By Arlene Jongbloets
Black Press
100 MILE HOUSE – Carpet bowlers from around the province were on their game last week in 100 Mile House, as they competed for provincial titles in the pairs and triples divisions.
The triples championship was hosted May 9 to 11 by the Interlakes Carpet Bowling Club at the Interlakes Community Hall, where Glenn and Margaret Howell and Chris Vanderstoep from Qualicum Beach won the gold medal.
Glenn Howell and Vanderstoep then went on to make it a sweep by also winning the gold medal in the pairs competition.
In the triples competition, Vanderstoep said, there was little room for error.
“The last game was very tough. We managed to squeak it out by two points.”
The pairs team has been together for 18 years, but Vanderstoep said this may be the last time they compete at provincials because the cost of travel is so high.
He estimated that after adding up the cost of the ferry ride, gas, hotel and meals, the total is close to $1,000.
It was a bonus year, however, for 100 Mile House competitors. As the host club, they had an automatic bye for one pairs team and another local team qualified to compete earlier in the year at zones.
100 Mile’s Renata Cargnelutti and Hank Buckert earned the pairs silver medal, and the husband-and-wife team of Ed and Maureen Van Gool from Bridge Lake won bronze.
Cargnelutti and Buckert were the 2010 pairs provincial champions and have played together for two years. She said they play well together, but every day is different.
In triples competition, the silver medal went to the Interlakes Club team of Marion Nickelsen, Sophia Dunne, Kitty Caroll and spare Helen Morrow. The bronze medal was won by the Kamloops team of Betty Smedley, Ron Joneson and Inez Beaton.
Carpet Bowling Association of BC president Eva Long, 89, travelled from Barriere to present the awards.
— Arlene Jongbloets is a Black Press reporter based in 100 Mile House.
