The Mapleton Shuffleboard League has completed a successful first session in Drayton.
A banquet to celebrate the success of the league was held on May 24 at the Drayton Legion, featuring guest speaker Myrna Bilton, a shuffleboard enthusiast from the Centre Wellington Shuffleboard Club.
Mapleton Shuffleboard coordinator Donna Hirtle explained Bilton was introduced to shuffleboard in the late 1970s at her parents’ winter home in Florida.
Hirtle went on to say, “When Bilton and her husband purchased a home in the same park as her parents in Florida, naturally Bilton took up shuffleboard. Bilton was hooked.”
Hirtle added, “Along with her husband, the couple were instrumental in forming the Centre Wellington Shuffleboard Club in 2009. The pair also were Canadian National Shuffleboard Association presidents for a two years period.”
Hirtle read a lengthy list of Bilton’s shuffleboard accomplishments over the years that includes induction into the Ontario Shuffleboard Association Hall of Fame, the Canadian National Shuffleboard Association Hall of Fame and the International Shuffleboard Association Hall of Fame.
Currently, she holds the position of International Shuffleboard Association president. Bilton recently returned from Alberta, Russia and Austria, where she was promoting and playing shuffleboard.
A passion for the game of shuffleboard was evident in Bilton’s presentation. She encouraged those in attendance to “stay active, stay shuffling and stay healthy.”
Bilton asked, “Why play shuffleboard? Shuffleboard promotes wellness, physical activity and sociability. How many of you have met new people at shuffleboard who you didn’t know lived in the area?”
Bilton continued, “Learning to play takes five minutes and players can take a lifetime of getting better at it. You don’t need brute strength to play the game.”
Players can be involved at the local, Ontario, national and international levels.
“I have been blessed with opportunities to represent Canada in Australia, Germany, Norway, England. I recently got back from Austria, where I was one of eight Canadians that played for team North America,” Bilton said.
She encouraged the Mapleton Shuffleboard League by ending her presentation with these words: “Keep shuffling, keep happy and enjoy life.”
After the presentation by Bilton, certificates were given to Mapleton Shuffleboard members Murray Bateman, Ken Drury, Roelie Katerberg, Alice Luth, John Luth, Gord Oosterveld, Ann Oosterveld, Virginia Reed Bateman, Hank Reinders, Floyd Schieck, Donna Schieck, Lyall Shantz, Lorraine Smith, Stu Smith, and Arnie VanAnkum for perfect attendance during league play.
Ken Drury received a certificate for most wins by a man (he had seven wins, two losses). Most wins by a woman went to Linda Hahn with (seven wins, one loss).
Virginia Reed Bateman with 820 points had the most points among women. On the men’s side the winner was Stu Smith with 850 points.
Gord and Anne Oosterveld were given a gift of appreciation for being instrumental in the formation of the Mapleton Shuffleboard League and for their continued support of the league.
The Mapleton Shuffleboard League is taking a break and will reconvene on Sept. 13. For more information on the league, contact Hirtle at 519-638-0888.
