A Calgary youth bowler is hoping to continue her hot streak in May, as she travels to participate in a pair of national championships.
Charlotte Boyd, 12 years old, only picked up the game of bowling a few years ago, but she’s been striking down the competition ever since.
Boyd says bowling runs in her family.
“My grandpa and my mom were bowling, and I was like, ‘Can I try some?’ and they let me play,” she said.
“Then I started bowling and I was doing pretty good, so my mom put me in a youth league.”
Two provincial wins
This year Boyd has been on top of her game. She won gold in both the Youth Bowl Alberta Provincials and the Canadian Tenpin Federation Provincials.
Boyd says those were big wins for her.
“It felt really good to me,” she said.
“I really wasn’t expecting it, and I was kind of crying a bit. I was just overjoyed in those moments.”
Heading to nationals
The bowler out of Splitsville Calgary Highfield now gets to represent Alberta at a pair of national championships.
She’ll head to Edmonton from May 4 to 10 for the Youth Bowl Canada Nationals. She’s then off to Quebec City from May 14 to 19 for the Canadian Tenpin Federation Nationals.
Boyd isn’t sure what to expect.
“Since I am representing Alberta two times, it is a bit stressful, but I’ll at least try my best and that’s all that matters,” she said.
Charlotte’s mom, Rhiannon, can’t believe how far she’s come with her game and says she couldn’t be more proud of her.
“Every Saturday when we come to watch here in league, it’s all about her growth and the way that she is evolving as a bowler and making these small adjustments for herself when she is out there.”
Great targeting
On the day we interviewed Boyd, she was on target. She bowled a 191, which just happened to be her personal best.
Norton Fast is Charlotte’s coach, and he believes she has what it takes.
“I think her biggest strength and her asset is her targeting,” he said.
“You can move her around the lane and ask her to hit a certain point on the lane and she can do it.”
Boyd is hoping that will be the case at the nationals, but she says she’s not going to put any extra pressure on herself.
“My expectations are just to have fun and bowl well, nothing special.”
