Even at age 80, Gloria Ray enjoys life in the fast lane.

And she probably wouldn't have it any other way.

The retired Warwick resident is co-coordinator of a 40-strong women's bowling contingent due to travel to Reno, Nevada next week to compete in this year's United States Bowling Congress (USBC) Women's Championships.

Mrs. Ray debuted in the annual bowling spectacle in 1976 and this year marks her 33rd consecutive year participating in the two-day event that attracts thousands of the top women bowlers.

"We are a group of sanctioned bowlers who have travelled to places such as Utah, Seattle, North Dakota and Miami to bowl over the years," the mother-of-three told The Royal Gazette. "Our group started competing in the USBC Women's Champions in 1976 and over the years we have made lots of friends."

Last weekend the group who call themselves 'The Travelling Twenty-Plus' attended church service at Cobb's Hill Methodist church where Mrs. Ray sings in the choir.

She added: "Each time we go (overseas to compete) we meet new faces and some of the women that bowl with us are actually from the US. We have a member who lives in Detroit and two others from Maryland. They join us abroad and bowl on our team as Bermudians."

Mrs. Ray's bowling group has steadily grown in numbers over the years and its members are no pushovers in the lanes.

"Last year one of our teams actually came third competing against hundreds of teams in their respective division," the past American Airlines women's champion noted. "It's serious bowling and thousands of women bowl in this tournament for 'all money' prizes.

"We started out in the beginning with two teams but the numbers have gradually increased over the years. This year we are taking eight, five-member teams and some of the girls will take their husbands and friends along with them.

"This is the first time we have taken a group of 40 bowlers with us. I guess it's safe to safe Bermuda will be well represented."