Stephania Giddens and daughter Juanita Sharper enjoy competing in the Bermuda Rendezvous Tournament so much that they were determined not to allow last week’s brutal winter storm in the United States deprive them of making their annual bowling pilgrimage to these shores.

Giddens, who resides in Philadelphia, has competed in every tournament since 1972, while her daughter, who lives in North Carolina, has competed in every event since 1996.

“We were due to arrive [in Bermuda] Thursday, February 13 but I received a call Tuesday night to say the flight [from Philadelphia] was cancelled on Thursday, so I flew to Raleigh, Durham, where my daughter lives to take a flight to Bermuda because I thought the weather would be better,” Giddens said from Warwick Lanes where this year’s tournament wrapped up last night.

“I came to Raleigh but the snow came, too, and closed the entire airport and cancelled our flight coming here.

“We were told our best chance to get here would be to go to Richmond, Virginia, so we drove 2½ hours from Raleigh to Richmond, but that flight was cancelled as well. We had to spend two nights in Virginia and then we were able to get out of Richmond to Boston, where we stayed overnight and then flew to Bermuda yesterday morning [Sunday].”

The storm that hit the US East Coast was blamed for several deaths and thousands of flight cancellations across the United States, with 17 overseas bowlers having to withdraw from the Rendezvous tournament.

Despite missing half of the tournament, mother and daughter thoroughly enjoyed themselves. “We missed half of the tournament but at least we got here for the second half,” Sharper said. “It is always worth coming to Bermuda, even if it was for a day or two. We love Bermuda and I love this tournament. This island is like our second home.”

Giddens has lots of fond memories of Bermuda dating back more than four decades. “I saw this hotel [The Fairmont Southampton] being built and I wanted to stay there,” she said. “And that’s where I have stayed from then on. I can tell you about Rangers [Southampton Rangers Sports Club], Flavours [Flavours Disco] and the Jungle Room.”

Asked how did their bowling fare, Sharper smiled. “Some things occurred,” she said. “We got here at 11.08am on Sunday and I had to bowl at 4pm and again at 8pm.”

Giddens added: “We checked in at Fairmont Southampton and came down here and bowled. I cannot wait to return next year.”