Winnipeg area bowlers earn major share of Canadian Mixed Championships titles

Winnipeg area bowlers earned a major share of the titles as 42 teams from across Canada competed in the Canadian Tenpin Federation's sixth Mixed Championships. The competition took place at Chateau Lanes in Winnipeg, Manitoba April 17-20, 2008. This is an increase of 10 teams over the 2007 championships.

A team of three Team Canada women and a local Winnipeg competitor won both the Handicap and Scratch Team titles. Robin Orlikowski, a Canadian now living in Grand Rapids, Michigan, Sharon Tataryn, Lynne Gauthier and Blair Chaban, Winnipeg, Manitoba combined to earn both events.

Tataryn also earned women's handicap and scratch Singles and Scratch women's All Events titles.

Norton and Lauraine Fast of Calgary, Alberta, won the handicap doubles title. Team Canada member Melody Savage and Kevin Higgins, both from the Winnipeg area earned the scratch title.

Team Canada coach Lucien Casagrande of Winnipeg and Jules Soetaert, Edmonton, Alberta took the Open Doubles handicap and scratch crowns. 77 year old Soetaert recently made headlines when he became the oldest person in North America to bowl back-to-back 300 games. Soetaert accomplished the feat at Ed's in the Edmonton mall in January.

Chris Allard, Winnipeg earned the men's handicap Singles and the handicap All Events titles. Robbie Scerbo, Winnipeg won the scratch men's All Events title.

Marc Schofield, Richmond, British Columbia earned the men's scratch Singles title.

Kelly Kruschel, Calgary won the women's Handicap All Events title.

The top two Scratch All Events men and women senior bowlers who are 50 years of age as of January 1, 2008, will represent Canada at the Tournament of the Americas to be held in Orlando, Florida in July 2008. Elizabeth Wong and Lauraine Fast of Calgary and Ken Hunter and Lucien Casagrande of Winnipeg earned the honours.

The 2009 Mixed Championships will be held in Thunder Bay, Ontario.