1973 & 1975 Bridgetown Men’s Fours
Lawn Bowling Team

In 1972, the Bridgetown Lawn Bowling Team of Joe Tidd, John Sproule, Alan Brown and Dick Campbell won the Nova Scotia Men’s Fours Championship, thereby earning the right to represent Nova Scotia at the 1973 Canadian Championships, which were to be held in Regina, Saskatchewan. At that point in time, no Nova Scotia Team had ever won a Canadian Lawn Bowling Title. That was about to change.

Photo above 1973 Nova Scotia Team – Left to right – Joe Tidd, John Sproule, Alan Brown, Dick Campbell

During the round robin competition, Nova Scotia lost a hard fought battle to Alberta in an extra end. This would prove to be the only defeat that they would suffer in these championships. The final day of the competition had Nova Scotia pitted against the three most experienced and skilled teams in the tournament- British Columbia, Ontario, and Quebec. The B.C. squad was comprised of very experienced bowlers who had played internationally. After a hard fought battle, Nova Scotia earned a well-deserved victory. In the game against Ontario, Nova Scotia fell behind early and trailed by a score of 10 to 1. Nova Scotia fought back to defeat Ontario by a score of 25 to 15. In the final match of the championships, Nova Scotia defeated Quebec by six points to win Nova Scotia its first national title. It was a statement of things to come.

In 1974, the Bridgetown Men’s Fours again won the Nova Scotia Championship and for the second time in three years they would compete in a National Championship, this time in Vancouver. The Nova Scotia Team had changed somewhat from the 1973 Team, with Jack MacNeil and John Wightman joining Joe Tidd and Dick Campbell to represent the province. A factor to note about this tournament was that it rained each day of the championships. This may have helped the team from the Atlantic coast who were used to playing in all kinds of weather conditions. During the week, Nova Scotia went undefeated with major victories over B.C., Quebec and Alberta. On the final day of the competition, Nova Scotia was to face Ontario and Prince Edward Island. Because of very rainy weather and strong winds, the final few games were reduced to 12 ends instead of the normal 18. In the game against Ontario, Nova Scotia fell behind by a score of 9 to 1. In a shortened game, it didn’t look like a victory was possible, that their fight for a second title was over.

In the next end, Nova Scotia was able to score 6 points and this put them back into the game. It seemed to shock Ontario as Nova Scotia went on to win the game 15 to 10. The Gold Medal game of the tournament was against PEI as the rain continued to fall. During this game the weather was so bad that the teams had to move from Stanley Park to West Vancouver to complete the contest. It was another hard fought battle for Nova Scotia against a PEI team that would not quit. The game ended in a tie and that was all Nova Scotia needed to claim its second national title in three years. Nova Scotia had gone undefeated in very difficult weather conditions.

These two teams were the first of many Bridgetown Teams to win Provincial and National Titles. As noted above they were also the first Nova Scotia Teams to win a National Championship. In two trips to Nationals they conceded only one match. Remarkable accomplishments.

In 1982, both teams were inducted into the Nova Scotia Sports Hall of Fame.

L/R John Wightman, Joe Tidd, Jack MacNeil, Dick Campbell