Pat Cutt
Contributor
Opening Day at the Courtenay Lawn Bowling Club had a great turnout to march around the green with the piper, sing O Canada with the flag raising, and then 16 newcomers joined 28 regulars for a great game of Fours on a truly great surface.
Comox mayor Ives and Cumberland mayor Baird threw the opening bowls as Courtenay mayor Jangula was a bit late. A good time was had by all.
The three days of coaching for newcomers had a great turnout with 21 new people coming to learn the game. Fifteen players were out on Sunday. We keep hoping for some warmer weather to bring out more members.
There will be practice games through the month of May on Tuesday and Friday evenings and then in June the regular leagues start. Coaching is available for newcomers throughout the season; leave a message on the clubhouse phone at 250 338-8222.
On the Open tournament scene, three Courtenay teams participated in the Derek Shandley Triples in Nanaimo, the first Open tournament of the season. Vern Greenhill with Rick Quibell and Mary Mullins took first place with second going to Nanaimo’s Tom Renton team and third to Parksville’s Mick Banks.
Irene and Bill Whitehouse with Pete Harding had high hopes as they won their first three games handily but lost their last game. Chad Kelly, Pat Cutt and Melie Ursulom also participated.
May 12-13 is Fours in Qualicum and Vern Greenhill will take a team. Peter Harding, Dan and Gaynor Bereza and Pat Norrad will also be in attendance. The following weekend (May 19-20) is the big one for Courtenay, the Anderton Nursery Triples. The slate is full, 32 teams of three, so 96 will fill the green for some exciting games.
– Courtenay Lawn Bowling Club