Wendy Carey says she and her husband Bruce "eat, sleep and breathe carpet bowling."
They used to play five times a week but have cut back, still bowling three times per week. It’s this dedication that has brought them to the top of their game and will see them compete against teams from across the Island in the Vancouver Island playoffs this April.
The couple won gold on March 5 in Honeymoon Bay in the South Island competition and will compete against bowlers from the North Island league at the Cowichan Lake Arena on April 26.
Their latest win adds to an impressive record of achievements.
The Careys take part in both local and provincial-level competitions, including the 55+ Senior Games and the BC Games. The higher-level competitions are just as fun as the community games but last three or four days. There are opening and closing ceremonies, dances, banquets and podium medal presentations.
The Careys play out of the Crofton Seniors Centre where they are members. They tried carpet bowling about eight years ago and were instantly hooked.
“It’s actually quite an addictive sport,” said Wendy Carey.
The first time they tried carpet bowling, they signed up for the league before they had even finished the first game. They’ve been scoring points and collecting medals ever since.
Sometimes competing as a pair and sometimes on a team of four, they’ve earned multiple provincial and regional titles over the years, including silver at the 55+ Games in Abbotsford and bronze at the BC Senior Games in Enderby.
Carey describes carpet bowling as a cross between curling and bowling, without the pins.
“There are no pins, just a very expensive wool carpet, 30 feet long and five feet wide,” she said. “You have a jack, which looks like a pool cue, and you throw the jack. Wherever it lands, that’s the target. Then, you throw your balls, trying to get as close to the jack as possible.”
The balls are weighted so they tend to curve when thrown, like in curling. The Careys play with a four pound ball. With a goal of having more balls closer to the jack than your opponent, a typical game lasts eight ends, played back and forth on the carpet. Carey says she loves every minute of it.
Even a broken wrist couldn’t keep her from the sport and her most recent wins have all been played with her non-dominant hand.
“I’m a right-hand bowler but now I’m bowling with my left quite nicely,” said Carey. “I was determined. I love it so much, I couldn’t stop bowling just because I broke my wrist.”
When asked if her injury was a result of carrying all the medals she's won, Carey clarified with a laugh.
“I broke my wrist being silly in the yard with some wood and a pickaroon. I was pulling on the wood as hard as I could, and when the bark let go, I went flying backward and fell.”
One of Carey’s favourite things about carpet bowling is how accessible it is and that everyone is welcome. There are no official lessons or coaching; it’s all learn-as-you-go, but Carey said carpet bowlers are always eager to help new players.
“It’s great for stretching and movement, which is why even people in their 90s play,” said Carey. “We also have legally blind players who use the yellow balls because they can’t see the black ones, as well as players who have had strokes or use wheelchairs. There’s a special ball release they can use, and they’re allowed to bowl from a walker or use a cane for balance. It’s a very accessible sport.”
For those curious about the sport, Carey encourages newcomers to give carpet bowling a try. The Crofton Seniors Centre welcomes players of all skill levels, and drop-in opportunities are available for those looking to learn. She and her husband play there twice a week on Mondays and Fridays and head to Honeymoon Bay on Wednesdays to play.
“If you're ever near Crofton on a Friday night, we play at 7 o’clock, and you can come and watch or even take a turn playing,” said Carey. “You don’t have to join just to have fun and play a game.”
