The London Lawn Bowling Club was organized in 1892 and in 1902 had a membership of 245. The Club grounds were situated on the south bank of the River Thames, just at the confluence of the North and South branches, a great location for a bowling green. The members had two large greens for play - one 12 feet above the other - one 125 feet by 50 feet and the other 130 foot square, each had cinder bottoms.
It was upon these lawns that the annual Western Ontario Bowling Association tournament was held since the organization's inception in 1895.
These greens were lost in the flood of West London in 1937. Bowling then went to the P.U.C. grounds on Ridout Street.
In 1879 the London Bowling and Rowing Club was noted for tennis, curling, and card games. The Thistle Club of London (1879 Incorporated 1903) was also formed to have a bowling department, lawn tennis and curling.
For the 2017 season of W.O.B.A., the event was moved to Heritage Greens Lawn Bowling Club in Kitchener, Ontario. Heritage Greens LBC was started in 1997 after the closing and move of the previous Rockway LBC was facilitated by the City of Kitchener and members of Rockway LBC. Heritage has two full-sized greens and has been the host of a number of Major events since its inception.
In 2017 the format of W.O.B.A. was also changed to a men’s team event consisting of four players that would compete in fours, triples and singles.
With this change in venue and a shakeup of the format, there was a revitalization of the event and a new era of W.O.B.A was started.
In 2023 an additional change was made to the format of W.O.B.A moving it from a four-man team to a true 5-a-side event where players would split up to play fours, triples, pairs and singles over a three-day span.
A Lifetime Member status is bestowed on the truly legendary players of WOBA. Only a small percentage of players reach this status and it demonstrates just how impactful and important that person has been to the ongoing legacy of the event.
George Boxwell
Ron Jones
Chuck Townsend
Doug Hoskin
Jack McIntosh
2023 | Martin Foxhall | Erik Galipeau | Rob Galipeau | David Llewellyn | Desmond Tibby |
2022 | Grant Love | Rusty Ruggles | Stewart Potter | Dave Dafoe |
2019 | Darryl Fitzgerald | Tom Roth | Jurgen Fessler | Mike Wagner |
2018 | Darryl Fitzgerald | Michel Larue | Jurgen Fessler | Mike Wagner |
2017 | Darryl Fitzgerald | Colin Thomson | Jurgen Fessler | Mike Wagner |
1938 | P.D. McCallum (Skip) | W. Saunders | C. Jarvis | A. McLeish |
1939-1946 | No Records. | |||
1947 | Chas. Dennis (Skip) | H. Slade | H. Pearce | A. Pegg |
1948 | C. Haskett (Skip) | J. Pollard | M. Smith | F. Kilbourne |
1949 | C. Haskett (Skip) | J. Pollard | M. Smith | F. Kilbourne |
1950 | J. Reed (Skip) | V. Franks | W. Harding | J. McNair |
1951 | G. Curnoe (Skip) | H. Watkins | W.W. Love | D. Bright |
1952 | M. Telfer (Skip) | H. Larkin | E. Robinson | S. Vernon |
1953 | No Records. | |||
1954 | M. Aikenhead (Skip) | R. Dunn | C. Smith | F. Wilson |
1955 | W. Ball (Skip) | |||
1956 | E. Fairbairn (Skip) | |||
1957 | Jack Beacom (Skip) | |||
1958 | Jim Watkins (Skip) | |||
1959 | A. McDonald (Skip) | |||
1960 | E. Berry (Skip) | |||
1961 | Jim Watkin (Skip) | |||
1962 | Jim Black (Skip) | |||
1963 | D. Stephen (Skip) | R. Bolling | Robert Sneddon | Colin Sneddon |
1964 | Cecil Milliken (Skip) | Cecil Garrison | Bud Sturdy | Rev D.S. Campbell |
1965 | No Reports |
1939-1946 | No Reports | |
1947 | R. Alexander, | C. Howe |
1948 | J. Furhman, | J. Johnston |
1949 | W. Martin, | George Robbins |
1950 | Jeff Smith, | F. Wilson |
1951 | F. Herrington, | Dr. Weston Krupp |
1952 | W.R. Cherry, | E. Pierce |
1953 | No Records | |
1954 | R. Dunn, | C. Smith |
1955 | J. Hovell, Skip | |
1956 | M. Dow, Skip | |
1957 | Bert Stevens, Skip | |
1958 | Grant Hopkins, Skip | |
1959 | Aubrey Pope, Skip | |
1960 | G. Ross, Skip | |
1961 | Jim Watkin, | Elmer Kelly |
1962 | Robert Sneddon, Skip | |
1963 | Reverend D. S. Campbell, | Jim Law |
1964 | Aubrey Pope, | Harvey Andrews |
1965 | No Reports | |
1966 | Dr. C.H. Brereton | |
1967 | Bob Watkin, | Jim Watkin |
1968 | A. Hoyland, | L. Cade |
1969 | Chuck Townsend, | Jim Watkin |
1970 | Lou Thomas, | Les Heard |
1971 | Don Carphin, | Jim Grainger |
1972 | David Holmes, | Bob Holmes |
1973 | Hugh Cuming, | Bob McIntosh |
1974 | Ron Jones, | Tom Bowness |
1975 | John Hull, | Milne Freeman |
1976 | Ron Jones, | Tom Bowness |
1977 | Glen Connor, | Don Graham |
1978 | Dave Colclough, | Lee Ryan |
1979 | Ron Jones, | Bill Watkin |
1980 | Ron Jones, | Bill Watkin |
1981 | Ron Jones, | Bill Watkin |
1982 | Ron Jones, | Bill Watkin |
1983 | Ron Jones, | Bill Watkin |
1984 | John Harwood, | Ralph Ellis |
1985 | Hugh Branston, | Dave Houtby |
1986 | Rick Mathews, | John Donahue |
1987 | Doug Hoskin, | Ian Jones |
1988 | Kevin Jones, | Ron Jones |
1989 | Rick Matthews | John Donohue |
1990 | Brad Flemming, | Wayne Wright |
1991 | Kevin Jones | Ron Jones |
1992 | Ian Jones | John Donohue |
1993 | Dave Houtby | Ron Jones |
1994 | Mick McFadden, | James Covell |
1995 | Mark Sandford, | Allan Leung |
1996 | John Devonshire, | David Anderson |
1997 | Doug Hoskin, | Monty Adkin |
1998 | Bill Baxter, | James Covell |
1999 | Mick McFadden, Jim Ellieff | Bill Riddock, Al Ferguson (Tie) |
2000 | John Scullion, | Brian McCartney |
2001 | Bob Bester, | Ryan Bester |
2002 | Bill Falconer, | Jim Howard |
2003 | Norm Elkin, | John Devlin |
2004 | Brian McCartney, | Ron Wood |
2005 | Pete Mutter, | Brian Fowler |
2006 | Ryan Bester, | Bob Bester |
2007 | Ryan Bester, | Bob Bester |
2008 | RALPH ROSS | RICO SILVESTRO |
2009 | Kevin Jones, | Ron Jones |
2010 | Kevin Jones, | Ron Jones |
2011 | Brian McCartney | Gord Terwillegar |
2012 | Mark Sandford, | Craig Dorey |
2013 | Herb Nesbitt, | Dave Bell |
1966 | Jack Bell, Skip | ||
1967 | H. Hope, Skip | ||
1968 | L. Lickman, | George Robbins, | Ron Jones |
1969 | Neil Salkeld, Skip Caledonia | ||
1970 | Norm Young, | Jim Ross, | Jim Watkin |
1971 | Lorne Lickman, | George Robbins, | Ron Jones |
1972 | Lorne Lickman, | George Robbins, | Ron Jones |
1973 | Lorne Lickman, | George Robbins, | Ron Jones |
1974 | Gene Bowlby, | Huron Wintermute, | Jack Pidduck |
1975 | Gene Bowlby, | Huron Wintermute, | Jack Pidduck |
1976 | Fred Hoskin, | Ken McIntyre, | Doug Hoskin |
1977 | Moe Cosyn, | Jack Pidduck, | Gene Bowlby |
1978 | Tom Barrett, | Art Houtby, | Dave Houtby |
1979 | Monty Adkin, | Ron Jones, | Tom Bowness |
1980 | Gary Kosinsky, | Bill Falconer, | Don Beaupit |
1981 | Murray Taylor, | Kevin Jones, | Jim Watkin |
1982 | John Haggo, | Barrie McFadden, | Mark Gilliland |
1983 | Dave Larcombe, | Gary Charity, | Dan Milligan |
1984 | Jim Watkin Jr., | Ian Jones, | Bill Watkin |
1985 | Mary Lyon, | John Haggo, | Mark Gilliland |
1986 | Alf Kirton, | John Hull, | Jim Ellieff |
1987 | Howard Adkin, | Monte Adkin, | Ian Jones |
1988 | John Devonshire, | Ralph Ellis, | Brian McCartney |
1989 | Kevin Jones, | Ron Jones, | Syd Bartlett |
1990 | Jim Law, | Bill Boettger, | George Boxwell |
1991 | James Covell | Bill Baxter | Graham McKellar |
1992 | Howard Adkin, | Ian Jones | Monty Adkin |
2000 | Jab Pierce, | Ron Wood, | Steve Wood |
1995 | Patti Grabowski, | Rita Hurley |
1996 | Bev Blucher, | Sandra Jarmain |
1997 | Pauline Peart, | Maureen Thompson |
1998 | Celia Noble, | Marion Wall |
1999 | Evelyn Sartain, | Helen Dewer |
2000 | Roberta Lane, | Mary Terrill |
2001 | Linda Butler, | Dee Murray |
2002 | Sandy McKenzie, | Helen Culley |
2003 | Cathy Townsend, | Rita Hurley |
2004 | Martha Welsh, | Julie Fowler |
2005 | Noreen Welsh, | Karen Robinson |
2006 | Marion Wall, | Helen Dickson |
2007 | Kerry O'Reilly, | Andrea Stadnyk |
2008 | Leanne Chinery, | Kelly McKerihen |
2009 | Jean Brighton, | Bev Houston |
2010 | Maureen Thompson, | Carol Carter |
2011 | Kelly McKerihen | Laura Seed |
2012 | Maureen Thompson, | Carol Carter |
2013 | Sue Roth, | Erin Dorey |
1947 | W. Ball |
1948 | C. Teel |
1949 | Dr. Weston Krupp |
1950 | Dr. Weston Krupp |
1951 | George Robbins |
1952 | E. Fairbairn |
1953 | E. Pierce |
1954 | Jack Beacom |
1955 | Neil Salkeld |
1956 | R. A. "Dick" Trumper |
1957 | Karl Beacom |
1958 | Frank Flood |
1959 | Dave Stephen |
1960 | W. Crerar |
1961 | E. Kellytd> |
1962 | W. H. Johnson |
1963 | Doug Smith |
1964 | R. A. "Dick" Trumper |
1965 | No Reports |
1966 | Ray Reidel |
1967 | Carl Thiel |
1968 | Joe Dorsch |
1969 | Ron Jones |
1970 | John Haggo |
1971 | Ron Jones |
1972 | Hugh Cuming |
1973 | Mark Gilliland |
1974 | Dave Houtby |
1975 | Larry McLellan |
1976 | Ron Jones |
1977 | George Robbins |
1978 | Lee Ryan |
1979 | Doug Hoskin |
1980 | Jim Ellieff |
1981 | Harry Livingston |
1982 | John Hull |
1983 | Stewart Simpson |
1984 | Morrie Wolpert |
1985 | Ron Jones |
1986 | Lyall Adams |
1987 | Ian Jones |
1988 | Bill Boettger |
1989 | Lyall Adams |
1990 | Brad Fleming |
1991 | Ralph Ellis |
1992 | John Donahue |
1993 | Brian McCartney |
1994 | Ron Jones |
1995 | Mark Gilliland |
1996 | Keith Roney |
1997 | Al Ferguson |
1998 | Mark Sandford |
1999 | James Covell |
2000 | Ryan Bester |
2001 | Ryan Stadnyk |
2002 | Norm Welsh |
2003 | Kevin Jones |
2004 | Mark Sandford |
2005 | Bob Bester |
2006 | Ryan Bester |
2007 | Chris Stadnyk |
2008 | Chuck Townsend |
2009 | Kevin Jones |
2010 | Bob North |
2011 | Arnie Markowitz |
2012 | Dylan Jacobs |
2013 | Kevin Jones |
2014 | Craig Dorey |
2015 | Kevin Jones |
2016 | Mike Wagner |
2014 | Patrick Duffy, | Burl Roller |
2015 | Kelly McKerihen, | Steve McKerihen |
2016 | Brian Fowler, | Jack Fowler |
1993 | No records | ||
1994 | Howard Adkin, | Ian Jones | Monty Adkin |
1995 | Chris Johnson, | Larry McLellan, | Jamie McLellan |
1996 | Doug Hoskin, | Mick McFadden, | Kevin Jones |
1997 | Ralph Ellis, | Ron Wood, | David Anderson |
1998 | Mick McFadden, | Dean Bergsma, | Doug Hoskin |
1999 | Larry McLellan, | Chris Johnson, | Jamie McLellan |
2000 | Doreen Creany, | Mellisa Ranger, | Andrea Weigand |
2015 | Alan Steffen | Robert Steffen | Bill McKechnie |
2016 | Chris Stadnyk | Dan Milligan | Owen Kirby |
2001 | Morrie Wolpert | Hugh Branston | Doug Hoskin | Kevin Jones |
2002 | Bill Baxter | JoAnne Bugler | Maureen Thompson | James Covell |
2003 | Morrie Wolpert | Hugh Branston | Doug Hoskin | Kevin Jones |
2004 | Peter Mutter | Brian Fowler | Mark Sutyla | Bob North |
2005 | Chris Stadnyk | Ryan Stadnyk | Dan Milligan | Jack McIntosh |
2006 | Dave Houtby | Dave Bell | Kerry O'Reilly | Andrea Stadnyk |
2007 | BRIAN McCARTNEY | GORD TERWILLEGAR | RON WOOD | JIM COPELAND |
2008 | BRIAN McCARTNEY | GORD TERWILLEGAR | RON WOOD | JIM COPELAND |
2009 | STEVE MCKERIHEN | MICHEL LARUE | JAMIE MACGOWAN | FRED WALLBANK |
2010 | AL FERGUSON | BILL STEVENSON | SUSAN KARLINS | PETER WONG |
2011 | Jurgen Fessler | Larry McLellan | Mike Wagner | Chris Johnson |
2012 | Jurgen Fessler | Larry McLellan | Mike Wagner | Chris Johnson |
2013 | Craig Dorey | Michael Cochrane | Ron Whitehead | Tom Roth |
2014 | Jurgen Fessler | Larry McLellan | Mike Wagner | Chris Johnson |
1967 | Ruby Foskett, | Bert Blissett |
1968 | Ruby Foskett, | Bert Blissett |
1969 | Mr. & Mrs. Fred Bacon | |
1970 | Rained Out | |
1971 | Mr. & Mrs. Don Gibson | |
1972 | Agnes Bowlby | Gene Bowlby |
1973 | H. Fairbairn, | Ray Grove |
1974 | Mr. & Mrs. MacTavish | |
1975 | Shirley Otis, | Len Boreham |
1976 | Barbara & Tom Bowness | |
1977 | Ruth Pegg, | Don Carphin |
1978 | Elva Mol, | Glen Ross |
1979 | Nellie Kipp, | Ron Jones |
1980 | Walter & Eileen Kelley | |
1981 | Ruth Snyder, | Fred Wallbank |
1982 | Lynda Robbins, | Gord Hyde |
1983 | Myrna Beam, | Reg Gillett |
1984 | Rick & Mary Tompkins | |
1985 | John Haggo, | Jessie White |
1986 | Marilyn & Bob Hart | |
1987 | Audrey & Jack MacDonald | |
1988 | June & Jack Bell | |
1989 | Kathy & Tom Bowness | |
1990 | Rainout | |
1991 | Beth Campbell, | Roger Buck |
1992 | John Zivec, | Myrna Beam |
1993 | Sharyl Ann Milligan, | Dan Milligan |
1994 | Doreen Creany, | Joe Green |
1995 | Sandra Barmstone, | Ryan Stadnyk |
1996 | Mary Ellen Emery, | Ron Geniole |
1997 | Pat and Sam Doak | |
1998 | Wendy Stevens, | Mark Sandford |
1999 | Jean & Keith Roney | |
2000 | Edna Hewitt, | David Anderson |
2001 | Wendy Stevens, | Mark Sandford |
2002 | Shan Maxwell, | Dean Bergsma |
2003 | Laura Hawryszko, | Ryan Stadnyk |
2004 | Donna Stadnyk, | Ian Jones |
2005 | Maureen Thompson, | Bill Baxter |
2006 | Marion & Laverne Anderson | |
2007 | Chris Stadnyk, | Amy Weatherstone |
2008 | Len & Lorraine Hitchcock | |
2009 | Jake Schuknecht | Kaitlin Ryan |
2010 | Shiley Hague | Gary Moore |
2011 | Jim Smith | Rosalie Parson Brown |
2012 | Kelly McKerihen, | Dylan Jacobs |
1974 | Huron Wintermute - London Fairmont |
1975 | Tom Bowness & Doug Hoskin - London Elmwood |
1976 | Ron Jones - London Elmwood |
1977 | Ron Jones - London Elmwood |
1978 | Lee Ryan - Goderich |
1979 | Ron Jones - London Elmwood |
1980 | George Robbins - London Elmwood |
1981 | Ron Jones - London Elmwood |
1982 | Kevin Jones - London Fairmont |
1983 | Al Ferguson - Agincourt |
1984 | Peter Mutter - London Elmwood |
1985 | Ron Jones - London Elmwood |
1986 | Jim Ellieff & John Hull - Agincourt |
1987 | Ian Jones - London Fairmont |
1988 | Kevin Jones - London Elmwood |
1989 | Greg Dolsky - Commonwealth Edmonton |
1990 | Bill Boettger - Heritage Kitchener |
1991 | James Covell - London Elmwood |
1992 | John Donohue - London Elmwood |
1993 | Dave Houtby - Niagara Falls & Brian McCartney - Oshawa |
1994 | Ron Jones - London Elmwood |
1995 | Ian Jones - Chatham |
1996 | Chris Stadnyk - Niagara Falls |
1997 | Dave Anderson - Oshawa |
1998 | James Covell - London Elmwood |
1999 | James McLellan - St. Mary's |
2000 | Chris Stadnyk - Niagara Falls |
2001 | Doug Hoskin - London Elmwood & Martha Welsh - B.C. |
2002 | James Covell - London Elmwood & Helen Culley - Willowdale |
2003 | Kevin Jones - Lambeth & Susan Smith - Cobourg |
2004 | Mark Sutyla - Regina, Doreen Creaney & Jackie Hogan (Tie) |
2005 | Bob Bester-Hanover & Kerry OReilly -Quebec |
2006 | Ryan Bester-Hanover & Kerry O'Reilly-Quebec |
2007 | Chris Stadnyk & Anna Panton |
2008 | Kevin Jones & Jean Roney |
2009 | Kevin Jones & Kelly McKerihen |
2010 | Kevin Jones & Susan Karlins |
2011 | Jim Roth & Laura Seed |
2012 | Mark Sandford & Heather Battles |
2013 | Craig Dorey & Sue Roth |
2014 | Mike Wagner & Laura Seed |
2015 | Kelly McKerihen (Open Tournament |
2016 | Brian Fowler (Open Tournament) |