The Ontario Under 18 championship was held at Lindsay on June 27th and 28th and Ben van Steijn was competing in the Boys Championship and sister Baylee in the Girls. Our high hopes were not mis-placed as they both had terrific performances with Ben winning gold and Baylee silver. Those results also meant that they both qualified as the Ontario representatives in the Canadian National championships to be played at the Nutana Lawn Bowling Club in Saskatoon in August.
Twelve boys competed and eight girls and the format was slightly different in each championship. On Day 1 the girls played three round robin games with the results being used to determine seedings for the quarter finals which would be played on Day 2. Baylee had three easy wins which meant an easier quarter final draw which she won 21-6. However there were no easy games after that. In a tight semi final game she won 21-17 to qualify for the final where she played Chris Burke of the Lindsay club. Her first loss of the championship by 11-21 meant that she took silver. This was a great performance and as well as her silver medal she was presented with the award for girls bowler of the year in 2014, At age 14 Baylee has several more years to compete at this level and has a great chance of winning gold in the next few years.
In the boys section there were four groups of three and the top two in each group would qualify for the quarter finals on Day 2. Ben had a tough draw and he lost his first game 20-21 to Owen Kirby of Kitchener who he would meet again in the final. However after that set back he never looked back, winning his second round robin game 21-4; his quarter final game 21-4 and his semi final game 21-15. In the final he put in a fine performance to beat Kirby 21-11. At age 16 he will have one more year in this category in which to defend his title. The results were especially impressive given the wet and difficult conditions on the second day and both Ben and Baylee can be proud of their performances which are a result of many years of practice and help and advice from the club’s junior coach Sharyl Ann Milligan.
We wish them all the best in Saskatoon.
Twelve boys competed and eight girls and the format was slightly different in each championship. On Day 1 the girls played three round robin games with the results being used to determine seedings for the quarter finals which would be played on Day 2. Baylee had three easy wins which meant an easier quarter final draw which she won 21-6. However there were no easy games after that. In a tight semi final game she won 21-17 to qualify for the final where she played Chris Burke of the Lindsay club. Her first loss of the championship by 11-21 meant that she took silver. This was a great performance and as well as her silver medal she was presented with the award for girls bowler of the year in 2014, At age 14 Baylee has several more years to compete at this level and has a great chance of winning gold in the next few years.
In the boys section there were four groups of three and the top two in each group would qualify for the quarter finals on Day 2. Ben had a tough draw and he lost his first game 20-21 to Owen Kirby of Kitchener who he would meet again in the final. However after that set back he never looked back, winning his second round robin game 21-4; his quarter final game 21-4 and his semi final game 21-15. In the final he put in a fine performance to beat Kirby 21-11. At age 16 he will have one more year in this category in which to defend his title. The results were especially impressive given the wet and difficult conditions on the second day and both Ben and Baylee can be proud of their performances which are a result of many years of practice and help and advice from the club’s junior coach Sharyl Ann Milligan.
We wish them all the best in Saskatoon.