Canada Day
This year we held our Fun & Skills competition on Canada Day - the colours added to the fun. So did the catering - and the trophy!
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It was a beautiful day, and maybe just a little too hot by the end, but there was some seriously good bowling. All the various formats used skills that are needed in "real" bowls, although the game where the jack was bowled last, by one of the skips, did require careful thought...
NEWS
​​​​​​​​​Membership
Another great year of recruitment, with 32 new bowlers signing up as full members after their coaching sessions.
​​Intermediate League
Our brand-new Intermediate League (for Year 2 and 3 bowlers) started on 12 May. Ten teams are in this pairs league, which runs through till September. The team names suggest the sense of fun in this competition - Unbowlievable or Eat your Vegetabowls, anyone? ​​
Washroom Upgrade
Earlier in the year we were able to carry out a major refurbishment of our washrooms. This work was made possible by funding under the Government of Canada’s New Horizons for Seniors Program. This federal grants and contributions program supports projects that are led or inspired by seniors who are making a difference in the lives of others in their communities. We are grateful to the New Horizons for Seniors Program for the funding support, which is already making a significant difference to our bowling community.
Bowls on YouTube
Lawn bowls may struggle to get airtime on TV, but there is a great range of material to watch on YouTube. Videos from Australia are especially common, and one very good series to watch is The Bowls Show. It's noisy, it's colourful, it's everything people don't associate with bowls - and there are some brilliant games to watch. Following the World Indoor Bowls championships in January there is a heap of good bowls to watch (and copy!) on YouTube. There are more hints on watching such videos in the newsletters mentioned below.
VIEWS
Our friend and Richmond member On Kow Lee issues a periodical newsletter about events in the world of bowls. She kindly makes this available to Granville Park members. This year there was reference (January) to the World Indoor championships, while the February edition not only has extended comment on tactics seen in several games, but also refers to events in Australasia. On Kow Lee's enthusiasm is totally infectious, and her wisdom in seeing the wider aspects of the game (psychology and teamwork) is very obvious in the March newsletter. The April edition looks at several games from Australia, while in May there is coverage of the World Indoor Championships. In June we are back to Australia for the World Championships.All these newsletters have links to several YouTube videos.
GPLBC Vice-President Trevor Field has been compiling a bowls blog over the years, aimed primarily at new or intermediate bowlers, with comments and advice on how the game is played.
Happy reading!
COMING UP...
​Club Tournaments
​On BC Day (4 August) we have the annual Quaddie Day for members, with teams of four playing in varied team formats including singles. Apart from several tournaments hosted by the club in July and August, BC Week (Men's section) is on from 14 to 18 July. It's all go just now...
Women's Classic Pairs
The play-offs, scheduled for 8 and 9 July, are being re-scheduled because of weather. Dates are yet to be confirmed.