This Blog and its pages viewed stats show a lot of interest
from Australia, India, Russia and other non North American readers. For this reason sometimes the blog will reference geographic detail which may be boring to us Canadian or American readers. Thank you for your patience.
Scenario: This week in Vancouver, British Columbia (Our Western most Province) the 2013 Canadian Nationals.will be played.
Grouping the best of our 12 Canadian Provinces lawn bowlers, for the title of Champion in Fours, Pairs and Triples a lot of Air travel leads to the 9am Monday morning (August 19th) start of play.
Over 100 years ago today, in 1906, 8 Rinks of British bowlers, and their wifes, were on a two month tour of Canadian Bowls Clubs. and had just finished playing at Berlin Bowls Club (near Waterloo) and Arriving on train at Stratford-on-Avon. Compare their travel to those air flights of todays bowlers.
Yes, the Train actually waited while members ran to the hotel to get the sleeping player who had missed his wake up. What a change in travel today.
Over the next week our provincial teams will play one or two games per day until Saturday August 24 when the finals will decide on the Gold, Silver and Bronze winners. I am told the greens are fast (13 sec or more) as we begin getting our first news. Vancouver Clubs' Rinks (see North Shore Outlook News)
The history of West Vancouver can be found on ilawnbowl.com.
Update added August 27th after Blog opinions on the results of the Nationals and like everything that ends, I close this blog with the Archives of 1906 departure of the British Lawn Bowl Teams. What a cost that must have been for them then......
FRIDAY, siST AUGUST
found our party all looking forward to their return home, as one looks at the photo of a friend within easy reach, and with feelings of pleasure ; in fact, we were jubilant, notwithstanding all the kindness that had been shewn us, the many friends we had made and met with, and the uninterrupted
round of pleasures we had enjoyed. Home again !
What an attraction there is in these two words, even for those who have been absent only for a month or six weeks. You feel it in the very air you breathe, and every beat of the pulse seems to shorten the distance. Such were our feelings as we stepped on board the good ship Virginian, where we renewed
pur acquaintance with the stewards and others, whose unfailing attention added much to our comfort. As the ship moved off from the quay we could hardly repress a little sigh of regret at leaving so many warm-hearted
248
Safe at Home.
friends behind. They crowded the landing stage and cheered us to the echo, while hats, handkerchiefs and hands waved good-bye on either side. Will we ever meet again ? Ah !
who can tell. The game of life is slippery and uncertain, and all get bowled over sooner or later many sooner than they expect.
Slowly at first the good ship works her way out into midstream, then gradually getting up speed we are soon gliding along, every throb of the turbines lessening the distance betwixt us and our homes.
Scenario: This week in Vancouver, British Columbia (Our Western most Province) the 2013 Canadian Nationals.will be played.
 |
| West Van Clubhouse (News photo Outlook) |
Over 100 years ago today, in 1906, 8 Rinks of British bowlers, and their wifes, were on a two month tour of Canadian Bowls Clubs. and had just finished playing at Berlin Bowls Club (near Waterloo) and Arriving on train at Stratford-on-Avon. Compare their travel to those air flights of todays bowlers.
Yes, the Train actually waited while members ran to the hotel to get the sleeping player who had missed his wake up. What a change in travel today.
"The British Bowlers in Canada, 1906. (From Archive.org)
"FRIDAY, I7TH AUGUST.1906
This is a delightful morning. We pay our bills and get packed up and ready for the road again. Some of the boys
were late last night, being in different hotels and somewhat scattered. Most of us, however, are up in good time and asking after each other's welfare, how each slept last night, tc., etc. At the last moment, and just before getting on the car, it is discovered that one of our party is not accounted for.
This calls for a temporary halt, and two of our party are detailed to go on a voyage of discovery. They found the missing one fast asleep and utterly oblivious of the cares and anxieties of travel. His excuse, when awakened, was that he had thought that eleven o'clock was the hour for leaving, instead of nine. The excuse was accepted with a smile, and helping hands soon had the drowsy one ready for the road. We get a most hearty send oft from the Berliners " Hip, hip,
hurrahs " ringing in our ears as the train leaves the station, and some of them shaking hands as it begins to gather speed. Our programme for to-day is a rather lengthy one, and very divided, viz. :
10.0 a.m. Arrive in Stratford, where the Mayor and Council and representatives of Bowling Club will receive party.
Five rinks will be taken to Windsor, 1 Albion and Queen's Hotels, and three rinks will proceed to Mitchell by special train as guests of the Mitchell Bowling Club ; returning, leave Mitchell at 5.55 p.m., and reach Stratford at 6.20 p.m."
Over the next week our provincial teams will play one or two games per day until Saturday August 24 when the finals will decide on the Gold, Silver and Bronze winners. I am told the greens are fast (13 sec or more) as we begin getting our first news. Vancouver Clubs' Rinks (see North Shore Outlook News)
The history of West Vancouver can be found on ilawnbowl.com.
Update added August 27th after Blog opinions on the results of the Nationals and like everything that ends, I close this blog with the Archives of 1906 departure of the British Lawn Bowl Teams. What a cost that must have been for them then......
"The British Bowlers in Canada, 1906. (From Archive.org)
"FRIDAY, 31st AUGUST.1906
FRIDAY, siST AUGUST
found our party all looking forward to their return home, as one looks at the photo of a friend within easy reach, and with feelings of pleasure ; in fact, we were jubilant, notwithstanding all the kindness that had been shewn us, the many friends we had made and met with, and the uninterrupted
round of pleasures we had enjoyed. Home again !
What an attraction there is in these two words, even for those who have been absent only for a month or six weeks. You feel it in the very air you breathe, and every beat of the pulse seems to shorten the distance. Such were our feelings as we stepped on board the good ship Virginian, where we renewed
pur acquaintance with the stewards and others, whose unfailing attention added much to our comfort. As the ship moved off from the quay we could hardly repress a little sigh of regret at leaving so many warm-hearted
248
Safe at Home.
friends behind. They crowded the landing stage and cheered us to the echo, while hats, handkerchiefs and hands waved good-bye on either side. Will we ever meet again ? Ah !
who can tell. The game of life is slippery and uncertain, and all get bowled over sooner or later many sooner than they expect.
Slowly at first the good ship works her way out into midstream, then gradually getting up speed we are soon gliding along, every throb of the turbines lessening the distance betwixt us and our homes.
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