Lance Pattinson, a five-pin bowler from Prince George, will be competing at the Special Olympics Canada Winter Games from Feb. 27 to March 2 in Calgary.
The Winter Games will see athletes with intellectual disabilities from across the country come together to compete in alpine skiing, cross country skiing, curling, floor hockey, figure skating, speed skating, snowshoeing and five-pin bowling.
Carol Lee, five-pin bowling coach, said she’s been coaching for at least a decade and before that she volunteered.
This is the first time she’s attending the national competition.
“This is really exciting,” Lee said. “I can’t wait to see what happens.”
Lance competed in his first nationals in 2002 and he loves the game.
“I started in the 80s and it’s always been bowling for me,” Lance said. “It’s good exercise and –
“It’s like we’re all one big family,” finished Coach Lee. “It’s a great time to socialize and get to know one another.”
Lance heartily agreed and said he’s feeling pretty good going into the big competition.
Lee explained that Lance went to provincials in Kamloops in February, 2023, where his team took the gold, which qualified them to compete at the national competition this year.
“We won in Kamloops last year,” Lance recalled.
“They’re the best in BC,” Lee said.
There are five BC teams attending the competition and there are 24 lanes at the venue in Calgary with busy morning and afternoon sessions each day.
“I bowl with a good team,” Lance said. “I’ll do my best.”
The team is called the Dawson Creek Headpins and their motto is ‘what we do together can make a difference’. Besides Lance the team includes Dara Watson, Jacob Hanson and William Waffle from Dawson Creek and Robert Beiswanger from Quesnel.
