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OLBA’s 2020 Championship Season dates announced

OLBA is pleased to announce modifications to the 2020 championships and competitions. The modifications are the result of a 2-day workshop that involved OLBA’s Championship Committee: Steve Schuknecht, Cindy Higgins, Dave Anderson, Darryl Fitzgerald, Al Steffen as well as two other participants: Erin Chambers and Cathy Larking. Also participating, were OLBA Board members: Phillip Francis and John Fantin.

NB.  this is an abbreviated version of the report.  For more context you may review the full report online.

 

NOVICE CHAMPIONSHIPS

Novice Singles:

Date and Venue

District: Aug 29 - 30

Provincial: Sept 19 - 20 Venue tbd

Format

Continue with club to district to provincial playdown format. To further increase participation and opportunities for development, every 3 entries at the club level will result in 1 additional entry at the district level.

1-3 entries at the club level = 1 entry at districts

4-6 entries at the club level = 2 entries at districts

7-9 entries at the club level = 3 entries at districts etc...

Conditions of Play

To further enhance player development at the club level, athletes will only compete to 16 shots, and at the district and provincial level, athletes will compete to 18 shots.

Eligibility

A novice is considered someone with 5 years or less of lawn bowls experience. Novices must be at least 12 years of age in order to compete at a provincial playdown.

If you have previously represented Ontario at a national championship, you are not eligible for any Novice playdown (exception of Youth). Youth who win the Canadian Youth Championships (U18 or U25) are ineligible to play in any Novice playdowns.

Winners of the Novice events may return the following year to defend their title, provided they are still eligible.

Cost

$35 at the district level

$35 at the provincial level

Awards

Winners of the District Novice Singles will continue to receive a windbreaker jacket, a pin, and pennant. Provincial winners will continue to receive a provincial jacket, pin, and pennant .

Gold: $250.00

Silver: $150.00

Bronze: $50.00


 


Novice Combo Fours:

Date and Venue

District: Jun 20 - 21

Provincial: Aug 15 - 16 Venue: Woodstock

Format

District playdowns leading to provincial playdowns (no club playdowns necessary).

Teams must be comprised of 2 men and 2 women. For fours, the teams must be staggered (man/woman/man/woman OR woman/man/woman/man).

Teams will compete in fours for one round, and then pairs for another round. For pairs, teams will break down into men’s pairs and women’s pairs. Pairs will play 2-4-2 format ( 4 bowls each). It will be the combined scores from the fours games and both pairs games that will determine the winner.

Conditions of Play

At provincial playdowns, 4 games per day (two games of fours, two games of pairs). Games will be 10 ends. The draw will be pre-drawn, and each player will compete in 8 games (where possible).

Eligibility

A novice is considered someone with 5 years or less of lawn bowls experience. Novices must be at least 12 years of age in order to compete at a provincial playdown.

If you have previously represented Ontario at a national championship, you are not eligible for any Novice playdown (exception of Youth). Youth who win the Canadian Youth Championships (U18 or U25) are ineligible to play in any Novice playdowns.

Winners of the Novice events may return the following year to defend their title, provided they are still eligible.

Cost

$35 at the district level

$35 at the provincial level

Awards

Winners of the Novice Combo Fours will receive a provincial jacket, pin, and pennant.

Gold: $250.00

Silver: $150.00

Bronze: $50.00


OPEN PLAYDOWNSINTERMEDIATE EVENT

Provincial Triples:

Date and Venue

District: Aug 22 - 23

Provincial: Sept 12 - 13 Venue: tbd

Conditions of Play

At provincial playdowns, teams will be split into groups of 4, with sectional play on Day 1, followed by straight knockout on Day 2. Each match will be 16 ends, with a 2.5-hour time limit. It will be 3-bowl triples.

Eligibility

If you are representing Ontario at the Majors (Pairs, Fours, Singles within the last 5 years), you are ineligible for this event -> Provincial triples will be played at the same time as the Canadian Lawn Bowling Championships.

Cost

$40 at the district level

$40 at the provincial level

Awards

Winners of the Provincial Triples will receive a provincial jacket, pin, and pennant.

Gold: $250.00

Silver: $150.00

Bronze: $50.00


Mixed Pairs:

Date and Venue

District: Jul 25 - 26

Provincial: Aug 8 - 9 Venue: Galetta

Conditions of Play

Same as 2019.

Eligibility

As per BCB’s restrictions: if you represent Ontario at any other national championship in the same calendar year, you are ineligible for the Mixed Pairs.

Only one member of the team must belong to a club in the district you are representing.

Cost

$40 at the district level

$40 at the provincial level

Awards

The top two teams of the Provincial Mixed Pairs will be given a provincial jacket, provincial shirts (with restrictions), have their entry fee to the Canadian Championships paid for by OLBA, and will be given a $500 travel subsidy (per person).


Senior Triples:

Date and Venue

District: Aug 11 - 12

Provincial: Aug 25 - 16 Venue: tbd

Format

District playdowns leading to provincial playdowns (no club playdowns necessary).

 

Teams must be comprised of 3 men / 3 women.

Conditions of Play

Same as 2019.

Eligibility

As per BCB’s restrictions: if you represent Ontario at any other national championship in the same calendar year, you are ineligible for the Senior Triples. One member of the team must belong to a club in the district you are representing.

Cost

$40 at the district level

$40 at the provincial level

Awards

The top two teams of the Provincial Senior Triples will be given a provincial jacket, provincial shirts (with restrictions), have their entry fee to the Canadian Championships paid for by OLBA, and will be given a $500 travel subsidy (per person).


OPEN PLAYDOWNS

To further create consistency, the remaining playdowns for OLBA will be open events. This ensures that their primary purpose is met: sending the best athletes from Ontario to win the most medals for the province.

By removing districts, it ensures the best players have the opportunity to compete at provincial playdowns and are not eliminated prior to this stage.

 

Open Fours:

Date and Venue

Provincial: Jun 13 - 15 Venue: Oshawa

Format

Open event: no districts required.

# of games and # of days will depend on # of entries.(Maximum 4 games per day) It is proposed to have playdowns go Saturday to Monday to allow for cheaper hotels, and for those eliminated earlier to not be required to take a day off work (if possible).

Conditions of Play

Same as 2019.

Eligibility

As per BCB’s restrictions.

Cost

$125 per person

Awards

The top two teams of the Open Fours will be given a provincial jacket, provincial shirts (with restrictions), have their entry fee to the Canadian Championships paid for by OLBA, and will be given a $500 travel subsidy (per person).

Entry Deadline

May 1, 2020


Open Pairs:

Date and Venue

Provincial: Jun 27 - 29 Venue: Agincourt and Leaside

Format

Open event: no districts required.

# of games and # of days will depend on # of entries.(Maximum 4 games per day). It is proposed to have playdowns go Saturday to Monday to allow for cheaper hotels, and for those eliminated earlier to not be required to take a day off work (if possible).

Conditions of Play

18 ends; 3 bowl pairs; 2.5-hour time limit.

Eligibility

As per BCB’s restrictions.

Cost

$125 per person

Awards

The top two teams of the Open Pairs will be given a provincial jacket, provincial shirts (with restrictions), have their entry fee to the Canadian Championships paid for by OLBA, and will be given a $500 travel subsidy (per person).

Entry Deadline

May 26, 2020


Open Singles:

Date and Venue

Provincial: Jul 11 - 13 Venue tbd

Format

Open event: no districts required.

# of games and # of days will depend on # of entries.(Maximum 4 games per day). It is proposed to have playdowns go Saturday to Monday to allow for cheaper hotels, and for those eliminated earlier to not be required to take a day off work (if possible).

Conditions of Play

21 shots; 2.5-hour time limit.

Eligibility

As per BCB’s restrictions.

Cost

$125 per person

Awards

The top four competitors of the Open Men and Women’s Singles will be given a provincial jacket, provincial shirts (with restrictions), have their entry fee to the Canadian Championships paid for by OLBA, and will be given a $500 travel subsidy (per person). If OLBA is offered additional entries, the entry fee for the additional entrants may be paid for by OLBA (with OLBA Board approval); the additional entrants will NOT receive the $500 travel subsidy. Additional entrants may receive a provincial jacket and provincial shirts (with OLBA Board approval).

Entry Deadline

June 6, 2020


Indoor Singles:

Date and Venue

Provincial: Sept 26 - 27 Venue: Monora

Format

Open event: no districts required.

Conditions of Play

Same as 2019.

Eligibility

As per BCB’s restrictions.

Cost

$125 per person

Awards

The top two competitors of the Men and Women of the Indoor Singles will be given provincial shirts (with restrictions), have their entry fee to the Canadian Championships paid for by OLBA, and will be given a $500 travel subsidy (per person). If OLBA is offered additional entries, the entry fee for the additional entrants may be paid for by OLBA (with OLBA Board approval); the additional entrants will NOT receive the $500 travel subsidy. Additional entrants may receive a provincial shirt (with OLBA Board approval).


Youth (Under 18)

Date and Venue

Provincial: July 4 - 5

National: Aug 2 - 7 Venue: Peterborough

Format

Open event: no districts required.

Conditions of Play

Same as 2019.

Eligibility

Under 18, as per BCB’s restrictions.

Cost

$40 per person

Awards

The top two players of the Under 18 Playdowns will be given a provincial jacket, provincial shirts (with restrictions), have their entry fee to the Canadian Championships paid for by OLBA, and will be given a $500 travel subsidy (per person) if they go to the Canadian Youth Championships.

If either of the top two players elects NOT to compete in the Canadian Youth Championships, they will not receive the travel subsidy, and the travel subsidy will not be passed down to lower ranking athletes.

 

Youth (Under 25)

At the current time, there are not enough Under 25 athletes to support a provincial playdown process. Therefore, the Under 25 portion of the Youth Championships is by direct entry with BCB. Under 25 athletes will receive no travel subsidy from OLBA and are responsible for covering their own entry fee for the national event. This will be reviewed annually by the OLBA Championship Committee, with the intention of eventually holding a provincial playdown for Under 25 athletes once there are at least eight participants.

Tiebreakers: For all events will follow BCB’s Conditions of Play.

 

 

2019 Indoor Singles Canadian Championships

Oct 21 - 26, 2019

 
 

The 2020 North American Challenge is Coming to Windsor

Ottawa, ON | October 22, 2019

 

Bowls Canada is pleased to announce that the Windsor Lawn Bowling Club in Windsor, Ontario has been selected as the 2020 North American Challenge (NAC) host venue. The event is scheduled to take place from September 15-19 and will feature 10 men and 10 women from Canada competing against 10 men and 10 women from the USA.

 

“We are thrilled to be heading to Windsor for the 2020 North American Challenge”, said Bowls Canada Executive Director Anna Mees. “We were extremely fortunate to have several solid bids for this event, but the mild weather and recent work that Windsor has invested in the club combined with the fantastic support from the local government and tourism association really set this proposal apart from the others.”

 

Ted Merritt is the Tournament Director at the Windsor Lawn Bowling Club and couldn’t be happier that the event is coming to his home club. “The Windsor Lawn Bowling Club is pleased and honoured to be selected by Bowls Canada to host this prestigious event next year. With the help of our enthusiastic membership, and the support of our welcoming and generous local community partners, we are confident that the 2020 NAC will be a memorable experience for all involved.” Merrit will be co-chairing the host organizing committee along with the club’s Hospitality Director Dave Austen.

 

The North American Challenge format sees each country splitting their athletes into two teams of 10 (five men and five women per team), named after legendary Canadian bowler, Graham Jarvis, and American international Dick Folkins. Each team then competes in gender-specific events against the opposing country in singles, pairs, triples and fours. Over the course of three days, 48 games will be played with seven trophies up for grabs:

  • Top Men’s Folkins Team
  • Top Women’s Folkins Team
  • Top Men’s Jarvis Team
  • Top Women’s Jarvis Team
  • Top Combined (men & women) Folkins Team
  • Top Combined (men & women) Jarvis Team
  • Top Overall Team

For more information on the North American Challenge please visit:

https://www.bowlscanada.com/en/hp/nac.html

 

Canadians Prepare for the 2019 Champion of Champions

Ottawa, ON | October 25, 2019

 

 Shirley Fitzpatrick-Wong (Winnipeg, Manitoba) and Earl Luk (Richmond, British Columbia) are preparing to go to Adelaide, Australia to compete in the 2019 World Singles Champion of Champions. The annual singles tournament features competitors from over 20 countries and will be played at the Adelaide Bowling Club. The 2019 event is set to begin on October 28th and runs through until November 3rd.

Fitzpatrick-Wong and Luk earned the right to compete in Adelaide when they won the 2018 Canadian Outdoor Singles Championship titles last August in Regina, Saskatchewan.

Luk will be playing in Section 1 of the men’s draw against 13 opponents including Hong Kong/China’s Tony Cheung, Netherland’s Frank de Vries, and New Zealand’s Taylor Horn. Fitzpatrick-Wong will also be competing in Section 1 of her draw against 10 opponents, including Australia’s Kylie Whitehead, England’s Sophie Tolchard, and Hong Kong/China’s Helen Cheung. Round robin play will begin on Monday October 28th and will continue until Friday November 1st. Playoffs begin in the morning of Saturday November 2nd, finishing with the finals on Sunday, November 3rd.

For a full list of competitors and the complete draw please visit:

http://www.worldbowls.com/event/champion-of-champions-2019/

For more information on Adelaide Bowling Club please visit: https://www.adelaidebowlingclub.com.au/

 

For more information, please contact:
Jake Schuknecht, Bowls Development Officer, Bowls Canada Boulingrin
jschuknecht@bowlscanada.com

 
Champion of Champions    
NATIONAL AUTHORITY MEN WOMEN
ARGENTINA   Cristina Konig
AUSTRALIA Lee Schraner Kylie Whitehead
BOTSWANA Regent Reid Boikhutso Mooketsi
CANADA Earl Luk Shirley Fitzpatrick-Wong
ENGLAND Louis Ridout Sophie Tolchard
FIJI Rajnesh Prasad withdrawn 16/9/19
GUERNSEY Todd Priaulx  
HONG KONG CHINA Tony Cheung Helen Cheung
HUNGARY Zoltan Pavelka  
IRELAND Stephen Coleman  
ISLE OF MAN Clive McGreal Janice Pilling
ISRAEL Boaz Marcus  
JAPAN Hirokazu Mori Keiko Kurohara
KENYA withdrawn 27/10/19 withdrawn 27/10/19
MALAYSIA Ahmad Zikry Sazeli Nur Fidrah Nor
NAMIBIA Carel Olivier Diana Viljoen
NETHERLANDS Frank de Vries  
NEW ZEALAND Taylor Horn Debbie White
NORFOLK ISLAND Haydn Evans Shae Wilson
PHILIPPINES   Sonia Bruce
SAMOA Avala Savaiinaea  
SCOTLAND Mark O'Hagan Laura Welsh
SINGAPORE Kwok Fai Law Tammy Tham
SOUTH AFRICA Wayne Rittmuller Esme Kruger
SPAIN Ian Kenyon Mary Dyer
THAILAND Withdrawn 14/10/19 withdrawn 14/10/19
TURKEY Ozkan Akar withdrawn 16/9/19
UNITED STATES Charlie Herbert Sandy Wall
WALES Kevin James Laura Daniels
ZIMBABWE   Bonnita Van Heerden
 

June 6, 2020 announced as date for National Bowls Day 2020

Ottawa, ON | October 1, 2019

 

Bowls Canada Boulingrin is pleased to announce that the official date for next year’s National Bowls Day is June 6, 2020. This will be the 4th annual National Bowls Day and the event continues to grow and gain new clubs each year. Bowls Day is a nation-wide opportunity for clubs to implement new and innovative strategies to raise the local profile of their club and attract new bowlers to their programs.


With clubs around the country putting together new and innovative events to attract new bowlers to try the sport, the event continues to make an impact. Make sure to pencil the date into your club’s calendar for 2020 so we can make National Bowls Day 2020 the best Bowls day yet!


Online registration will open in the New Year. Registered clubs can access free resources and promotional support, as well as a chance to win fantastic prizes.

 

For more information, please contact:
Matt Nafe, Operations & Communications Coordinator, Bowls Canada Boulingrin

mnafe@bowlscanada.com

 

Volunteer Of The Year Award

Every club across the province has volunteers that go above and beyond the call of duty. Most clubs or organizations can't function without these tremendous individuals. If your club has someone within it, who you feel is deserving of the highest recognition that our sport has to offer, please go to our website and complete a nomination and full details and a description of this special person.

 

New Faces Welcomed to Bowls Canada Boulingrin’s Board of Directors

Ottawa, ON | October 1, 2019

 

Bowls Canada Boulingrin is pleased to announce the new Board of Directors for 2019-2020:

    President  

Ian Howard

Vice President  

Kathryn MacGregor (re-elected for a two-year term)

Treasurer  

Steve Moors (re-elected for a two-year term)

Secretary  

Lorane Martin (elected for a one year term)

Director  

David Llewellyn

Director  

Jeff Harding (re-elected for a two-year term)

Director  

Anne Mathewson (elected for a two-year term)

Director  

Don Caswell (elected for a two-year term)

Director  

Ivo Van Bastelaere (re-elected for a one-year term)

Director  

Cathy Selzler (elected for a one year term)

 

This skills-based Board features several new faces, as well as several returning ones.

 

Familiar Faces

Lorane Martin will move from Director to Secretary for the 2019-2020 year to replace Jennifer MacDonald. MacDonald served the board since 2016 and recently stepped down to pursue an international work exchange program. “We are very grateful to Jennifer”, said President Ian Howard. “She has been an invaluable board member and while we wish her well on her new adventures, we will miss her innovative enthusiasm and analytical problem solving approach”


Jeff Harding and Ivo van Bastelaere will resume their positions on the Board, having already each served a two-year term. Kathryn MacGregor and Steve Moors each stepped into their respective positions last year mid-way through a two-year term. Both are eager to put their skills and learnings from the last year to work for the next two years.

 

New Board members

Don Caswell has been involved with BCB in numerous roles over the years, from member of the LTAD committee, member and Chair of the National Team Committee, to most recently as the Chair of the High Performance Committee. Don is also currently the treasurer at his local club, the Windsor Lawn Bowling Club. A retired Healthcare Professional with expertise in business and program development, Don has a proven track record as a leader and consensus builder.


Anne Mathewson, current president of the Nutana Lawn Bowling Club, has over 20 years’ experience on numerous different Boards, including founding the Richmond Hill Ladies Recreational Softball League and serving as its president for five years. Specifically within bowls, Anne was the treasurer of the 2015 Canadian Junior and Under 25 Championship Host Organizing Committee, and more recently was the chair of the 2019 Canadian Mixed Pairs Championship Host Organizing Committee. Professionally, Anne has long been recognized as one of Canada’s most experienced and knowledgeable waste management specialists. Anne has been on the front lines of driving change for recycling programs across Canada and is a well-respected negotiator and change catalyst.


Cathy Selzler has numerous years of experience serving on Boards as well, ranging from secretary of the West Point Grey LBC in 2012, to secretary of Bowls Alberta in 2018. Selzler was also the Head Event Umpire at the 2018 Canadian Senior Triples Championships. A gifted athlete, Selzler competed for the University of Calgary in Tennis before finding her groove with bowls. With a reputation for getting things done, Selzler is looking forward to applying her creative skills and solution finding acumen to help implement Bowls Canada’s new strategic plan.


“I am pleased to welcome Don, Anne and Cathy to the Bowls Canada Board of Directors”, said President Ian Howard. “Their skill sets complement the experience of the returning Board members and I am confident that together we will continue to realize our vision of Bringing Canadians Together Through Bowls.”

 

 

Have you heard about the Club Liaison Network?

ON BY CANADABOWLERBLOG

Sometimes we all want to be in the know. It’s not exactly fun having to hear information second hand that would have an effect on you. So why let that happen? BCB has created a Club Liaison Network so we can connect with you easily. What is the purpose and how does it work? The purpose of the network is to connect with every lawn bowls club in Canada to give them information that will be pertinent to them. How it works is simply having every club in Canada designate a member with an email address to join the Club Liaison Network and give the information they receive to the rest of the club.

How else would your club benefit from having a member in the Club Liaison role? Your Club Liaison has a direct line to Bowls Canada. They can ask all the questions that you and your club members have. We want to make sure that we are as connected as possible with bowlers and clubs across the country because the sport is ready to expand in Canada. We want to make sure clubs are ready for Safe Sport, have certified coaches, and find ways to expand their club with innovative programs.

Bowlers across the country have let us know that most of the members at their club don’t really know about some of the products and services that BCB offers. Do all of your members know about the videos we created? Is your club aware that we offer free promotional brochures for every club in Canada? Has your club heard about our Learn to Bowl resources? By designating someone as a Club Liaison, your club can learn about all of this and more.

How is this different from subscribing to the newsletter or following BCB on social media? The major difference is that many of the articles in our newsletter are just that: news. The Club Liaison Network is intended to provide clubs with information that will be necessary for them to not only survive, but thrive, going forward. Have a question about how to get your coaches certified? Don’t fully understand what Safe Sport means? Need some ideas on how to develop a new program? The Club Liaison Network is your opportunity to learn and ask questions from BCB as opposed to just reading up on what’s new This Week in Bowls. Bowls Canada Boulingrin’s vision is bringing Canadians together through bowls and it all starts with you, the clubs. If your club is ready to designate someone as your Club Liaison, send us an email at

office@bowlscanada.com

 

 

Cooperative Advertising

Work with OLBA

Does your club take advantage of the Cooperative Advertising program yet? OLBA offers $ matching up to $500 per club for all advertising that uses the Give it a Try logos and graphic materials.  Check the conditions on our website and get in touch at rimmer@olba.ca 

 

 

Need a weekly fix of bowling news?

Want to stay informed on all the Bowls Canada Boulingrin news.  

Try the Bowls Canada  Newsletter

 

 

Letters to the Editor:

 

Comments and questions are welcome. (ellis@OLBA.ca and mccollam@olba.ca)

 

Disclaimer:The information and articles provided in this email represent the opinions of the articles author and should not be considered as endorsed by or policy of the Ontario Lawn Bowls Association OR it's Directors.

Ontario Lawn Bowling Assoc.

Box 1093
Tilbury, ON ​Canada
N0P 2L0​

John Fantin
fantin@olba.ca
Treasurer

Ron Charles
charles@olba.ca

​Secretary

Steve Schuknecht
schuknecht@olba.ca
​Director at Large

James Rimmer
rimmer@olba.ca
​Director at Large

Charles Roach
roach@olba.ca
​Director at Large

Nan Hendren
hendren@olba.ca
​Director at Large

 

 

Phillip Francis
francis@olba.ca
President

Ralph Ellis
ellis@olba.ca
​Vice President, 

Dave Burrows
burrows@olba.ca
​Director at Large

Bill McCollam
mccollam@olba.ca​
​Director at Large

Jason Currie
currie@olba.ca
​Director at Large

Mary Lou Richards
richards@olba.ca
​Director at Large

 

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