This year’s Jack and Jill Tournament was a mid-week affair which saw two complete flights taking part. Our club also had a number of novices and intermediate players which was great to see as well.
The overall winners of the event this year were Aase McMullin and Bob Merrell. They will get their names inscribed on the trophy for 2025. Robbie Thomas and Bill Burgess came in second. Chris Fereday and David Perry earned third. Rounding out fourth place was Betty Nordick and Peter Scott.
As always, there are so many people to thank for making this event so successful. The kitchen and bar crew kept us fed and watered. Thanks to those who sold tickets for the draws. The grounds keepers and set up crews were awesome in getting the greens ready for this event. Once again, our games committee kept on top of things with their knowledge of computer skills, especially data entry. Thanks to Don U. for his expertise in that area. Once again, our cub reporter, Chuck Benson, came through with some great photos of the event. Last but not least, a very big thank you to all who came out to watch and to those who participated. It was wonderful seeing you all at our club. Final mention should be made to some of the shirts that were worn out there over the two days. So much variety and colour just added to the event. Well done, Parksville.
Carol Bucyk
The winners of the 2025 Jack and Jill Tournament: Aase McMullin and Bob Merrell.
Robbie Thomas and Bill Burgess. Second place.Chris Fereday and David Perry – Third place.
Scorching temperatures and incredibly fast greens were the order of the day in Nanaimo for this past weekend’s tournament. This very popular mixed pairs event drew players from up and down the zone. As stated, the speed of the green for this tournament as incredible and made for some challenging shot making.
In the end, it was our own Merry Danarti and Rick Dolley who took the honours for the event. They went a perfect 4-0 , with 38 ends and a 38 shot differential. Their names will be on the trophy for 2025. Nanaimo’s Vern Hagstrom and Linda Cooper came second, also with a 4-0 record but with 36 ends and a 33 shot differential. Our own Chris and Martin Fereday took third place with 10 points, 33 ends and a 25 shot differential.
A very big thank you goes out to the sponsor for this event, Martin Velsen, of Martin Velsen Realty Nanaimo, who presented both the trophy and cash prize to Rick and Merry. Martin has been a strong and generous supporter of this event for a number of years now, and each year, he has also brought a number of gift prizes as give-aways to many lucky people playing in this event. Bottles of wine, prosseco, gift cards etc., were just some of the prizes donated by him.
A big thank you also goes out to the kitchen crew, grounds keepers, bar staff, umpires, games committee, the gallery and the players who gave it their all during this event.
Rick Dolley and Merry Danarti, winners of the Martin Velsen Mixed Pairs Tournament 2025 in Nanaimo, with Martin Velsen presenting.
The annual Men’s and Women’s Singles Tournament concluded on Sunday afternoon, August 17th. The tournament began on Tuesday, August 12th but the intense smoke from the Mount Underwood and Wesley Ridge fires put a halt to the matches. On Friday, our air quality was such that games were postponed until conditions became safer for all. Play resumed on Sunday with the semifinals and finals happening and much improved weather conditions.
As for the tournament, it was Brian Bennett prevailing over Rick Dolley to win the title of Club Men’s Singles Champion for 2025. It was a very hard fought game with some great play making involved. On the women’s side, it was Carol Bucyk taking on Anne Holland for the title. It was another hard fought game, with Bucyk reaching the 18 points first and becoming the Club Women’s Singles Champion for 2025.
A very big thank you goes out to everyone involved in this event: the kitchen and bar crew, games committee, markers, grounds crew, umpires, our resident photographer, Chuck, Sandi , who was busy filling in wherever and whenever needed, the gallery who came out to watch on Sunday afternoon, the players and everyone else who made this event so successful.
Carol Bucyk
Rob Matthews presenting the trophy to Carol Bucyk, winner of the Club Women’s Singles Championship 2025.
All the markers for the women’s event, 2025. Thank you!!!
All of the markers for the men’s side of the tournament for 2025. Thank you all!!
Brian Bennett, Winner of the 2025 Men’s Singles Championship with Club President, Rob Matthews.
Parksville and Qualicum Lawn Bowling Clubs met on August 9th for their annual challenge and this time, Parksville came up the winner. The challenge is set up so that each club gets to visit each other’s green that day and play on each other’s greens. This year, Martin Fereday received the trophy on behalf of the club, by Alan Brunskill, president of the Qualicum club.
Carol Bucyk
Martin Fereday receives the plaque from Alan Brunskill for the Parksville- Qualicum Challenge, August 9th, 2025.
The smoke from both the Wesley Ridge and Mount Underwood fires burning close to Port Alberni have affected our tournament play date. We will now have the semifinals on Sunday, August 17th at 10 A.M. and the finals will be at 1 P.M. that same day. By that time, the rain and smoke are supposed to have cleared off a bit, and we should be in a good, healthy position in which to play. In the meantime, everyone stay healthy and indoors if you can. Apparently, this morning, our area (Parksville and environs) had the worst air quality in the WORLD.
It was a busy weekend for lawn bowling August 2nd and 3rd. In Parksville, it was the novices and intermediates taking to the green, while in Courtenay it was the Berwick 2-4-2 Tournament drawing players from around the zone. It was a smokey two days with the Wesley Ridge fire raging and smoke from around Cameron Lake drifting upwards to Courtenay.
On the green, the winners of the event and taking first place was the team of Vern Hagstom and Linda Cooper of Nanaimo who scored a red hot 12 points, 39 ends and a shot differential of 32. Second went to our own Christian Massey and Rick Dolley with 12 points, 35 ends a 31 differential. Leone King and Vern Greenhill of Courtenay placed third, again with 12 points, 33 ends and a 13 point differential. John Kendall and Beth from Courtenay took fourth. Rounding out the top five was our own team of Chris and Martin Fereday.
Many thanks go out to Berwick, the sponsors of this event, the games committee, kitchen crew, grounds keepers, players, umpire (thanks, Dean) and spectators who came out to watch.
Pictures will be coming shortly.
Carol Bucyk
Winners of the 2-4-2 Berwick Courtenay Tournament: Linda Cooper and Vern Hagstrom of Nanaimo.
Second place winners in the tournament, our own Christian Massey and Rick Dolley of Parksville.
Third place: Leone King and Vern Greenhill from Courtenay.Beth M. and John Kendall: Fourth place from Courtenay.
Fifth place: Chris and Martin Fereday from Parksville.
August 2nd and 3rd saw our club novice and intermediate players take to the green for two days of tournament play. It was a weekend filled with very good, very close games and all the participants who took part enjoyed this experience. The Novice Ladies Winner was Donna Roberts who scored 9 points and had a shot differential of 13. She edged out Darlene Pentland who took second with her score of 6 points and a differential of 10. On the men’s side, it was Alan Watson scoring 12 points and a differential of 20, beating out David Pentland who took second with 9 points and a shot differential of 20.
On the Intermediate side, the ladies winner was Debbie Taylor who earned 9 points with a short differential of 13. Second place was earned by April Sloan with a score of 6 points and a shot differential of 5. George Wallis took the men’s division with 12 points and a shot differential of 28 edging out Isaac Wood who had 9 points and 0 differential.
The winners will move onto the District Novice and Intermediate Singles on August 30 and 31 in Nanaimo.
Thanks go out to all the people who made this event so successful: Chuck for pictures, the kitchen and bar crew, games committee, grounds crew, markers, those who came out to support the players, the coaches, and of course, the players themselves who put out their very best efforts into this tournament.
Carol Bucyk /Joey Merrell
Alan Watson, winner of the Men’s Novice Tournament 2025 with Joey Merrell
Joey Merrell presenting the plaque to Donna Roberts, winner of the Women’s Novice Tournament, 2025.
Our novice and intermediate lawn bowlers at the beginning of their big two-day tournament,
It was another great weekend for lawn bowling July 26 & 27 in Parksville. Once again, Ferguson Exteriors was our very generous sponsor for this event which drew players from around the zone. Sixteen men’s teams and ten women’s teams played under sunny skies and light winds to a very appreciative gallery on both days.
On the men’s side, play was decided in a winner play winner format and it was John Ayers, Erik Ewen and Brian Michell from Qualicum Beach who took top honours and will get their names engraved on the plaque. Runners up in each of their division were Brian Bennett, Ian McCaulay and Wayne Larocque From Parksville. Other runner up teams included Ian Yewer’s team from Nanaimo and Geoff Holland, Tex Gooding and David Perry from Parksville.
On the women’s side it was the winning Parksville team of Diane Cruickshank, Fay St. Marie and Kathleen Motley taking first and their names will be engraved on the plaque for this year. Second went another Parksville team that of Karen Perrin, Joey Merrell and Avril Adamson. Rounding our third and making it a Parksville sweep was the team of Kate Wilson, Luise Norman and Carol Bucyk .
A very big thank you goes out to Chris from Ferguson Exteriors (our continued sponsors for this event), our kitchen crew of Lynn and Marg who put out a wonderful spread both days, Joey M. and the games committee (Anne H. and Gerda), Chuck Benson, grounds keepers, umpires (Mick and Colleen), Don U. who helped us with our computer program for this event, our bartenders who kept us hydrated, the spectators who came out and watched both days and the players who truly demonstrated what this sport is all about.
Women’s winners of Ferguson Exteriors Triples Competition: Diane Cruickshank, Kathleen Motley and Fay St. Marie from the Parksville Club.
Second Place in the Ferguson Exteriors Women’s Triples: Joey Merrell, Karen Perrin and Avril Adamson from the Parksville Club.
Third place in the Ferguson Exteriors Women’s Triples: Carol Bucyk, Kate Wilson and Luise Norman from the Parksville Club.
Winners of the Fergsuon Exteriors Tournament: Brian Michell, John Ayers and Erik Ewen of Qualicum Beach Lawn Bowling Club.
A very big thank you to Chuck Benson for the great photos.
Clubs in our zone got together July 21 for the final game of the season for interclub. This fun evening started by Anne and Geoff Holland “years ago” is an opportunity for clubs in the zone to get together for an evening of lawn bowls and socializing during the summer months. This year, Nanaimo came out on top with a total of 47 points and earned $432 for their club. Ian Yewer accepted on behalf of his club. Next up was a tie of 37 points between Qualicum Beach and Courtenay. Parksville came up last with 21 points.
A very big thank you goes out to the games people, kitchen and bar staff, grounds keepers and the participants who took part in this year’s league. As a reminder, if you are a novice or intermediate player, this interclub league is a great way to have fun, meet people and sharpen your skills as lead in a casual, positive setting. The sign up sheet is posted in the sun room early in the spring and you can sign up for two dates (your choice) and your position as lead. We would love to see our novices and intermediate players come and join us.
Once again, Port Alberni Lawn Bowling Club, the little club with the big heart, came through with another well run event. The Ramsay Lampman Rhodes Mixed Triples Tournament was held on July 19 and 20th in Port with fourteen teams from around our district.
Winners of the plaque was the Parksville team of Sandi Mitchell, Merry Danarti and Rick Dolley. Second place was earned by the Hal Gray team of Courtenay. Keith Terlson, Carol Bucyk and Ken Bucyk of Parksville finished in third place. Winners of the random draw was the team of Martin Fereday, Chris Fereday and Peter Scott of Parksville.
A very big thank you goes out to the games committee, grounds crew, kitchen crew, the players and of course, our gracious sponsors, Ramsay Lampman Rhodes for their continued support of our sport in our district.
