The last three championships were held in Cobourg but this year there was a new venue, in Thorold at the Canada Games Park.
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There were singles, Pairs, Triples and Fours events over 6 days from November 14th to November 19th and this year the number of entries increased, partly because of the proximity of the location to a number of clubs in South West Ontario but also due to a number of experienced lawn bowlers taking up short mat.
It was unfortunate that one of the top players, Martin Foxhall (Cobourg) was unable to participate since he tested positive for Covid a few days before the event started. This and a few other late dropouts meant changes to some of the teams. One such affected team was Nan Hendren, Brent Bayley and Jenn Wetherall. Brent and Jenn were ill but fortunately Nan hooked up with Laura Mounce for pairs and the organisers were able to place her on a triples team with Wayne Harding (Ottawa) and Fred Gundel (Burlington).
The following Cobourg members competed:
Bill McCollam
Peter Stuart-Sheppard
John MacKenzie
Nan Hendren
Terry Bradshaw
Al Bell
Laura Mounce
Louisa Arthur
Bill Arthur
Singles
There were 30 competitors in the singles including Bill McCollam, Five round robin games were played in each of the six groups and the top eight players qualified for the quarter finals. Al did not qualify and nether did Terry, although he was extremely unlucky not to qualify given that he had a 4-1 record in the round robin. There were a few players with similar records and it was not entirely clear why other players with the same record qualified but Terry did not. Bill McCollam's round robin record was 5-0 and he was the number one seed in the quarter finals but unfortunately did not progress.
Pairs
28 teams competed .Nan Hendren and Laura Mounce were in the same group as Louisa and Bill Arthur but neither of those teams progressed from the group. Terry Bradshaw and Al Bell qualified for the quarter finals but were knocked out in that round. Bill McCollam played pairs with Travis Anderson (Guelph) and won the silver award. John MacKenzie and Peter Stuart-Sheppard won bronze, Something that would become very familiar for Peter.
It was unfortunate that one of the top players, Martin Foxhall (Cobourg) was unable to participate since he tested positive for Covid a few days before the event started. This and a few other late dropouts meant changes to some of the teams. One such affected team was Nan Hendren, Brent Bayley and Jenn Wetherall. Brent and Jenn were ill but fortunately Nan hooked up with Laura Mounce for pairs and the organisers were able to place her on a triples team with Wayne Harding (Ottawa) and Fred Gundel (Burlington).
The following Cobourg members competed:
Bill McCollam
Peter Stuart-Sheppard
John MacKenzie
Nan Hendren
Terry Bradshaw
Al Bell
Laura Mounce
Louisa Arthur
Bill Arthur
Singles
There were 30 competitors in the singles including Bill McCollam, Five round robin games were played in each of the six groups and the top eight players qualified for the quarter finals. Al did not qualify and nether did Terry, although he was extremely unlucky not to qualify given that he had a 4-1 record in the round robin. There were a few players with similar records and it was not entirely clear why other players with the same record qualified but Terry did not. Bill McCollam's round robin record was 5-0 and he was the number one seed in the quarter finals but unfortunately did not progress.
Pairs
28 teams competed .Nan Hendren and Laura Mounce were in the same group as Louisa and Bill Arthur but neither of those teams progressed from the group. Terry Bradshaw and Al Bell qualified for the quarter finals but were knocked out in that round. Bill McCollam played pairs with Travis Anderson (Guelph) and won the silver award. John MacKenzie and Peter Stuart-Sheppard won bronze, Something that would become very familiar for Peter.
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Triples
18 teams competed. Bill and Louisa Arthur played with John MacKenzie; Terry Bradshaw, Al Bell and Laura Mounce played together; Nan Hendren teamed up with Wayne Harding (Ottawa) and Fred Gundel (Burlington); finally Peter Stuart-Sheppard and Bill McCollam played with Gary Pickering (Niagara). The Arthur and Hendren teams were in the same group and Nan's team beat Bill's in the round robin. However both teams qualified for the quarter finals with a 4-1 record. Terry's team did not qualify but the team of Gary, Bill and Peter did. In fact they were seeded number one for the quarter finals. As fate would have it Nan and Bill's teams were drawn against one another as the 4th and 5th seeds. On this occasion Bill's team reversed the result from the round robin and moved into the semi final where they played the number 1 seeds, Gary Pickering, Bill McCollam and Peter Stuart-Sheppard. So, five of the six players were from Cobourg and the all Cobourg team of Bill, John and Louisa prevailed to book a place in the final against the Burlington team of Tom Gwinnet, Peter Andersen and Don Rush. Four down going into the last end they could not make a comeback and had to settle for a very creditable silver. And Peter added another bronze to his collection with Bill and Gary.
18 teams competed. Bill and Louisa Arthur played with John MacKenzie; Terry Bradshaw, Al Bell and Laura Mounce played together; Nan Hendren teamed up with Wayne Harding (Ottawa) and Fred Gundel (Burlington); finally Peter Stuart-Sheppard and Bill McCollam played with Gary Pickering (Niagara). The Arthur and Hendren teams were in the same group and Nan's team beat Bill's in the round robin. However both teams qualified for the quarter finals with a 4-1 record. Terry's team did not qualify but the team of Gary, Bill and Peter did. In fact they were seeded number one for the quarter finals. As fate would have it Nan and Bill's teams were drawn against one another as the 4th and 5th seeds. On this occasion Bill's team reversed the result from the round robin and moved into the semi final where they played the number 1 seeds, Gary Pickering, Bill McCollam and Peter Stuart-Sheppard. So, five of the six players were from Cobourg and the all Cobourg team of Bill, John and Louisa prevailed to book a place in the final against the Burlington team of Tom Gwinnet, Peter Andersen and Don Rush. Four down going into the last end they could not make a comeback and had to settle for a very creditable silver. And Peter added another bronze to his collection with Bill and Gary.
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Fours
Ten teams competed but the only Cobourg interest was with Peter and Bill. Gary Pickering was with them again and the fourth member was Patrick Cote (Port Credit). Peter got his third bronze award of the week and Bill also picked up his third award.
World Championships (Belfast in March 2024)
The Canadian team for the world championships will be announce shortly by the CSMBA. Since gold and silver medallists are an automatic pick John MacKenzie, Louisa and Bill Arthur are assured of a place as is Bill McCollam. It seems highly possible that Peter Stuart-Sheppard will be picked but we have to wait and see.
You can check out the full results at www.canadianshortmat.ca/
Finally thank you Dave and Kathleen Shirley and Mary Salter for making a day trip to support us in the triples. Also Mike Hendren who was there every day.
Ten teams competed but the only Cobourg interest was with Peter and Bill. Gary Pickering was with them again and the fourth member was Patrick Cote (Port Credit). Peter got his third bronze award of the week and Bill also picked up his third award.
World Championships (Belfast in March 2024)
The Canadian team for the world championships will be announce shortly by the CSMBA. Since gold and silver medallists are an automatic pick John MacKenzie, Louisa and Bill Arthur are assured of a place as is Bill McCollam. It seems highly possible that Peter Stuart-Sheppard will be picked but we have to wait and see.
You can check out the full results at www.canadianshortmat.ca/
Finally thank you Dave and Kathleen Shirley and Mary Salter for making a day trip to support us in the triples. Also Mike Hendren who was there every day.