Carpets were rolled out as 88 bowlers looked to pace out victory in 100 Mile House.
Sue Pinkerton, President of the 100 Mile Carpet Bowling Club, says it’s kinda like curling, bocce ball and bowling all wrapped into one.
“[It’s] not as physical as five pin bowling because you don’t have to run down the lane. Not as cold as curling because you don’t have to be on the ice and there’s a lot of thought that goes into the game. There’s a lot of strategy and anybody can play. They even have little stands for people who have a hard time bending.”
The week started off with teams of four on Monday and Tuesday, an AGM and dinner banquet on Wednesday, followed by pairs and triples on Thursday and Friday.
“It was very well received and people had a wonderful time. They were very impressed with the town of 100 Mile.”
Rose Magnusson, one of the carpet bowlers who bowls out of Interlakes and 100 Mile House, bowled in fours on Monday and Tuesday. “We got bronze, three out of 10 so that’s good.”
Magnusson says there are many reasons to enjoy carpet bowling.
“We’ve been doing it for a long time. It’s a good social outing, good exercise [and] lots of nice, good people.”
Magnusson says she was happy it was in 100 Mile House as opposed to somewhere further away such as Prince George.
“The ones from the lower mainland don’t go up there,” she says. “I love it. I’ve been doing a lot of work.”
Pinkerton says she was pleased to have it in 100 Mile House. She added that it just brings a lot of small towns and seniors together and many go on to be in the senior games for British Columbia and the Canadian Senior Games.
“[We are] very happy. The town, I can’t say enough for the merchants and people of 100 Mile who went above and beyond to make everyone feel welcome. Everyone was very complimentary of how they were treated in the town. Some stayed in the campground a lot of them stayed in the motels and ate in the restaurants and wandered around the town… We had them go down into the park and took them up into the falls and they just loved it.”
“I’ve seen some amazing, amazing shots and some amazing plays.”
Pinkerton says they may host again.
“We’ve been asked to host again because they did have such a good time. So we’re thinking maybe in two to three years we’ll do it again.”
In the fours, Barrière (Ernie Yungen, Louis Zijderveld, Anke Zijderveld and Hector Denton) finished first, followed by Port Alberni (Joyce Luecke, Glenn Howell, Fred Luecke and Chris van der Stoep), with Robert Magnusson, Rose Magnusson, Marion Mickelsen and Ed VanGool of 100 Mile House in third.
In the trees, Barrière (Ernie Yungen, Louis Zijderveld and Anke Zijderveld) finished first, followed by Port Coquitlam (Marvin Roney, Fay Monkman and Karen Dobson) and in third place were Linda Bishop, Renata Cargnelutti and Dot Verboom of 100 Mile House in third.
In the pairs, Port Alberni (Joyce Luecke and Fred Luecke) finished first, second place was Kamloops, with former 100 Mile House residents Marie Lewis and Louise Phoenix, with Little Ford in third (Hector Denton and Mel Sasek).
