Youth Movement at MLS

Congratulations to the MLS Sportsplex and Andy Caldwell of the Peterborough LBC for organizing an incredibly successful day of lawnbowls for a crew of 34 high school students from the Peterborough area.  With decreasing membership across the country,  and Peterborough’s beautiful new clubhouse getting closer and closer to completion,  the MLS Sportsplex served as a perfect venue to introduce the large group to the game. I was on hand to tell the group about my bowls story,   how I got into the game,  making the National Team,  playing internationally and my plans for the future in the game.  The bus showed up at 10:30 am and after a quick introduction to the game the gang got right down to business.  Split up into teams of 6 each student took turns discovering the game while their peers looked on with curiousity.  It was great to hear the encouragement from those waiting for their turn,  and all the kids had a good laugh at the occasional wrong bias or pineapple.  The shift from goofing around at a weird new game to intense competition was amazing when Dan Milligan announced that Pizza was on the way,  and the team who managed the most bowls within a set distance would get to line up first for their lunch.  3 ends later the team that got to eat first had racked up an impressive 28/36 bowls within 3m of the jack.    After lunch it was awesome to see a group of 12 of the students rush back onto the greens to get some practice in before the next game Dan had in store. 

Having a roll-up with the Peterborough youth

  The group was incredibly enthusiastic and many of them picked it up quite quickly.  During my talk with the group I was amazed at the level of respect the group had.  I remember being in school and how there were always those few kids in the class who were never paying attention and would test even the most experienced speaker.  This group seemed genuinely interested with what we had to say and I hope that we tweaked their interest enough to give the game a chance in the coming season.  It’s the hopes of MLS, Peterborough LBC and hopefully every bowler out there,  that this day at MLS was exciting for the kids and will be enough to prompt other clubs to arrange similar outings with the co-operation of schools in their area.  It is my understanding, that with help from Mario Battista that the kids will again be exposed to the game at their school playing short-mat and hopefully short mat will become a part of their phys-ed program. 

Thanks to all those involved in making yesterday a great day and for those interested,  photos of the day can be found at http://bit.ly/eKNTq4 and for more info on Mario Battista’s efforts with youth programs click http://bit.ly/fyZEgC  Questions and Comments are incouraged!

Team Canada – TigerBowls 2011 Video

Team Canada heads to Hong Kong next week for the 2011 Tiger Bowls Invitational. Here is a preview of the team training at the sports complex in Scarborough. Check back here at Gregorbowls for updates as they happen from the tournament. Good luck team!

Tiger Bowls Team

Team Canada – Tiger Bowls / China Open 2011

“The Boys” from Left to Right, Greg Wilson(skip), Dylan Jacobs(Vice skip), Jake Schuknecht(Second) and Darryl Fitzgerald(Lead) were at the MLS Sportsplex  in Scarborough, Ontario today taking in one last training session as a team before departing for Hong Kong on March 9th.  The boys have been selected by the High Performance Committee to represent Canada at this years Tiger Bowls and China Open, running from March 12th – 17th.  It was great to watch them taking part in some purposeful practice today, focusing most of their time on drills they had picked up from coach Lachlan Tighe at January’s selection camp in Arizona.  The extent to which these guys enjoy the game was written all over their faces and was noticed not only by the regular crowd playing on the other green,  but also by a group of high school soccer players who were passing by the greens on their way to the attached soccer dome.  One boy was overheard saying, “Don’t bother,  it’s an old man sport!”  in reply to a question of what the game was all about.  His tune changed quickly when another boy mentioned the Team Canada  uniforms which immediately peaked the curiousity of all 12 teens.  Taking up a front row seat next to the green on which Wilson and his team were training, the teens began to volley question after question about the ins and outs of bowls.  With each response the original notion of ‘Old man sport’ was gradually dispelled  and when Wilson explained that the team was on its way to Hong Kong to compete,  the boys attitude suddenly changed from curious, to amazed and the boys came back and watched another half hour of drills after their soccer practice (imagine that,  teens getting enjoyment from watching bowls practice).  With any luck MLS will be welcoming some new junior members before too long.

With an  average age of 24.5  this 4’s team isn’t too far removed from high school itself, and good on BCB for helping to develope these young athletes by giving the the opportunity to compete at a higher level.  In the past this event has been self funded, but for the first time BCB has deemed it a developement opportunity and thus cut a cheque to each player to help pay for some of the costs.

The Boys wish to thank Bowls Canada for the opportunity,  Mario Battista of Dales Canada for a great day at MLS  and to Dan Milligan of MVP Sports who has provided Team Canada’s international roster with the new Taylor Ace Canadianas which the guys are holding in the picture above.

All information on Tiger Bowls and the China Open 2011 can be found under the “Events” section in the Categories pull-down menu.

Press Release – February 25th, 2011

Gregor Bowls Theme Song – Official (Barbra Streisand Remix)

Press Release – February 25, 2011 –

Dear Bowls Enthusiasts,

The GregorBowls team is currently creating and designing tons of great new content.

Our plan is to provide information for all Canadian bowlers and showcase the top Canadian Bowlers from both international competition and local club matches. Our goal is to showcase this great game across Canada and the world.

For any information, or to become part of the GregorBowls team, contact gregorbowls@gmail.com

Keep in toucher,

GregorBowls Team
Send us your ideas!

China Open 2011 – Schedule and Rules of Play

Tiger Bowls World Invitation China Tour organized by Chinese Multi Bowls Association takes place in Shenzhen, China from the 14th to 17th of March, 2011. This tournament is approved by World Bowls Limited.

All details of the event are linked below; details include Rules, Groupings, and Schedule.

TigerBowls 2011- China – Conditions Of Play

Tiger Bowls 2011- China – Teams

Good luck Canada, and GregorBowls very own Greg Wilson!

Bowls Australia – Road to Delhi 2010

Why can’t we get exposure like this in Canada? Imagine this segment airing on TSN or ESPN with the Canadian squad… how much easier would it be to get people to shake off the “old man sport” mentality and get out their and try it for themselves!!