Riverside Lawn Bowling Club turns 100

KAMLOOPS — Since 1922, lawn bowlers have been playing their game at Riverside Park. Players do it to make friends and get some exercise.

“It’s a bit of a physical game, because there’s some stretching involved, you walk up and down the green,” said Bruce Clary, past president of the club.

It’s played with bowls — biased balls that can fit in your hand.

“The bowls curve, so the game is much like curling. Also, you have the length it goes down the green, so you have to adjust to different greens,” he said.

Clary said spending the afternoon on the green is a great way to make friends.

“[There’s] a large social aspect to the game. If you’re a single person or an older person who’s retired, it’s a good way to stay in touch with others,” said Clary.

But the game sparks some competition as well. Teams from throughout the Interior regularly meet for tournaments.

“There’s a possibility of competition as well as the social side. There are provincial competitions, national competitions,” said Riverside Lawn Bowling Club member Ron McColl. “There is a competition at the Commonwealth Games.”

McColl told CFJC Today about a provincial competition.

“The people from the coast always think that we’re not very good players,” he said. “They think they’re better than we are.”

The Kamloops skip was playing against an unnamed team from the coast who had the jack surrounded by bowls.

“He came in and stole that point away by moving the jack over to his points,” said McColl. “And [we] won the game.”

Those who have come out to previous Try-It days are surprised at the skill lawn bowling takes.

“It’s not as easy as they thought,” said Clary.

Registration is open now for Try-It days on Saturday (April 30) and Sunday (May 1). Each day will have a session at 10:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m.