What fun we had on Canada Day 2024! The day couldn’t have been a better day for our members and for our beneficiary, the CHAMP program. The sun was out, the breeze was there and the members were all smiles, resplendent in their red and blue. In 2024, for the first time in this event, not only did we have 66 bowlers competing, but we had 12 croquet players playing for points towards the Bulldog banner.
Canada Day at the club is about about friendships, gathering socially to celebrate summer and the playing of our sport together. We opened the day on the east green, joining together to sing Oh Canada in the morning sun. Layla welcomed the players and spoke about our fundraising and the CHAMP program. Mary Magill spoke about the need for support and the benefits that childhood amputee families receive through our donations. Mary, with her travelling donations box, did an outstanding job of fundraising from members at every opportunity through the day for the benefit of CHAMP.
At the bell – the greens were full and the games began. At the first tea break, the bowls scores were reported: 5.5 points for RED and 5.5 points for BLUE ending the first round in a tie! After two more rounds of play, including the scores from croquet games, the team score at the final break was a nail-biter at 21.5 points each side. What a close competition! For the last match of the day, blue really surged ahead and won their games in bowls and in croquet – accepting the Bulldog Banner to loud applause when the final scores were announced at the prize giving.
In another first this year, during the day the Tournament Manager accepted nominations for an award in two categories, Best Bowl and Best Dressed!
Tired and happy members gathered for the usual libation, debriefing and prize draws at in Carnarvon House. There were some terrific stories told regaling us with the colourful drama of a winning bowl (and a croquet shot!) Congratulations to the nominees for best bowl of the day: Carla, Alan, Dianne, Michael, Brent J, Jackie and Chris. The winner, with an unbelievable trick shot all the way down the plinth, was Joan – nice bowl, Joan! The best dressed was another hard-fought category between nominees Brent M, Gloria, Jan, Marcia and Pierre. And the winner, with his red ascot, wonderful hat and twinkling diamante, was Pierre! The luckiest person at our club on Monday was Karin Buss, who won the spider AND the 50-50 prize of $255. Congratulations Karin, on your lucky day.
Our major sponsor again this year was Tony Tucker at Pharmasave Oak Bay. The sponsor of our Spider game was Vessel Liquor at Oak Bay & Fort Streets. We also had gift certificates donated from Country Grocer in Saanich, Harbour Cats Victoria Baseball and the Penny Farthing Pub in Oak Bay. Thank you sponsors! Members, please support our sponsors to show our gratitude.
The fun and excitement on Canada Day would not have been possible without the tournament team of Carla & Michael Perry, David Anderson, David Smyth, Donna Stewart, Doug Francis, Gloria Brown, Jan Price, Judy Black, Karin Buss, Kory Swain, Mary Magill, Ron Harmer and Sharon Ross and the kitchen team. Thank you all so much for your hard work.
The registration fees, wrong bias insurance, spider tickets, 50-50 draw and member donations for CHAMP have been tallied. We are very pleased to say that the War Amp CHAMPS program will receive a cheque for $3,752 from the club because of your strong participation. I have such deep appreciation for our wonderful community-minded club and in the generosity and hard work of our members. Thank you all for coming out on this sunny day for fun and games!
Layla Godfrey
Tournament Manager
Photos by Gloria Brown
