Nanaimo LBC: Visually Impaired Section info

Nanaimo Lawn Bowling Club - Visually Impaired Section

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Nanaimo LBC has a very active program for visually impaired persons in our community. We cater to both those who are interested in a social outing and also to those who are more competitive. Club Games are held every Tuesday starting around 0930. Other events include a Pairs event held in mid May and we travel to Richmond in June for a similar event ((see reports below).) During the season we have 4 visits with Parksville and Qualicum clubs. At the competitive level our members particip

ate in tournaments organized by BC Blind Sports and Canadian Blind Sports organizations.

We welcome all visually impaired persons in our community to come and try our sport.

We also invite club members to assist us in this program.

For more information phone Stan Dalzell (754-7519 ) or Donn Sherry ( 758-5639 ).

FYI..

Last day for our season was Tuesday Sept 23 - Next meet is the first Tuesday in May 2009 (9 am sharp!)

Canadian Blind Sports National Championships and BC Blind Sports Provincial Championships are now over - see more details in Events below - Club members did very well and the results for Nanaimo members are HERE.

EVENTS

Our 2008 Wrapup on Sept 23 celebrated Iris Ferguson (top bowler this year), Mary Dalzell (top director this year) and Shirley Cole (winner of the infamous OUCH Trophy for 2008 !)

Tuesday Sept 16 - Qualicum visited for friendly competition, and we had a pub lunch to wind up the day.

BC Blind Sports Provincial Championships and Canadian Blind Sports National Championships were hosted by Courtenay LBC during the week of September 2 - 6. The 2 competitions ran concurrently.

Kendrick Wall, Barry Henshall and Brian Lawson competed in the Provincials. To advance to the Nationals they had to place in the top 3 of their sight categories.
Shirley Cole, Iris Ferguson and Randy Fred went directly to the Nationals and competed against bowlers from other provinces for Canadian medals.

Special thanks to the members of Courtenay LBC for the superb job they did in hosting this event. Our sincere thanks to Archie Harris for having the green in such good shape and for supplying trained markers; also to Patt Cutt and Jackie West for all the other arrangements such as food, accommodations, transportation and results. It was the best Nationals in recent memory.

Jane Blaine, executive director of CBSA, announced that next year's Championships have been awarded to Alberta and will be played in Calgary.
And here are some pics of Nanaimo bowlers and directors -more pics are on the Results page and also in the Photo gallery

Visit to Qualicum Beach for a friendly competition on Tuesday, July 15.

19 visually impaired bowlers plus 20 sighted helpers experienced a pleasant visit to Qualicum LBC. There were 4 bowlers from Qualicum, 5 from Parksville and 10 from Nanaimo. The group was greeted by president Bill Clow who welcomed all to the club. The group played 10 ends of Pairs ( 3 rinks ) and 1 rink of triples. Most then enjoyed lunch at Bailey's. Special thanks to Gwen Martin for arranging such a fine outing.

Visit to Richmond LBC for Pairs competition (June 10, 2008)
(report by Donn Sherry)

Under grey skies but dry ideal conditions, 16 visually impaired bowlers participated in Richmond's annual pairs event. As usual the Richmond club members came through with flying colours: the green was in good shape and running true, the markers did an excellent job, the kitchen ladies served a delicious lunch and Howard Cordick acted as a liaison with the club in an efficient manner. We were pleased to welcome Randy Kruzeniski, a B1 from Kennedy Park, to his first competition. It was also great to see Vi & Al Hanet who made the long trip from Kelowna. The competition involved 2 10 end games. Eugene Amburg with director Len Robson partnered with Brian Lawson ( director Bob McKenzie ) were the best for the day with 2 impressive wins. Also with 2 wins and placing 2nd were Howard Cordick and Kendrick Wall directed by Tom Williams. Thanks to the large group of bowlers and directors who travelled from Qualicum and Nanaimo to take part. Our special thanks to BC Blind Sports for arranging transport from the ferry and also their support for the lunch.

Now pics of the Richmond event

NANAIMO BLIND HOST PAIRS EVENT (May 20 2008)

(report by Donn Sherry)

On Tuesday May 20 Nanaimo LBC welcomed 16 visually impaired bowlers to their annual pairs competition. Bowlers representing Coquitlam, Richmond, Qualicum and Nanaimo participated. Each team played 2 games separated by a delicious lunch prepared by Madeleine Sherry, Margaret Coleman, Emily Lawson and Diane Ball.
Kitty Gray and Kendrick Wall of Nanaimo with director Margaret Soothill went undefeated and were declared the Big Winners. Second place went to Sam Simpson of Qualicum ( director David Burton ) and Randy Fred of Nanaimo ( director Stan Dalzell ) who were the only other team to win 2 games. This info is also on our Results page.
Anne Graves of Nanaimo with husband Frank Graves as director and Dan Watson of Qualicum ( director Isabelle Lyttle ) took part in their first competition and both bowled well.
Since many of our regular helpers had to be absent because of an important prior commitment we have to thank the following club members and visitors who assisted the visually impaired bowlers.

Acting as Directors: Alan Edwards, Sylvia Gibbs, Mary Dalzell, David Ball, Isabelle Lyttle, Emily Lawson, Stan Dalzell, Mike Rogers, Frank Graves, Margaret Soothill, David Burton, Angela Robson, Len Robson and Ken Soothill.

Acting as Markers: Bruce Johnstone, Diane Ball, Aileen Foan, Fred Gilpin, Joe Bewley and Hubert Poschmann.

Thanks to Shirley Cole and Bruce Johnstone who ran the 50/50 won by Len Robson.

Our blind bowlers would like to thank the club and club members for the great support they give to our program.

At the more competitive levels our members participate in tournaments organized by BC Blind Sports and Canadian Blind Sports organizations. Our provincial championships are held in conjunction with the BC Disability Games held last year in Powell River.

Medal winners at the Provincials are eligible to participate in the Nationals held last year in Peterborough, Ontario. In 2007 Randy Fred with Stan Dalzell won the Gold medal for the totally blind men and Shirley Cole with Madeleine Sherry won Silver in the partially sighted women category.. The Club did even better in Nationals and Provincials in 2008 - see Tournament results.

Every 4 years the International Blind Bowls Association IBBA holds a World Championship. In 2005 the event was held in South Africa. Iris Ferguson from Nanaimo LBC competed. The 2009 tournament will be held in Melbourne, Australia.

Thanks to Donn Sherry for these images from the past.

We enjoy the social side, too.	Iris Ferguson and Mary Dalzell	Madeleine Sherry and Shirley Cole
Donn Sherry presenting a cheque, with many bowlers, coaches and helpers present	Donn and Madeleine at the 2005 Worlds in South Africa	Iris Ferguson in South Africa 2005
Madeleine and Shirley Cole	Stan Dalzell and Randy Fred	Madeleine and Shirley with medals
2005 Worlds	Stan and Randy with medals	Randy and Stan
Stan, Randy, Shirley and Madeleine	Team Canada, South Africa 2005

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