Mike Bester had just tasted victory, but the real celebration was still to come.
Punctuating an impressive week-long performance at the Canadian Lawn Bowling Championships with pairs gold, the hometown standout was further rewarded as part of the Ontario B team that won the all-around Cy English trophy Saturday night in Milton.
“That’s the one I wanted,” said Bester, a 30-plus year veteran of the game who’s now captured four national medals. “The overall team concept, that was the great part.”
Bester and pairs partner Owen Kirby of Kitchener – an international competitor, who reigned supreme in singles play – went 6-1 to earn a bye into the final.
There they put some early pressure on their Ontario A opponents en route to a 8-4, 6-3 triumph.
“The chemistry was awesome, right from the first round,” said Bester, who served as skip for the winning duo. “Owen was always consistent and steady.”
Said local club standout and Milton Sports Hall of Fame inductee David Anderson, “It (final) was a brilliant display of bowling.”
Bester also played vice with the Ontario B fours team that went 4-3 in round-robin play but missed advancing to the semis by virtue of the sets-won tiebreaker.
Alberta's women won the overall Lady Alexander trophy, on the strength of their wins in triples and pairs play.
The eight-day nationals brought an estimated $350,000-plus into the local economy, with hotel stays, restaurant visits and other expenses.