WRESTLING, BASKET- BALL and skiing may ali be high profile events in the Northem B.C, Winter Games but there’s another one deserving of a look — carpet bowling. Mary Ann Dilley calls it the hidden sport of the games and one that needs More attention. “People don’t us expect to be there but we are,’’ says Dilley who is playing a key role in organizing the com- petition this weekend. It’s played on a long, nar- row green carpet resembling a sheet of curling ice. The object is to place bowls — similar to two cereal bowls glued together — as close as possible to a smaller white jack ball. The strategy and skill also resembles curling in thal players try to curve in the bowls to the jack ball. Bowling with too much or too lite weight can be a Hidden sport worth a much close Mary Ann Dilley problem aud selling up guards is a cmcial part of the strategy. “If you can bowl down straight you'll do well but not many people can,’’ says Dilley, She calls carpet bowling an excellent sport for its ex- ercise. “The average age of our players here is 70 years and we have one lady who is r look 86,”’ Dilley adds. The venue for carpet bowling at the games is the basement of the Happy Gang Centre on Kalum, That’s the kome base for lo- cal carpet bowlers, There are four people on a team and the game is also played in pairs. There'll be people from Kitimat competing here as well as Fort St. John, Prince George and Granisle. Local carpet bowlers com- pete regularly in many other events and that means they’ll have a chance to greet old friends at the games. Local carpet bowlers haven't figured prominently in medals in recent competi- tions and their time is due, emphasizes Dilley. Carpet bowling at the Happy Gang Centre begins 10 a.m. on Friday and lasts until 6 p.m., resuming at the same time on Saturday. The Terrace Standard, Wednesday, February 5, 1997 - B7 7 B.C. Lion to grace opening ceremony THE CFL's all-time scoring leader is just one of the dignitaries to be on hand atthe Northern B.C. Winter Games this weekend. Lui Passaglia, the veteran main-stay field goal and punt kicker for the B.C. Lions, will conduct the Oath of Athletes and make remarks at the open- ing ceremonies for the games. Passaglia, 42, has just signed a con- tract to play again for the Lions — his 22nd season with the team. The opening ceremonies begin at 7 p.m. Friday al-the arena. - alsa on hand’ will be'Jan Pullinger, the small business, tourism and culture minister who is also responsible for amateur sport. She'll be officially opening the games as the provincial government’s repre- sentative. The opening ceremonies begin with a parade of dignitaries followed by the parade of athletes who will enter the arena grouped according to the regions they represent, There’ll also be entertainment and remarks by Terrace mayor Jack Talstra and George Neuman, chair of the newly-formed Coast Mountain school district. Games president Steve Scott and games vice president Rod Cox will also make remarks. Air B.C. officials will be on hand to make the draw for a trip by an athlete. o All The Athletes ompeting In the Northern EXPERT AND veteran carpet bowlers Vroman Hampton and Jaan Bruggeaman will be among Ter- race's representatives when competition for medals in this category begins as part of the Northern B.C. Winter Games. You can catch carpet bowling action at the Happy Gang Centre. They’re two of a kind IT’S NOT true, You don't have to be Dutch or from Saskatchewan to carpet bowl in Terrace, Bul a recent shuw of hands at a training session of lo- cal carpel bowlers revealed a lot of them come Holland or from that prairie province. Carpet bowling here dates back nearly 20 years, of- fering a social time and exercise for those who take part. It’s a year-round sport offering locals chances to compete at a number of events, including this weekend’s Northem B.C, Winter Games. Jaan Bruggeaman, 85, and Vroman Hampton, 86, are about the oldest competitors yowll encounter at the ' games. - Pos ce “Pye been doing this almost since day- one,’” says Bruggcaman. ‘We don't stop. It goes on all year, twice a week.” ; Hampton says he bowls because it gives him exercise and gets him out of the house. “If not, P’'d probably sit al home reading or doing crossword puzzles. Bruggeaman adds that anybody who can walk a flight of stairs can carpet bowl. ‘Ts not that hard and it’s enjoyable,”’ she says. Bruggeaman was a five-pin bowler for years in addi- tion to carpet bowling. And Hampton curled back in Saskatchewan. They say there are similarities between those two sports and carpet bowling. Both competed the last time the games were here in 1991 and both are looking forward to this weekend. Local bowlers say Granisle’ is expected to “bey thes L wom dave es Be a a he ei eR WO loughest ‘compelition. «Bowlers from~: that’ growing: retirement community on Babine Lake beat teams from Houston, Smithers and Telkwa in order to come here. We’ve also struck silver e've struck gold! and bronze...medals that is. For the past 11 years, Alcan has een a proud sponsor of the medal awarded during the Northern B.C. Winter Games. You could say we’ re not into just aluminum anymore. Alcan...an element of B.C. Alcan Smelters and Chemicals Lid. hy, ALCAN ‘'