Bobcaygeon Lawn Bowling Club successfully hosts provincial championship

The Bobcaygeon Lawn Bowling Club (BLBC) recently played host to 32 of the finest bowlers from across Ontario as the 91-year-old organization welcomed the Ontario Provincial Novice Men’s Aussie Pairs Championship to town.

Doug Jaffray, president of the BLBC and one of the members of the organizing committee, was thrilled with Mother Nature for this year’s event.

“We had absolutely perfect weather for the event,” Jaffray said in a telephone interview with Kawartha Lakes Weekly. “There was a little bit of rain during the practice rounds on Friday, and a sprinkling as we were putting things away on Sunday. On Saturday and Sunday, the weather couldn’t have been better. Our groundskeeper and crew did a wonderful job on the playing surface and all the players commented on how good a surface we had to offer.”

Jaffray said that Ontario is split into 16 different lawn bowling districts by its governing body, and that 14 of 16 districts sent teams to Bobcaygeon for the competition.

“We had a full contingent of teams, “Jaffray said. “We had teams come from communities like Sarnia, Woodstock, Burlington, Guelph, Hannover and Ottawa. The local district was represented by two teams, one from Whitby and one from Cobourg.”

Jaffray explained that on the Saturday every team played three games, and that at the end of the day the top eight clubs went on to the playoffs on Sunday. On Sunday four more teams would be eliminated earlier in the day leaving four other teams to compete for playoff seedings and a chance at winning medals.

“The championship was limited to novice players with less than five years’ experience,” Jaffray said, “but the quality of play was excellent and most games were very close.”

Jaffray commented that it was refreshing to see some younger bowlers in attendance in a sport dominated by active seniors.

“There were six of the 32 bowlers under the age of 40, and that is good for the sport,” Jaffray said.

The gold medal was won by a team from Burlington, the silver by a pair from Port Credit and the bronze went to competitors from Ottawa.

“The gold medal game went down to the last end,” Jaffray said. “All the medal games were very exciting for both the players and the spectators who came out both days to watch.”

Jaffray shared that the event was good for the club as a whole, drawing new people to the sport in Bobcaygeon.

“We have 66 members this year,” Jaffray said. “We have grown significantly over last year. We have been approached by people who attended this championship keen to learn more about the sport.”

Jaffray was effusive in praise for Lindsay Lawn Bowling Club president Rhys Warren, and the membership of the BLBC.

“Rhys was fantastic,” Jaffray said. “He answered so many questions that we had. He has run so many tournaments. He was very helpful for us running our inaugural event. I would like to give special recognition to our membership because without their support we could not have hosted an Ontario championship.”

“We would do something like this again,” Jaffray said. “Maybe just not next year. We were honoured when the Ontario Lawn Bowling Association told us they would love to come back to Bobcaygeon someday for another event.”

Jaffray encouraged those who would like to give the sport a try to contact the BLBC at .