Several Lake Hill Members (Anita Wah, Marnie Dangerfield, Nick May, Mike Lee, and Heather Butler) competed in the Tag Team Pairs and Singles competition at 2026 Canadian Bowler Open in Calgary this past weekend, September 4th – 7th. This lawn bowling event has become one of the biggest in Canada having competitors with different abilities and gender diverse from Canada, U.S. and Scotland.
On a rainy first day, September 4th was the Tag Team Pairs qualifying round of 4 Games, 3-bowls, first to 14 Ends in a time limit of 2 hours. Only the top 64 teams qualify. The Tag Team part of the game is the team can switch their position Skip to Lead, vice versa three times in the game. The Tag Team Pairs Teams consists of Anita and Marnie; Nick and Mike; and Heather and Trevor Travis from Canadian Pacific. All three Pairs Teams qualified for the knockout rounds the next day and were placed in their appropriate single knockout bracket.
Day two, September 5th in the rain, the Tag Team Pairs Team of Anita and Marnie were the only Lake Hill Team that won their first knockout game, but unfortunately, loss to the eventual tournament winners of the Tag Team Pairs. While the other Tag Team Pairs loss their first knockout game.
Day three, September 6th, the start of the singles competition in the rain. We play all our 4 Games, 4-bowls, first to 18 Ends or 18 points with a time limit of 2 hours to qualify for next day knockout rounds of the top 64 players. Nick May (Ranked #38) and Mike Lee (Ranked #63) were able to qualify for the single elimination knockout rounds, and were placed into their appropriate brackets. In the qualifying rounds Nick and Mike played against each other and with their game ended in a thrilling tie 17-17 before time expired. This tie gave allowed Mike to participate in the knockout rounds.
Day four, September 7th, the day started cold and rainy for the single elimination knockouts. You now play first to 21 points with a time limit of 2 hours and 15 minutes. You win, you keep playing. Nick May had an incredible run winning in his first two games making it to a close semi-finals (third game) to bow out to a 2026 Canadian Under 18 Bronze Medalist from Ontario, Cayden Carter, 17-21. Mike Lee had a run of his lawn bowling life. Making it to the finals to play against Saskatchewan Provincial Indoor Champion, Charlie Taylor. Mike was able to capture the vS Sports Bracket with a stunning 21-12 victory. As the organizers of the tournament, Michael Pituley and Darryl Fitzgerald said in the presentation, “This was their best kept secret…Mike Lee”.
Above all Team Lake Hill had a fantastic time competing, reconnecting with old friends and building strong new connections. Congratulations to everyone on a memorable tournament!