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PAGE B4THE CANADIAN STATESMAN, APRIL 2,2003 www.durhamregion.com • Joyce Hilton takes careful aim during a game in the Rainbow Bowling League that is celebrating its 75th anniversary. She is one of the longest serving members of the league, having bowled for 35 years. JASON LIEBREGTS/ Statesman photo Golden friendships in Rainbow Bowling League DURHAM ENGINEERING LTD, 1 Structural, mechanical & electrical • Residential, industrial & commercial • New design or renovation • Structural investigations • Environmental assessments (905) 728-2255 420 King St. W., Suite 206, Oshawa C.M.H.A, TOROS SPRING TRYOUTS 2003 All Tryouts are at Garnet B. Rickard Arena Pad A Players must be registered with the CRHL BEFORE they can tryout out for a AAA team. Tryout Cost $7/hour Novice AAA (1995) Monday, April 14, 2003 5-6:30 pm Monday, April 21,2003 5-6:30 pm Minor Atom AAA (19941 Monday, April 14, 2003 6:30-8 pm Monday, April 21,2003 6:30-8 pm Peewee AAA (1991) Monday, April 14, 2003 8-9:30 pm Monday, April 21,2003 8-9:30 pm Minor Bantam AAA (1990) Tuesday, April 15, 2003 8-9:30 pm Friday, April 25, 2003 6-7:30 pm (Pad B) Atom AAA (1993) Tuesday, April 15, 2003 5-6:30 pm Bantam AAA (19891 Monday, April 14, 2003 9:30-11 pm Wednesday,.April 23, 2003 5-6:30 pm Monday, April 21,2003 9:30-11 pm (X'cufihgto*-^ Minor Peewee AAA (1992) Tuesday, April 15, 2003 6:30-8 pm f Tuesday, April 22, 2003 5-6:30 pm • f f Players should allow ample time for completion of Information forms. Visit our website www.claringtontoros.com for more Tryout Information E-mail your news items to The Statesman at newsroom@durhamregion.com Members have been rolling on the lanes for 75 years BY BRIAN LEGREE Sports Editor DURHAM - The Rainbow Bowling League follows a simple formula for success. A group of ladies gather once a week, knock a few pins down and share a few laughs. Thai tried and tested system Iras worked effectively for 75 years, making making it the oldest known bowling league in Canada. "I joined for social reasons and I'm still there," says Pat Leckie, 57, who joined the league of Tuesday afternoon bowlers in 1971. "A couple of my neighbours went down, we just wanted an afternoon out. They had a babysitting service at the Oshawa Lanes, under the Bo-Peep restaurant." Clara Lee was the first woman to bowl in the league when it started in 1927 with two teams that played out of the old YMCA building on Simcoe Street South in Oshawa. The league then moved to the Motor City alleys on Simcoe Street North and by 1944 it had grown to 10 teams, operating operating at the Mayfair Lanes on Athol Street. When the Mayfair Lanes burnt down in the late 1950s, the league moved to newly built Oshawa Shopping Shopping Centre Lanes. By 1967, it was using all 24 lanes at the shopping centre. centre. Those were they peak days for the growth of the league, which has gradually gradually shrunk in size. It now operates out of North End Bowl and features 43 members from Oshawa, Whitby, Courtice, Bow- manville and Port Perry. "It's just a really nice group of women," says Linda Doyle, the league's treasurer who lias bowled with the Rainbow ladies for five years. The league features a wide range of bowlers, both in terms of age and ability. ability. "We have some who can't hit 100 and one who is usually in the high 200s or low 300s, there's a real mix of bowling bowling skill," says Doyle, adding there arc women in their 30s to their 70s in the league. But age isn't what matters in the Rainbow league. Friendship does. "There's a real camaraderie among the ladies," says Doyle, noting her mother lives in western Canada, so the Rainbow league gives her an opportunity opportunity to build friendships witli women similar in age to her mom. "It isn't about the bowling, it's just a reason to get together and see people." No one knows that better than Leckie, Leckie, who lias seen many faces come and go in the league, hut has built friendships friendships that have lasted a lifetime. In fact, one friend she met through the howling league recently passed away at age 96. Even though the woman had given up howling for several several years, the pair kept in contact, Leckie Leckie says, "I stayed in touch with her a couple of times a year," she says, The league has also had an annual banquet and this year is no exception, Although l.eckie can remember days when the banquet took on the feel of a gala event, complete with evening dresses, it's now much more informal. To mark its 75th year, the league is welcoming all former howlers hack lor the year-end festivities, set lor Tuesday, April 29 at Ctimickslers, 900 Hopkins St. in Whitby, beginning at 5:30 p.m. For more information, call Leckie at 905-720-1020. 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