WEST Vancouver's Tim Mason has a lot on his plate as the Canadian Lawn Bowling Championships draw near.
The championships will be hosted jointly by the North Vancouver and West Vancouver Lawn Bowling Clubs Aug. 19-25 and Mason will be front and centre as the tournament's chairman. He's got a few other hats as well, keeping up his duties as president of the West Van club as well as the director of sport development and promotion for Bowls Canada. That's all though, right Tim? "It's even worse," Mason said with a laugh when the North Shore News caught up with him Thursday. "I shot myself in the foot - I went and won the pairs (at the B.C. Championships). Not only am I chairing it, I'm playing in it."
If anyone can pull it all off, it's Mason - a relatively young bundle of energy in a sport that has a decidedly slower-paced reputation. Since taking up the sport after a pro hockey career, Mason has worked to raise the awareness of the game while also turning himself into a world-class player. He'll team up with Vancouver Islander Hiren Bhartu in the men's pairs event at this year's championships, reuniting a team that took home the 2006 national title. Other North Shore players taking part in the championships include the women's pairs team of Nancy Speers and Barbara Gandy as well as men's triples player Malcolm Taylor, all of whom are from North Vancouver.
This is the first time that the doubles, triples and fours nationals will be held in the same location at the same time, said Mason, making this the largest Canadian Championships ever held. This isn't going to be your normal quiet little roll in the garden.
"With that many people around it'll be pretty wild," said Mason. "It's a little louder - it's not your normal draw. People are out there cheering and loud."
The week will begin with an opening reception Sunday, Aug. 18 starting at 7 p.m. at Chief Joe Mathias Centre in North Vancouver, an event that is open to the public with a $5 entry fee. Round robin rolls Monday to Friday with 10 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. draws every day at both clubs. The championship finals are scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 24 with the women hitting the green at 10 a.m. and the men at 3 p.m. Tickets are $2 per day or $10 for the week.
With nearly 200 competitors, 250 volunteers and a host of other fans and friends in action every day, Mason said he feels like he's throwing a week's worth of weddings.
"That's the way it feels from the hotel rooms to dealing with our sponsors to reaching out to the media and everything like that," he said. "It's been a whirlwind couple of months for me. I'm waiting for the 25th to roll around pretty fast."
But, like a good wedding, at least the setting will be nice. "Both clubs look immaculate," said Mason. If the weather holds steady they'll have that in their favour as well, although the current long string of sundrenched days has Mason a little worried that the rain will come at the wrong time.
"It scares me a little bit, to be honest with you," he said. "I can't lie to ya, I've been looking for a couple of days (of rain) here and there because it's almost been too nice out there. This is the stuff that we want for that week. But it doesn't matter - rain or shine, we'll be prepared for it. We play right through it, unless it gets completely terrible out."
The North Shore's hosting duties come as a result of a fruitful partnership developed between the two old clubs, said Mason. North Vancouver has been rolling since 1923 and West Vancouver since 1934 and they're both as strong as ever.
"Last year we had 42 new members at our club, they had 40," he said. "We're two clubs that have really been pushing for growth, and probably I would say the leaders across the country in that.. .. Our relationship between the two clubs has been great, it's really opened up a new element for both of our clubs."
Mason would love to see a large North Shore turnout to support a sport that has a long history here and, with events like this raising awareness, hopefully a long future as well.
"Experience something new, support the community," he said. "Support something that's part of your history."
For more information visit bowlscanada.com.
