Alley cats
Local bowlers keep the fun in the game
A Truro team took the top silverware recently during a prestigious bowling tournament held at Superlanes Bowling Alley in Lower Sackville.
Truro Turbos, captained by Doug Leger, won the CNR Todd Memorial Candlepin Bowling Tournament with a clutch late tournament performance. The Turbos proved to be at their best during the fourth and final day of the unique tournament, which dates back to 1928.
“We came into Saturday trailing the first place team by six points,” said Leger, 60, of Salmon River. “In our first match of the day we took six of a possible eight points to move to within two points of first place.”
The Turbos won their second match of the morning to move into a tie for first place.
“In the second string we moved into first by two points; we won our final, third string, to win the championship. It’s nice to win a tournament like ‘the Todd’ – it was good for the team to get the recognition. Our guys enjoyed great fellowship, that was the big thing.
“It’s really nice to get together with bowlers from Moncton, Miramichi, Campbellton, Sydney Mines and distant places from all over the Maritimes.”
Of the 12 teams competing, three teams – the Turbos, Truro Rookies and Colchester Pictou Connections – bowl out of the Bible Hill Bowlacade. The Turbos’ Jim Johnson has bowled in the CNR Todd Memorial for more than 15 years.
“It’s a real good men’s bowling tournament,” Johnson, 65, of Truro, said. “It’s really nice for the guys to get away for a weekend; there’s a lot of bowlers you get to see and talk to who you’ve known over the years. It’s a one hundred per cent handicap that they use, a very fair tournament and it’s very well run.”
Leger, who played and coached local broomball for more than 20 years, pointed out participants don’t have to be high average bowlers to bowl in the Lower Sackville tournament.
“Our team was made up of senior bowlers, ages 60 to 70. This is the original Clayton Benjamin team; Clayton put this team together and a couple of players have been added. It’s a seasoned bowling team – most of our players have bowled for 30 years. What keeps a lot of us bowling is the fun and friendship and you’re always lured back to try to improve your game.”
Johnson, a former outstanding local softball and fast-pitch ball player, agreed.
“Bowling is often about trying to beat your own self,” he said. “A bowler is always trying to improve his own average. Any bowler would tell you this is a big part of it. The friendships and always meeting new people, this has kept me bowling.”
Besides winning the event, Truro Turbos fared well regarding individual awards. In the A division, Ernie Colbert had first high average 117, first high triple 397 and first high single 158. In the B division, Jim Bonn had first high average 110, second high triple 356 and high single 138.
■■■ Several up and coming young horsemen add to the excitement of live harness racing at Truro Raceway. A young man to keep an eye on is Devin O’Connor, from Little Harbour, Pictou County, the son of former driver and longtime standardbred
“It’s really nice for the guys to get away for a weekend; there’s a lot of bowlers you get to see and talk to who you’ve known over the years.” Jim Johnson
owner Chuck O’Connor.
The two share ownership in the six-year-old mare Charlotte Style who will race tomorrow afternoon at Truro Raceway. The younger O’Connor, 22, who trains the mare, described race day.
“I arrive at the barn in Little Harbour around eight o’clock. Right away we start getting the mare ready for the trip over to Truro Raceway. We usually arrive at the track by 10:15 – this is an enjoyable hobby and the excitement starts once I start warming up the mare.
“Last Sunday we finished fourth, our mare wasn’t as good as we had hoped. This is part of the sport – of course, we’re looking ahead to the next start and we’re hoping she’ll be better this Sunday.”
O’Connor said his father raced horses when he was a young boy.
“By the time I was eight or nine I was grooming horses and mucking out stalls. Full time, I’m an electrical apprentice with Ben Gould Electrical Contracting in New Glasgow but I plan to continue in harness racing as a hobby. I may try for my driver’s license later this year.”