbitt 12

Round 3 'A' Semi-Finals

D10 Shirley Ko 10
D7 Susan Karlins 21

D15 Pauline Hill 14
D11 Helen Wright 21
'Where have you been Norma Jean.' Susan Karlins is on site and on target.
Helen Wright seems to always be in the chase for a medal no matter the event.
Round 3 'B'

D12 Gloria Cheung 21
D13 Elaine Stevenson 17

D14 Anna Panton 21
D5 Julia Farrell 15

D6 Katherine Smith 21
D8 Helen Kelley 5

D9 Kelly McKerihen 21
D1 Erin Roth 16
Gloria and Anna winding their way back to the top the long way. Kelly McKerihen wins the battle of the 20's (years). Katherine Smith has not been on my radar but she is blipping good.
Round 2 'A'

D10 Shirley Ko 21
D14 Anna Panton 8

D13 Elaine Stevenson 15
D7 Susan Karlins 21

D1 Erin Roth 7
D15 Pauline Hill 21

D6 Katherine Smith 20
D11 Helen Wright 21

Round 2- Shirley Ko won the Provincial Singles title in 2005, Anna Panton in 2006. Is an alternating pattern being established? Susan Karlins returns and wins. Pauline Hill a decisive win against the current Ontario Under 25 champion, Erin Roth.

It's never over til it's over, Yankee Yogi Berra would say. This is especially true in the game of Singles. Katherine Smith led Helen Wright 19-8 in their 2nd round match. Helen now plays for gold after completing her comeback with a 21-20 victory.
Round 2 'B'

D12 Gloria Cheung 21
D16 Leone Braby 16

D2 Freda Gersok 4
D5 Julia Farrell 21

D8 Helen Kelley 21
D3 Tilly Mannen 16

D9 Kelly McKerihen 21
D4 Kay Johns 13

Men

Round 3 'A' Semi-Finals

D2 Kevin Jones 21

D6 Herb Nesbitt 10

D12 Mervyn Horn 21

D10 Bob Bates 15

A final of former champions. Both methodical in their game, experienced competitors and a match you will want to settle down and watch.

Round 3 'B'

D15 Steven Miller 12

D14 Alan Steffen 21

D7 Steve Brancier 11

D5 Dave Burrows 21

D4 Juergen Fessler 16

D9 Eldon McFadyen 21

D8 Mike Bester 18

D16 Rob Rienzo 21

Alan Steffen has one goal in mind and he has been hot of late. Dave Burrows never stops smiling as he kindly sends you to the sidelines.
Don't you smile yourself when you see Eldon and Rob keep on keeping on. Both will be modest in their success but determined to maintain the run.
Round 2 'A'

D2 Kevin Jones 21
D5 Dave Burrows 9

D6 Herb Nesbitt 21
D14 Alan Steffen 12

D16 Rob Rienzo 12
D12 Mervyn Horn 21

D9 Eldon McFadyen 12
D10 Bob Bates 21

Men 'B'
Round 2
D13 Raj Rajalingam 19
D15 Steve Miller 21

D7 Steve Brancier 21
D1 Martin Henly 9

D3 Paul Davidson 10
D4 Juergen Fessler 21

D11 Vince Donohoe 4
D8 Mike Bester 21

Kevin Jones continuing his strong play after winning Player of the Week at WOBA. Herb Nesbitt and Mervyn Horn were rated near the front but Bob Bates is a surprise, not.
Fessler and Bester shifted gears as expected with Brancier keeping the local fans happy.

Round 1
D12 Gloria Cheung 13
D10 Shirley Ko 21

D14 Anna Panton 21
D16 Leone Braby 16

D13 Elaine Stevenson 21
D2 Freda Gersok 15

D5 Julia Farrell 8
D7 Susan Karlins 21

D1 Erin Roth 21
D8 Helen Kelley 6

D3 Tilly Mannen 5
D15 Pauline Hill 21

D6 Katherine Smith 21
D9 Kelly McKerihen 18

D11 Helen Wright 21
D4 Kay Johns 5

Gloria Cheung and Shirley Ko is one to keep an eye on. Two of the top picks facing each other in the first round. I am a supporter of seeding and I believe it can be accomplished fairly. [ That's a bold statement. It is the exact reason why the open draw is used - that it cannot be done fairly.]
After Round 1: The biggest surprise had to be National Team member Kelly McKerihen losing to Katherine Smith 18-21.
Top seed Shirley Ko held her position with a solid win over Gloria Cheung. But no time for relaxing as Shirley gets another highly ranked player in Anna Panton.
Men

D13 Raj Rajalingam 6
D2 Kevin Jones 21

D5 Dave Burrows 21
D15 Steven Miller 16

D6 Herb Nesbitt 21
D7 Steve Brancier 5

D1 Martin Henly 8
D14 Alan Steffen 21

D3 Paul Davidson 19
D16 Rob Rienzo 21

D4 Jurgen Fessler 8
D12 Mervyn Horn 21

D9 Eldon McFadyen 21
D11 Vince Donohoe 12

D10 Bob Bates 21
D8 Mike Bester 20

After Round 1 -Not surprises per se but might not have been expected. Bob Bates edged Mike Bester 21-20. I saw Bob sneak up on a lot of players in the Provincial Singles in Kingston in 2005. And Rob Rienzo was schooled in bowls playing against the likes of Jones, Covell and Townsend in London.

Games on my radar. Herb Nesbitt and Steve Brancier in Steve's home District. Steve was lights out in his final game District win over James MacGowan. Herb an experienced successful Provincial competitor.

Mervyn Horn is a past winner and an accomplished singles player. Jurgen literally travels the world to play quality bowls - Australia, the U.K., USA.

Looking at the lower rated players. Martin Henly plays with a bowling arm and is consistent and accurate.
Eldon McFadyen has played for 30 years and believe me he has tucked away plenty of skill over time.
Watched Bob Bates do very well in past Provincial Singles.
Vince Donohoe is back playing and practicing after a long lay-off. The brother of the late BCB President and champion bowler Laura Dewald, Vince is fulfilling a promise to Laura to return to the game she loved.
Raj Rajalingam is moving from cricket to bowls. His athleticism comes in this package.
Steven Miller is my personal mystery man but my pipeline tells me I will know him much better after the weekend.
Rob Rienzo played out of London Fairmont when working in the city. He knocked off some big names at that time. He is dedicated to being a complete player.

Provincial Draw Completion

What if
the draw was completed on Friday night.

It is better administratively. [ Paperwork completed the night before.]
It is more efficient for organizing the preliminary activities on the morning of Day One.
It is spectator friendly. [ Creating interest sustains the game ]
[X]Play can start on time on day one. [ A morning delay of a late draw team arriving only affects one rink ].

Teams ( one team member ) can make their own draw if present between the reception hours.
If the team hasn't checked in or chooses not to report until the morning, the OLBA convener or rep will make a public drawing at the conclusion of the registration/reception.

Am I missing something?
[X] Scratch that one. Only would be true if all teams would have to wait to draw at same time.

I have attended many meetings in my lifetime and have discovered that I often have my clearest thoughts on the way home. That, of course, includes mulling over counter opinions to what I had suggested. So if you have an opinion, wade in. I don't have sole ownership to the right answers.
A blog is defined as a personal diary. My rules. You have to run it by the communication commissioner before publication.No personal attacks. Keep the language appropriate for all people. Constructive correcting, suggesting is positive. Change is good if it benefits the cause.
There are a group of wonderful people walking up and down the greens of North America.
Wise, considerate, thoughtful, creative are your descriptives. Most of you don't speak out although you have something to say. I am presumptuous enough to believe I have information to offer that others may want to hear. But you can dismiss or delete and I don't know but I keep merrily typing away. That makes us both happy. That is good.


BobB