Evergreen women’s bowler Patricia Price has achieved many milestones throughout her illustrious career. But her latest perhaps tops the listBy Colin ThompsonThis year marked the 50th year Devonshire resident Patricia Price has been involved in a sport she fell deeply in love with from the moment she placed the ball in her hand.“I used to work at Bermuda Telephone Company and in 1963 they started a Friday Night League and I said ‘let me give it a try’,” Ms Price explained. “I played for Dial Tones and we played against the other departments at the company at Warwick Lanes which I think had about ten lanes at the time.“I decided to give it a try and went to the bowling alley and as soon as the ball came into my hand I fell in love with it. I fell in love with that game and I’m still in love with it today. Don’t talk to me about any other sport because I love bowling.“From the beginning I took to the game and one day I saw Quinton Hayward bowl and I liked his bowling so I asked him to help me which he did.“You would’ve thought I was going school because I used to go up his house with my books, paper and pencil and write down everything he said and I continued doing it until it became a part of me. I also had other certified bowlers that helped me and kept me going.”After being bitten by the bowling bug, it soon became evident that Ms Price, 73, was not your average recreational bowler. She had the potential to go further in the sport and was encouraged to do so by some of her peers.“People approached me about other leagues that were going on at the bowling alley so I thought I’d give it a try,” she added. “That was the Continental Bowling League that goes on now Monday nights and I’m still a part of it.“Then I started bowling in the Mixed Classic League on Tuesday nights so I bowl twice a week.”Bowling in more competitive leagues on a frequent basis enabled Ms Price to elevate her game and it wasn’t long before she was jet setting around the globe to represent Bermuda on the international stage.“I started off in 1966 representing Bermuda and that’s when I went to participate in the FIQ Word Championships in New Orleans — that was my first trip out of Bermuda,” she explained. “That was the first trip that I took and then from 1967 straight through to 2010 I continued representing Bermuda.”The mother of one has represented Bermuda at tournaments in North America, Asia, Europe and the Caribbean throughout her career.“I’ve been all over the world,” she said. “But in order for me to go to the tournaments I had to compete here and win.”The highest game Ms Price has bowled thus far is 275 while her high series is 677 and best average 181.Even though she maybe past her prime, the retired Telephone Company worker still holds herself to high standards.“My goal has always been to get a 700 series which is very important for me as well as a 300 game and try and get my average up at least past 185-190,” she said. “And if I continue practising with the love of the game I’m sure I can achieve it. My mantra has always been ‘look good, feel good, bowl good’.“I never thought the sport would take me this far and I really feel great. I get up at 6am to go walking and I also practise now and then when I’m not bowling in the league. I feel great and it’s not over until God says it’s over.”