Five Yukon bowlers recently returned from the 2006 Youth Bowling Council's National 5-Pin Championships, held in Sudbury, Ont., May 5-8.

The local athletes were up against approximately 360 bowlers competing in team and individual categories.

Olivia Smith-Tucker, Matthew Smith, Sarah Koltun, Nicholas Koltun and Craig Beauchemin had all been to the nationals previously, although head coach Wayne Beauchemin acknowledged they were still in tough against the best bowlers from across Canada.

'Certainly, some of the competition was a step above what they've seen on a regular basis,' he said. 'It's always an eye-opening experience. But they all won games and they all bowled over their averages.'

The two bantam bowlers, Smith and Smith-Tucker, both won four games at nationals. Smith-Tucker was a a little slow getting started, said Wayne, but she ended up bowling 10 points over her average. Smith was 20 points over his average.

There was no New Brunswick competitor in the junior girls category, where Sarah was competing, so every other competitor in that group got an automatic point. But Sarah still won four games outright.

'She really bowled strong,' said the coach. 'She lost a couple of games with scores over 225.

Nicholas was 20 points over his average (in junior boys) and lost a couple of games by just three points.'

Craig ended up winning six games, which was a pleasant surprise for Wayne, since it was Craig's first year bowling in the senior boys division.

He ended up taking one game each from the third and fourth-place finishers (they play two games against every competitor in their group), and he lost to the athlete who finished first overall by just 10 points both games.

This year, fatigue once again played a factor for all the Yukon bowlers at nationals, admitted Wayne. On the Sunday, they each bowled 12 games, which can wear on athletes who aren't used to playing that many games on a regular basis.

'A lot of them just sort of hit a wall.'

Asked how the local club can try and keep the fatigue from becoming a factor in the future, Wayne said perhaps they could try something in regard to sports nutrition in order to keep their energy up, or maybe try some new practice drills which will help them keep their focus.

'All five of them put in a very good effort,' he summed up. 'It's tough to keep your focus when you've finished your 11th game and you're just trying to hang on (in the final game).

'Nobody felt bad about how they did. They all put their full effort in.'

While the bowlers will now take a bit of a break over the summer, turning their attention to outdoor sports, the process of getting to nationals will start all over again in September with league games. Qualifying begins in December.

'All I need (for next year) is more girls in the league,' said Wayne, who's team was short a senior girl for this year's nationals. 'We're trying to get the word out that bowling is still a sport. We're part of a national program. It's worthwhile.'