28 replies to this topic

[G-Man]

^ That sounds amazing! I am with you except lets not build another performance venue until the ones we have are used every night.

[Ms. B. Havin]

While it certainly looks like an old person's sport, there's actually a very active competitve provincial level dimension to lawn bowling, believe it or not. Until ~3 years ago, I wouldn't have believed it, but around that time I met a young person who was (and still is) in his early teens, and who went to Vancouver to play in the provincial championships.

If you find that incredible (I sure did!), see the [url=http://www.bowlsbc.ca/news.cfm:2f7c7]Bowls BC[/url:2f7c7] website, which identifies the events that lead from the provincial championships to -- yikes! -- national championships: there are 13 such events, ranging from Mens or Womens [sic] "Fours," "Pairs," "Singles," "Triples," and then there are Senior Mens & Womens categories (60 and over) as well as Junior Mens & Womens (18 and under), as well as a special Under 25 Singles and and Indoor Singles.

Bet you didn't know that, eh?

And -- this should please the "parks for the blind" advocates -- there're even [url=http://www.bowlsbc.ca/thegame.cfm:2f7c7]Lawn Bowling for the Visually Impaired[/url:2f7c7] events at the tournament level...

The tournaments go global, too. It seems the Asia-Pacific Championships were held last January in New Zealand.

Youth have a whole page on the Bowls BC site: [url=http://www.bowlsbc.ca/juniors.cfm:2f7c7]Juniors[/url:2f7c7].

One last thing about youth participation:

2006 CANADIAN INDOOR SINGLES CHAMPIONSHIPS

Sunday, December 10th - Pacific Indoor Bowls Club, Vancouver

After 4 days of intense bowling, two gold medallists finally emerged. Though they deserved to win gold, there were so many other games that were of championship calibre that only those who played and watched over the 4 days will remember and marvel at.

FINAL RESULTS:

Men
Gold: Hiren Bhartu
Silver: Francis Yau
Bronze: Tim Mason
4th: Ryan Stadnyk

Women
Gold: Laura Botehlo
Silver: Stephanie McGuire
Bronze: Diane Fulton
4th: Josephine Lee

Youth has been served in this tournament. Tim, Ryan, Laura and Stephanie - you are the present and future of our sport and because of you, lawnbowling is alive and well by all accounts.

It seems that Bronze & 4th place was taken by youth in the Men's category, and in the Women's, youth took Gold and Silver.

All they need to figure out now is how to make lawn bowling look sexy -- think of the "tennis dress" that made the game more interesting to watch -- and how to snag sponsorships and get on TV, and hey, it's a deal! (Currently, their sponsors are [url=http://www.bowlsbc.ca/sponsors.cfm:2f7c7]a bit on the not-exactly-a-household-word side[/url:2f7c7]... )

[aastra]

Everything comes back in style eventually.

I'm not saying it should be left forever, but I think now is the worst time to evaluate its value, just as the immediate area is changing and modernizing. If we rush to call it obsolete and worthless and out-of-style, we might just make the same mistake as did the generations who ruined the old post office building or covered up/demolished countless other historic buildings.

I'd prefer to check back again in twenty years. If there's still no demand to use it and if there's still no wider appreciation for it's uniqueness, then I suppose I wouldn't object to building on it.

[aastra]

I really like this image. I bet many Canadians would look at this picture and assume it's another country.

[Lorne Carnes]

The notion of a natural green spot downtown where mature people dressed in white politely toss bowls around has to be the ultimate in performance art. This is a unique attraction that the City should be actively promoting.

I've been threatening to join up for years... now I'm motivated.

[G-Man]

Thanks Lorne,

Just so you know there is quite an active thread on this topic right here:

http://www.vibrantvi...read.php?t=2354

[VicHockeyFan]

A couple open houses coming this spring.

 

https://www.facebook...86963328003752/

[VicHockeyFan]

Two 'Try Bowls and Croquet' Opportunities for 2017

 

1. Sat April 29 9am -12:30, drop in anytime

 

2. 'Bowls Day in Canada': June 3 9am-12:30, drop in anytime

   - an opportunity to roll some bowls, try croquet and sign up for 5 free lessons with our trained coaches

   - bring flat soled shoes or bowl barefoot

 

   -  affordable summer and winter activities including croquet, bocce, and social events

[VicHockeyFan]

Here is more details on the Saturday, April 29th event:

 

https://www.facebook...94688040560982/

 

Roll on down to the Canadian Pacific Lawn Bowling Club in downtown Victoria's Cridge Park for a free opportunity to try 3 of the Canada 150+ Participaction Sports: Lawn Bowling (Bowls), Croquet, and Bocce.

Everyone welcome. Drop in anytime between 9:30 am and noon. Refreshments provided. Sign up for free lessons on a later date with our trained coaches. 

It's a great way to be active and enjoy fresh air at one of Victoria's downtown parks! It's how we roll! 

Come join us! Bring flat soled shoes or go bare foot on the green! While little ones are welcome, trying the sports will be most suitable for those ages 10+. 

Our club volunteers are looking forward to seeing you!

 

#trybowlsCP2017 #trycroquetCP2017 #trybocceCP2017#openhouseCP2017 #BowlsBC www.downtownbowling.ca