Author: Carol Bucyk

The weather was decent and the bowling was fantastic this weekend at the  Ramsay Lampman  Rhodes Mixed Triples Tournament held in Nanaimo.  Best of all, two Parksville teams earned some serious cash after their second and third place finishes.

Congratulations go out to Team Penny of Courtenay  for their win in the two day event.  Second place went to our own  Bob Allaby, Luise Norman/Sandi Mitchell  and Sue Tompkins.  Third place was earned by the Parksville  team of Bill Burgess, Don Urquhart and Robbie Thomas.

  The Ed and Lucie Triples Tournament was held this past weekend in Courtenay with fourteen teams in the running for prizes.   Unfortunately, the Parksville  Lawn Bowling Club, which was well represented, got blanked in the tournament.

After two long days,  with serious rain on Saturday and sunny skies on Sunday, the winners were decided with Rick Quibell’s team from Nanaimo taking top prize.  Next came Erik Ewen’s team from Qualicum Beach.  Hal Gray and Rosemary Montreil from Courtenay  earned third and fourth places respectively.  Vern Hagstrom took fifth of Nanaimo and Dean Penny of Courtenay took the final spot in the winner’s circle.  Rick Dolley’s team ended their tournament with a 2 and 2 record and the highest score of six points of the Parksville teams entered.

Thanks to the teams skipped by Rick Dolley, Luise Norman, Bill Burgess and Mary Card for representing our club in Courtenay.

Carol Bucyk

Nanaimo held its  Connect Hearing Tournament on May 4th and 5th, and there were  number of different clubs  in on the winnings.

First place went to  Dean Penny, Vern Greenhill and Shelley McCollom  of  Courtenay.  Second was the team  of  Ian Yewer, Ann Yewer and Wayne Migneault from the Nanaimo club.  The Ewen family (Erik, Susan and Luci) from Qualicum Beach took third.  Ross Younger, Barb and Margie Carpenter  of Nanaimo took fourth.  Rounding out the top five was the team of Bill Burgess, Don Urquhart and Robbie Thomas from the Parksville Lawn Bowling Club.

Carol Bucyk

The Parksville Lawn Bowling Club wrapped up its outdoor season on Sunday, September 24th with a lovely meal, and lively banter courtesy of our m.c.,  Mick Banks.  The club handed out the hardware (bag tags and trophies) in a number of categories for all the different events, tournaments and leagues that were run this year.  The following is a summary of what happened with our players on home turf and at different clubs throughout the North Island.

Bowlympics, sponsored by RBC on May 22.    Gold medal winners were Peter Scott, David Van Rooyen

, Robbie Thomas and Pam Pratt.  The Silver medalists were Andy Burton, Avril Adamson, Bob Merrell and Pam Smith.  Bronze was earned by Ken Olenick, Bros Brosnikoff, Pam Oldfield and Paul McGrath.

 Club Mixed Triples sponsored by Cutting Edge Trophies, July 5th.  Rick  Dolley, Athol Trickett and Robbie Thomas.

Jack & Jill July 19 & 20:  Aase McMullin and Keith Terlson

Ferguson Exteriors Open Men’s and Women’s Triples July 29 & 30th:   Mike Kelly, Bill Burgess, Don Urquhart and Diane Cruickshank, Kathleen Motley, Fay St. Marie.

Thrifty Foods Mix

ed Pairs August 12:  Carol and Ken Bucyk

Norma Antrim Club Ladies Novice Singles August 5 & 6: Pam Oldfield

Club Ladies Intermediate Singles August 5 & 6: Jo-Anne Merrell

Computec Engraving Club Men’s Novice Singles August 5 & 6: Bob Ashton

Club Intermediate Men’s Singles August 5 & 6: Bob Merrell (bag tag)

PS Pharmasave Club Men’s and Women’s Singles August 12 & 13:  Peter Scott and Carol Bucyk

Bob and Betty Benton Trophy Pairs:  Bill Burgess and Roberta Stets

Cut Throat Seasons A & B:  Mike Kelly and Bob Ashton

Battle of the Sexes September 20 & 21.  The coveted Salmon Can Trophy went to the men this year.  Andrew Adamson & Bob Merrell accepted  the Gloria Wilcox Men’s Triples Trophy  on behalf of their winning team.  Trevor Motley and Murray Sinclair were unable to attend.

Twisted Triples:  Chris and Martin Fereday with Janet Harding

Scotch Pairs: Kathleen Motley & Trevor Motley

District Medals:    Men’s Novice Singles:  Bob Ashton.    Men’s Intermediate Singles:  Bob Merrell

District Pairs:  Ken and Carol Bucyk

Thanks to all who made the wrap up dinner such a lovely evening;  Chuck for his photos, Lynn, Vicky and all the kitchen people who created a very scrumptious meal and floral arrangements for the table,  Mick as m.c., our bartenders, the club members who came out for the evening and all who have played throughout the year, the groundskeepers…you were outstanding in creating an absolutely beautiful green for 2023,  and all of our sponsors.  I look forward to seeing you on the green in 2024.

Carol Bucyk

The battle was on the green September 20th and 21st with a number of teams vying for the coveted Gloria Wilcox trophy.  The greens were once again in superb condition and the weather was not an issue at all as the men and women got down to business.  On the women’s side, the winning team was that of Joey Merrell, Robbie Thomas and Diana Olenick/Beverly Benson.    Second went to Sandi Mitchell, Karen Perrin and Beverly Benson.  Third place was earned by the team of Kathleen Motley, Cheryl Baker and Terry Chapell.

One the men’s side, Trevor Motley, Bob Merrell and Andrew Adamson/Murray Sinclair took first place.  The team of Peter Scott, Chuck Benson and Don Bouchard/Andy Burton earned second.  Don Urquhart, Dave Perry and George Wallis took home third place.

The men won the “Battle of the Sexes” for 2023.  Great play on both sides.  Thanks everyone for  taking part in the final event of the season.

Port Alberni played host to the final big tournament of the year this past weekend (Sept. 16 & 17), and three of the top four teams came out of our club.  Winning the North Vancouver Island & Powell River District Pairs Championship was the team of Carol and Ken Bucyk.   They defeated the team of Chris and Martin Fereday in a nail biter which was determined on the final bowl of the last end of the game.  In the end, the Bucyk team won 15-13, and  took home gold medals and  the District trophy.  Chris and Martin Fereday took home the silver medal for the second place finish.  In third was the father daughter team of Eric and Luci Ewen of Qualicum Beach.  Merry Danarti and Bob Allaby,  who were last year’s defending champions, finished in fourth.

Many thanks go out to the Port Alberni club for their efforts this year.  The greens were superb, the kitchen staff and all the behind the scenes folks made it a very positive experience.  Thanks to Dean Penny, the District Games Chair for his work this year, as to all the games people in all the clubs who worked so hard to make these games happen.  Thanks also to those who came out to watch, and to those who came to play.  Happy “off-season” to all and enjoy a much needed break.

Carol Bucyk

What a day for a great lawn bowling  challenge!  Tuesday, September 12th saw the Cowichan Lawn Bowling Club up for a visit and a two game mini-tournament.  Even though the rain came down at times,  it didn’t dampen the spirits of the players from both teams.  There were lots of laughs and some superb shot making as well.  In the end,  and after a very long four year drought, Parksville was able to bring home the trophy.    It went right down to the wire points-wise.  There were two 10 end games played and amazingly with wins, losses and tie scores the two clubs were tied at 32.  It came down to shot differential with Cowichan having 145 shots for, while Parksville earned 150.  With that +5 differential, Parksville won the challenge.

A very big thank you goes out to all who participated from both teams and to those at the our club who made it all happen, both inside and on the green.  Thanks to Chuck Benson for the great photo of both teams on our deck.  See you all next year.

Carol Bucyk

The Men’s and Women’s Novice and Intermediates Tournament winners were decided in Parksville on Saturday, September 8th, with Parksville and Nanaimo players earning the honours.  It was a clean sweep  for Parksville with Bob Ashton winning the Novice Men’s and Bob Merrell winning the Men’s Intermediate division.  On the women’s side, again, it was a clean sweep, but this time it was for Nanaimo with Diana Anderson taking novice honours and Lezlie Howe winning the Intermediate section.  Dean Penny, District Games Chair presented the awards to all four winners.   The Parksville Club would like to thank all those who took part in the event and to those behind the scenes who made it all possible.  Thanks to our club photographer, Chuck Benson, for his great photos of the tournament winners.