GOLD - British Columbia - Gary Robinson, Jody Robinson
SILVER - Manitoba - Steven Shinnie, Elaine jones
BRONZE - Alberta - Lyall Adams, Chris Adams
Fourth - Prince Edward Island - Harvey Irving, Evelyn Acorn
Gary's Report from the Competition
What a week we have had. Could have won every game. Our loss to Manitoba In the round robin came because I foolishly threw my final bowl. With just two bowls left we were sitting two for a potential three shot win. Steve Shinnie made a great shot to pick up the jack and trail it back to lie one, Solidly on the jack. With my third bowl I draw in two feet directly behind the jack. Steve hangs his final bowl out, so Manitoba is lying one, for a tie. A tie on Thursday night would have guaranteed us a spot in the gold Medal game. But we have been bowling so great and I had just missed with my previous shot, so we decide to go for it. A tap on his bowl could bump the jack back to my bowl. But when I get back to the mat I realize that Manitoba has a bowl sitting about five feet in front of the jack and if I am the least bit narrow I risk bumping them in. So I throw my bowl a bit wide, it hangs on the forehand and I tap in an outside Manitoba bowl for two.
That shot haunted us all of a sleepless Thursday night and Friday morning
until we got back on the green. Fortunately once I threw a bowl it was game
on and behind me. The game against Alberta was huge for us. It was Jody's
poorest game, but I was really sharp. Lyall Adams was on the World Bowls Team
this summer, when Ryan Bester and Keith Roney won the gold, so this was no
easy game. But we found a way to win and our place in the gold medal game
was assured. So the final game against Saskatchewan is not critical, but we
want to stay on our game so we play very seriously. The lead flip flops all
game long and we go into the final end one down. But after I had thrown my
third bowl we are lying two for another potential win. Once again, the skip,
Ernie Meid, makes a great shot to take the jack back close to the ditch and
lie one. I hang out my final shot on the backhand so we go down by two.
The final was unbelievable. Manitoba was bowling well, especially the lead,
so most ends I took the mat with us down 1 or 2, sometimes even 3. But I don't
think I threw a bad bowl in the entire game and either rescue most ends or
occasionally give them a shot. We got off to a poor start, giving up a 4 in
the first end. But we then won the next 6 ends and 9 of the next 10 to build
up a lead. Playing the 14th end, up 13 to 8, Steve Shinnie makes a fabulous
shot to take the jack back and lie four. I miss badly with my third bowl and
then Steve draws to lie five, which would tie the score. I nail my final shot
and it just slips by their closest bowl, so they get only one. They never
score again, and when I draw for two with my final bowl in the 17th, we have
an insurmountable 9 shot lead and the gold medal.
I have never bowled so incredibly well for ten straight games. Jody was also great, particularly in the first six games. She did struggle a bit after that but still made a lot of critical shots in difficult situations.
The host club of Port Credit was awesome. The hospitality and the dedication of every member of that club was exceptional. Many of the competitors have attended a lot of Canadians, such as Elaine Jones of Manitoba who was bowling in her 26th championship. Everyone agreed that this was the best organized and run event that they had ever attended. From day one they made us feel right at home and Jody and I knew that while we might be a long way from home, and there all alone, but that everyone was appreciating our play and pulling for us to win. All of the competitors were great and we have made a bunch of wonderful friends all across the country. It was hard to see it all come to a close.
We have had so many phone calls and messages from our friends at Oak Bay. It has meant a lot to us and helped to keep us motivated, especially after blowing the game Thursday night. We really appreciate all the support and wish that we could have shared the moment with all of you. We return on September 18 and look forward to seeing everyone at the club soon thereafter. Thanks for staying in touch.
Gary and Jody.
Gary and Jody
Robinson of the Oak Bay Lawn Bowls Club have recently returned from a
successful competition at the 2004 Provincial Mixed Pairs in Vancouver.
Played at the
Granville Park Lawn Bowling Club from Friday August 6 to Sunday, August 8, the
event proved to be not only a test of skill and endurance, but also a battle of
the elements. The couple took on a
field of 26 teams through heavy rain, wind and scorching sun to earn the 2004
title.
The Robinson duo
earned their way into the tournament playoff rounds on Sunday with a record of
4 wins and 1 loss during the Friday and Saturday qualifying rounds. “Steady play, key shot making, and some good
fortune followed us all weekend long”, Gary explained.
As the hot weather
returned on Sunday, the play of the Oak Bay twosome continued to improve. The quarter-final match was a tough game,
with many burned ends, as their opponents were quite successful in driving the
jack out-of-play to relieve the continual pressure of the Robinson’s draw
game. “Time proved to be our alley, as
our competitiors could not overcome our lead before the time limit brought play
to a close in the 17th end.”
The semi-final game
was every-bit as much of a challenge, as the Robinsons edged out their
opponents by just 2 shots. “We gave up
a 6 ender in the middle of that match, which was a bit of a scare. But we won the next six ends to restore our
lead and never relinquished it again.”
The final matched
them up against Bob Scott and Cathy Higgins from Vancouver, a team that had
previously won the Provincial Mixed Pairs in 2000. “Jody’s draw game in the final was incredible. We controlled most every end of the match
with great position and there was not a lot that our opponents could do.” The scheduled 18 end game was conceded in
the 16th end with the Robinsons lying 7 shots for an insurmountable
28 to 9 lead.
With the victory,
Gary and Jody Robinson have earned the opportunity to represent BC in the
Canadian Mixed Pairs Championship. That
event will be held at the Port Credit Lawn Bowls Club in Mississauga, Ontario
from August 31 to September 4. Follow
the progress of our local bowlers by checking the Bowls Canada website at www.bowlscanada.com.