The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

DAVID ‘Mr Consistency’ Slatter, still reeling from his historic national record breaking performance last month, rejoined Joy Lockhart in rolling to the top spots in the Bahamas Bowling Federation’s national team trials on Sunday.

The trials, which was disrupted a week ago after Mario’s Bowling and Family Entertainment Center abruptly closed down the lanes, selected the top eight male and female qualifiers to the national training squad.

It was the second time that Slatter and Lockhart clinched the top spots after they captured the men and ladies titles respectively at the Mario’s Bowling Championships that was held in November.

After 24 games, Slatter finished the national team trials with a total of 4,935 pitfalls for an average of 205 to lead the men’s field.

Following closely behind in second place was Sonith Lockhart with 4,619 pins for his average of 192. Mario Brown rounded out the to three with 44,522 pins for a 188 average.

In order the rest of the way were Ryan Davis with 4,511 pins for a 187 average; Leonardo ‘Lee’ Davis had a 185 average from 4,455 pins; Ken Brathwaite Sr was 185 for4 4,453; Leon Graham 182 for 4,390 and Che Chase completed the top eight with 182 as well from 4,368 pins.

On the ladies side, Joy Lockhart completed their 21 games with a 178 average from 3,738 pins to lead the way. Marina McClain ended up second with 177 from 3,719 and Driskell Rolle was third with 170 from 3,580.

Camille Burnside was fourth with a 165 average from 3,484 pins; Xynea Johnson trailed with a 162 average for 3,418 pins; Janice Hoyte was next with 161 average from 3,384 pins; Paula Hart had 3,304 pins for her average of 157 and Angie Smith completed the field with 3,234 pins for a 154 average.

For Slatter, his performance was just a matter of putting what he did in practice into play.

“As with most things, if you put in the time you get good results,” Slatter said. “So I’ve been practicing more than most. So that was kind of the key to the success that I achieved.”

Slatter was referring to his impressive 264, 266, 279 for 809 set that he bowled at the City Bowling League on Monday, January 28, erasing the previous record of 771 set by Jeff Albury in 1977.

“That was very satisfying,” said Slatter of the record breaking performance.

As for the national trials, he noted that after getting off to a “slow start, I was able to come back with two very good sets and one good set to pull it off. The 809 set definitely gave me a lot of confidence and comfort in my game going into the trials.

“So when you have a set like that, you can only help boost your confidence. I guess the risk is to become over confident and realise that you still need to focus on the day. What you did in the past is not necessarily mean that you will bowl well today. You have to remain in the present.”

For Lockhart, who is making her third national team, winning the Mario’s cash prize tournament was definitely the impetus to motivate her to return to prove that her performance wasn’t a fluke.

“It was competitive, but I just determined to put my mark back on the bowling globe,” Lockhart said. “I’m happy that it’s over, but it was a lot of fun. It was competitive, like I said, and bowling has not been highlighted as much locally lately.

“So I’m just excited that we are coming back into it. We’re out there in the public eye and the corporate sponsors are coming behind us to sponsor us. Before time, it was just fun, but now we’re getting the recognition that we deserve.”

With the national team trip coming up in short order, Lockhart said she’s hoping that the team selected will go on and represent the Bahamas to the best of their abilities.

“We have about two really seasoned bowlers in Marina McClain and Driskell Rolle and they are very competitive women. We can learn from each other in the aspects of bowling,” said Lockhart, who loves tennis and athletics (track and field) as well.

“It takes a lot concentration. Like I always tell people, bowling is 70 percent mental and 30 percent finesse. With the team that is going, I’m not sure you all would be going, but I’m sure that we will put our shoulders to the wheel. I believe the team will do very well.”

Lockhart said she’s looking forward to making the team, especially because her brother, Sonith Lockhart, has also secured his berth with his second place finish behind David Slatter.