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By Jon Kuiperij BEAVER SPORTS EDITOR When asked if he ever imagined hed still be bowling at the age of 90, Eric Holock did- nt hesitate. Well, its another four days, he said with a raspy chuckle, referring to the milestone birthday that hell celebrate Sunday. Who knows, anything can happen. Its that light-hearted wit and the fact that he can still bowl with the best of his peers that makes Holock both a popular and inspirational figure in the Wednesday night five-pin mixed league at Hopedale Bowl. Holock isnt slowing down. In fact, he said last season was his best yet, a year in which he carried a 200 average. This year, he admits hes off to a bit of a slower start, averaging 185. I think my years are beginning to tell, he joked. But that still ranks him fifth in the Wednesday league. Eric is one of our best bowlers. Hes always consistently in the top group, said Andrew Alic, who has bowled in the league with Holock for the past five years. And hes a perfect gentleman. Hes always trying to help, will always give you advice. Hes a very nice individual to bowl with. That much was evident Wednesday as Holocks fellow league members brought him a cake and boisterously sang Happy Birthday to the long-time local resident. People ask me why Ive kept on bowling. Ive been bowling 40 years or so, said Holock, using a microphone to address the other players. I say its for the friendships. And theres no doubt about it, this place has friends. Were all friends unless were los- ing, of course. Friendship is what got Holock into the sport in the first place. After immigrating to Canada in 1956, he joined his company bowl- ing team in Niagara Falls the following year in order to get to know his co-workers. Holock moved to Oakville in 1959, when he joined his church bowling league. Hes been bowling ever since. Its the game and the camaraderie, he said. Theres the competitive aspect, and theres also playing against yourself and try- ing to get better. You get bloody mad when youre not getting better. You come here and meet a bunch of peo- ple, have a chat. Its as much the fun of being with the people as it is the bowling. Holock helps make it fun for everyone else as well. Elsie Henderson, who has bowled in the same league as Holock for more than 20 years, used to put new bowlers on Holocks team when she ran a league at Trafalgar Village. I got put with Eric when I started, SportsOakville Beaver SPORTS EDITOR: JON KUIPERIJ Phone 905-845-3824 (ext. 432) Fax 905-337-5571 email sports@oakvillebeaver.com FRIDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2010 37 Bowler still knocking them down at age of 90 NOT SLOWING DOWN: Eric Holock jokes around as his fellow Wednesday night mixed league players throw him a birthday party this week at Hopedale Bowl. Holock, who will turn 90 on Sunday, is still one of the highest-scoring players in the league. NIKKI WESLEY / OAKVILLE BEAVER See Five-pin page 39