(submitted to Quinte News)
Elise (age 11) and Isaac (age 14) Kerr of Belleville travelled to Iroquois Ontario to compete in the Governor General’s novice singles playdown tournament August 17, 2024 at the Iroquois Lawn bowling club (LBC) and won.
They’ll be heading to Elmdale LBC in Ottawa along with two men’s and two women’s fours team’s to represent Ontario vs. Quebec on August 31. The prestigious tournament has a long history.
In 1928, the then Governor General of Canada, His Excellency the Right Honourable Viscount Willingdon presented a silver trophy to the Eastern Ontario Lawn Bowling Association for annual competition between Men’s ‘fours’ teams from the Eastern Ontario LBA and the Québec Lawn Bowling Federation. The tournament alternated between the two provinces hosted by various Clubs.
In 1993, the ladies joined the event and in 1994, His Excellency, the Right Honourable Raymond John Hnatyshyn provided a new trophy to match the Willingdon Cup which is played for by Ladies ’fours’ teams from Ontario and Quebec. To recognize both the historic and feminine quality of the tournament the trophy was named the Governor General’s Rose Bowl.
The Eastern Ontario Lawn Bowling Association became part of the Ontario Lawn Bowls Association (OLBA) in 1957, thus the ’Ontario’ side of the Tournament Committee is governed by District 16 of OLBA. In 1989, the Ladies and Men’s Associations amalgamated. Despite these changes, the “Governor General’s” as it is affectionately known, has survived as an important and prestigious part of the regional bowling calendar.
The Tournament also includes competition between the Ladies and Men’s Novice Singles winners of the OLBA and their counterparts of the Quebec LBF.
