115 of the top amateur bowlers in Canada will compete at National Championships in Winnipeg, Manitoba

Winnipeg, Manitoba will host 115 of the top amateur bowlers in Canada at the National Championships beginning May 16th. They will vie for a position on the 2009 adult and under 20 national teams.

This is the second national championships hosted by Winnipeg within a month. The National Mixed Championships were held in Winnipeg, April 17-29th. Chateau Lanes and Club Laverandrye will be the host centers. The Canadian National Championships is an annual tournament consisting of 36 games over four days.

42 women will begin competition at Club Laverandrye on Friday. 73 men will bowl at Chateau Lanes. All competitors will bowl two 4-game blocks on May 16th and May 17th. The blocks will be bowled on 'long' and 'short' oil.

After the 16 games, the field will be cut to 36 men and 24 women. The 16 game totals will be carried over to day three. Chateau Lanes will be the site of the competition for both men and women on day three. Competition will be two 4-game blocks.

After the 24 games the field will be cut to 18 men and 12 women who will play an 11 game round robin match plus a final position round with #1 meeting #2 and so on.. The 24 game totals will be carried forward and each match won will receive 10 points bonus.

At the end of the 36 games, the top six men and six women plus two additional men and women, selected by a committee from those who finish in the top 18, will form the Adult Team Canada.

The Youth Team Canada will be comprised of the top 4 youth male plus 1 alternate and top 4 youth female plus 1 alternate from the final standings who are under 20 years of age on January 1, 2009.

The Canadian Tenpin Federation was formed in 1969 to qualify representatives for international competition. . CTF became a full membership organization on August 1, 2004 to deliver membership services to 40,000 plus registered tenpin bowlers in Canada.

Memberships services had previously been provided by the American Bowling Congress, the Women's International Bowling Congress and the Young American Bowling Alliance who were headquartered in the USA.