This team of bowlers from Kobau Lanes in Osoyoos will be representing the town and all their fellow senior bowlers in town when they compete this weekend in the Plus 55 B.C. Games in North Vancouver. The team qualified for the provincial games by winning their zone playdowns in Vernon recently. Team members include (back row left to right) Hal Krieger, Ernie Shats and Murray Naugler as well as (front row left to right) Pat Krieger, Gladys Baryla and Joyce Naugler. Pat Krieger is team manager and will be a spare at the tournament. (Photo supplied)
A bowling team from Kobau Lanes in Osoyoos will be trying to their best to bring back some hardware this week at the Plus 55 B.C. Games in North Vancouver.
Team members include Pat Krieger, Joyce and Murray Naugler, Ernie Shats and Gladys Baryla. Krieger’s wife Pat is team manager and will be a spare if anyone gets injured or can’t play for any reason at the provincial championships.
The team had to qualify for the provincial senior games by winning an in-house tournament in April and then the zone finals in Vernon in early May.
They easily captured the zone tournament as they finished 168 pins over average against more than a dozen teams from across the South Okanagan.
Because of that outstanding performance in Vernon, Hal Krieger said the team is very confident heading to the provincial senior games tournament, which kicked off Wednesday and concludes on Saturday.
“If we all bowl like we did in Vernon, we have a real good shot of doing well and maybe coming home with a medal,” he said. “We really clicked as a team in Vernon and hopefully we will continue that momentum to the senior games.”
While they will be competing as a team, the tournament also features singles competition and all of the bowlers from Osoyoos will be competing to score the high single and high triple at the tournament.
Krieger has only been bowling for three years after his wife of 41 years finally convinced him to take up the sport.
“She’s been bowling for many years, but I was never really interested,” he said smiling. “She finally talked me into it and I’m really glad she did because I really enjoy it and I’ve got to meet a lot of really nice people.”
In Vernon, Krieger bowled “the game of his life” as he bowled a score of 294 in a single game, which is far above his 157 average.
“I was on fire … I couldn’t miss,” he said. “That was easily the best game I’ve bowled in my life and to do it in a big regional tournament was really exciting.”
All of the players on the team get along extremely well and have a good time, while also sharing a competitive streak at the same time, he said.
“We’re all business when we actually get up to shoot, but we also like to joke around and have some fun,” he said. “We’re going to Vancouver to try and do our best and hopefully win a medal, but if we shoot our best and it’s not good enough, then we’ll be alright with that.”
Most of the team members have competed in the provincial senior games in the past and are looking forward to returning this week, he said.
“It’s a fantastic event with more than 3,000 seniors from all over the province,” said Pat Krieger. “There’s a great spirit and great camaraderie amongst all of the competitors and it’s just a wonderful event to be part of.”
Some of the other sports that will be part of the senior games include archery, badminton, duplicate and social bridge, cribbage, cycling, darts, dragonboat racing, floor curling, equestrian, golf, horseshoes, curling, ice hockey, lawn bowling, slo-pitch, soccer, swimming, table tennis and track and field.
More than 1,000 volunteers will be part of the games.
Pat Krieger has competed in the senior provincial games on more than one occasion and said it’s an extremely rewarding experience.
“There’s a great camaraderie amongst all of the competitors and everyone is genuinely excited to be there and to try their best in their respective sport,” she said. “While everyone tries their best and would like to win, the bottom line is most of us are there to compete and have some fun and if you come home with a good result or a medal, then that’s even better. I really look forward to being part of this once again.”
Several golfers from Osoyoos are also competing at the senior games, she said.
KEITH LACEY
Osoyoos Times
