More than 150 bowlers and bowling coaches will strike Prince George this weekend for the Coastal Insurance Provincial Open Championship, taking place Friday to Sunday at Black Diamond Lanes and Nechako Lanes bowling alleys.
They'll be vying for a men's team, women's team and mixed team, as well as a men's single and ladies' single spot at the national finals being held June 1 to 4 in the Lower Mainland. The national championship takes place in Langley and Surrey at Willowbrook Lanes and Scottsdale Lanes.
Competitors are coming from all seven zones in the province, representing areas from Vancouver Island, the Lower Mainland, Fraser Valley South, Fraser Valley North, the Okanagan, Northwest B.C. and B.C. North.
Irene Snow, who helped organize the event with her husband, Zone 8 representative Gordon Snow, said the calibre of competition will be high. The best bowlers in the province will be here.
Bowlers range in age from 19 to veterans in their 50s and 60s.
"We (Zone 8) have a very good men's team and ladies, too. All have a chance," she said.
Competitors will be arriving Thursday and can take advantage of practice sessions from 9 to 11 p.m. at both bowling alleys. Coaches and managers will meet at 9 p.m. Thursday at Nechako Lanes.
Ladies' singles games start at 9 a.m. Friday at Nechako Lanes, while men's singles start at 9 a.m. over at Black Diamond Lanes.
Mixed teams compete at 1 p.m. at Black Diamond Lanes. Men's teams play at 1 p.m. at Nechako Lanes and ladies' teams play at 1 p.m. at Black Diamond Lanes. Following the first day's competition a reception will be held at Nechako Lanes at 8 p.m.
On Saturday men's singles bowl at 9 a.m. at Nechako Lanes, and ladies' singles bowl at 9 a.m. at Black Diamond Lanes. Mixed teams play at Nechako Lanes at noon, followed by men's and ladies' teams at 1 p.m., both at Black Diamond Lanes.
Play resumes at 7 a.m. Sunday with ladies' teams at Nechako Lanes, men's teams at Black Diamond Lanes at 7 a.m. as well as mixed teams at black Diamond Lanes at 7 a.m. Singles stepladder takes place at 11 a.m. at Black Diamond followed by team stepladder at 2:30 p.m. at the same alley.
The victory banquet, awards and presentations wraps up the weekend at 7 p.m. at the Coast Inn of The North.
