Sixteen teams from across Ontario gathered at the Cobourg Lawn Bowling Club this weekend for the Ontario Ladies Novice Championship, bringing some of the province’s newest lawn bowlers together for two days of competition.
The championship is open to bowlers with five years of experience or less.
According to Cobourg Lawn Bowling Club President Bill Arthur, the 16 teams were divided into four groups of four for round-robin play Saturday. Each team played three games, with the top two teams from each group advancing to Sunday’s elimination rounds.
Among the local competitors were Cobourg bowlers Sheri Perkins and Lynn Bryans, who put together a strong run through the championship.
Perkins and Bryans advanced to the semifinals before being defeated by a team from Port Credit. The Cobourg pair then competed for the bronze medal.
Arthur said the weekend provided plenty of competitive bowling, but also a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere for the novice players.
The bowlers even got to enjoy some of the sounds coming from next door, with Northumberland Ribfest taking place in Victoria Park alongside the lawn bowling club.
Arthur said lawn bowling may look simple to the casual observer, but the sport demands an incredible degree of accuracy and control.
“It’s a question of inches, millimetres — such precision,” Arthur said.
For the Cobourg Lawn Bowling Club, hosting the provincial championship also provided an opportunity to showcase the sport and welcome competitors from communities across Ontario to Cobourg.
Author: Pete Fisher
Has been a photojournalist for over 30-years and have been honoured to win numerous awards for photography and writing over the years. Best selling author for the book Highway of Heroes - True Patriot Love
