As the city of Gatineau was facing historic flooding that chased people from their homes, just a few kilometres away bowlers from North Bay were in a hotel preparing for the Youth Bowl Canada Nationals Championship that were held on May 6th until the 8th in the city.
10-year-old Sadie Tremblay finished 5th in Bantam Girls Singles, while the senior boys team, including Liam Smith, Dylan Grant, Cody Edmunds and Thomas Williams placed 8th. Tremblay, who is in her 7th year of bowling, earned a trip to the Nationals after taking gold at the Provincials earlier this year in Timmins.
Also competing at the Nationals was her older brother Liam Smith, who joined his teammates Dylan Grant, Cody Edmunds, Thomas Williams and Coach Phil ‘Flipper’ Smith in the Senior Boys Team category. The Senior Boys bowled a 226 team average over 4 games at the Provincials to earn a spot at Nationals thanks to seven YBC National appearances among them. This was the first time since 1991 that a Senior Boys team from North Bay was represented at the YBC Nationals.
Edmunds is in his final year of YBC bowling, and the 2016 Youth Challenge Nationals Champion competed in his 2nd YBC Nationals. Williams in just his 2nd year at Partners after many years of bowling in Garson competed in his first Nationals. Grant competed in his 4th YBC Nationals, and was looking to best his silver medal at last year’s YBC National Championships. Smith was also competing in his 4th YBC Nationals and recently finished in 7th place at the Youth Challenge Nationals in March.
