By Adam Jackson
Bowling is a game of numbers, but numbers seem to mean nothing to four Rimbey men.
With a combined age of almost 300 years, Larry Varty, John Stanley, John Wall and Hugh Bayne travelled to Red Deer on Dec. 5 and came back with gold.
“I was surprised - very surprised that we won gold,” said Hugh Bayne, the team’s oldest member at 83 years old.
The team, which met at Striker’s Ally in Rimbey, had never competed before heading to Red Deer for the Men’s Big Four five-pin tournament. Even though they were playing against 20 other teams, some of the men half their age or younger, they managed to win the tournament and take home $500 cash.
“I’ll probably buy Christmas presents with the money, if I can figure out what to buy. That might be harder than winning the tournament,” said a laughing Bayne.
Stanley and Varty are the only men out of the group who had bowled together previously and they have been bowling together for 14 years.
“Larry and I have bowled together pretty much since they opened (Striker’s),” said Stanley, who was proudly wearing his medal around his neck.
When asked who bowled the best, none of the four men would point fingers.
“Everyone bowled average or better and that’s what a team needs to win,” said a proud Bayne.
Co-owner of the alley, June Rudulier, is also very proud of the team she saw form before her eyes.
“It’s great for the alley, the community and them,” said a pleased Rudulier.
The group insists that they will compete next year at the same tournament and hope to win it again.