Canada’s best bowlers take aim at ‘jack’

Lawn bowling is the rest of the Commonwealth’s answer to curling.

The top 180 players in the country are at Juan de Fuca for the 2017 Canadian championships, which began Monday and run through Saturday.

“It can be described as curling on grass,” said David Calam of Regina, president of Bowls Canada.

“But the button [a white ball called a ‘jack’] moves, bringing a whole other level of strategy.”

As with curling, community and the social aspect is crucial to lawn bowling.

“Anybody can play . . . grandkids can play this game with their grandparents,” said Calam.

But, like curling, there is a top end that is highly competitive. That will be seen when Canada’s top five men and top five women lawn bowlers compete in the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, Australia. In fact, the current Canadian championships are being held on the venue of the 1994 Victoria Commonwealth Games bowls competition.

“The Commonwealth Games are our Olympics,” said Calam.

Own the Podium projects three medals for Canada in lawn bowls at the 2018 Commonwealth Games. Canada won two medals at the last world championships, in 2016 at Christchurch, New Zealand, so that is a reachable objective.

“The Commonwealth Games are a super-tough competition in our sport, but we are confident we can reach that goal,” said Anna Mees, executive director of Bowls Canada.

“We have a talented group right now and we are excited about our chances.”

All but two of Canada’s hopefuls for the Games are competing this week. World championshipmedallists Ryan Bester and Kelly McKerihen are currently based in Australia, much like top curlers from around the world come to Canada to be based and play.

Lawn bowls is played in singles, doubles, triples and fours.

The round-robin portion of the national championships runs this week through Friday with draws at 9 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. The medal rounds and finals are Saturday. Admission is free.

“People can bring a lawn chair and come on down to watch,” said Mees, emphasizing the friendliness and community roots of her sport.

ADRIAN LAM, TIMES COLONIST David Mathie of B.C. ‘B’ bowls against Quebec during round-robin fours action Monday at the Canadian Lawn Bowling Championships at the Juan de Fuca Lawn Bowling Club. Quebec edged the host squad 24-21.

ADRIAN LAM, TIMES COLONIST David Calam, president of Bowls Canada, says Canada should win medals at the 2018 Commonwealth Games.