Port Alberni lawn bowlers Jake van Kooten, Elaine van Kooten, Stephen Forrest and Robin Forrest went undefeated to win the Zone Mixed Fours tournament in Courtenay on Aug. 10–11.
Zone clubs from Nanaimo, Parksville, Qualicum, Courtenay and Port Alberni were represented at this tournament. Twenty-four teams participated and played four, 14-end games.
Port Alberni was the only team to go undefeated, winning all four of their games.
The games were pre-drawn, with Port Alberni playing all four of their games against Courtenay teams. Even though Courtenay had the home advantage of knowing the playing surface, the Port Alberni team played through victorious.
Two games were played each day; Port Alberni’s second game on Sunday, against the other undefeated team, was to decide the tournament winner.
After 12 ends of play, the score was tied at 11-11. On the 13th end, with the Port Alberni team having played a good end and positioned their bowls slightly behind the jack [target for the game], skip Stephen Forrest played a skilled shot to trail the jack into the pack of his team’s bowls. He scored four shots to bring Port Alberni’s score to 15 over Courtenay’s 11.
With only one end left to play, the Port Alberni team positioned their bowls around the jack and covered all Courtenay bowls, thus preventing any chance for Courtenay to score enough shots to tie or win the game.
At the trophy presentation, Port Alberni thanked Courtenay for hosting the tournament and all the organization that goes into making a successful tournament. Also thanked was the tournament sponsor, Chad’s Bar and Grill for providing some financial backing.
Last weekend (Aug. 17–18), Port Alberni Lawn Bowling Club hosted the Bowls BC Ca$h Triples tournament. No results were available by press time.