The Amazing Race Canada host, Jon Montgomery, at the Vernon Lawn Bowling Club with groundskeeper, Moe Ball. (photo courtesy of CTV)

By Liam Verster

Reality show in Vernon

Local lawn bowlers thrilled to be part of The Amazing Race Canada

Aug 11, 2022 | 5:00 AM

The latest episode of the Amazing Race Canada showcased Vernon with the Vernon Lawn Bowling Club a big feature of the episode.

Contestants were offered a ‘Detour’ choice, Ball’N’ or Pomme’N’, and had to choose to either go make pies at Davison Orchards or go lawn bowling at the Vernon Lawn Bowling Club.

Five of the seven teams chose lawn bowling over pie making.

Robert Irwin, the past-president of the club, told Vernon Matters the filming of the episode took two days in May of this year.

The first day saw host Jon Montgomery visit the club to film his segment, followed by camera crews setting up and filming B-roll filler shots.

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The second day saw the teams run into the club, quickly get changed, and play against the members.

“It was excellent. What we did is we sat there and the contestants got to come in choose who they wanted to bowl against,” Irwin told Vernon Matters, adding that he, and another member named Betty, were challenged by Jesse and Marika.

“They were the first ones there by quite a long shot, but they were the second ones out.”

Vernon Lawn Bowling Club past-president, Robert Irwin, watches as the Amazing Race Canada contestant, Jesse, bowls. (photo courtesy of CTV)

The teams competed against the lawn bowlers in condensed games that required the competitors to score just five points, which Irwin said is harder than it looks.

“We weren’t allowed to tell them anything, they had to figure it out themselves,” said Irwin.

“You could throw some little rough hints by spinning the ball around to show them that it isn’t completely round, at least that’s what I was trying to do and I think we all did it. The ball is not completely round. If you look at it, it’s got a bias that goes one way or the other, so if you want to use it like a bocce ball or something, it won’t work that way.”

He added the lawn bowlers were told “not to go for the throat” and to have a fun game with the contestants.

Irwin told Vernon Matters that the matches with The Amazing Race Canada contestants took roughly an hour and a quarter each, while a typical regulation match takes between an hour and a half to two hours.

The episode aired on Tuesday, Aug. 9, and Irwin said it was exciting to watch.

“It was kinda neat to see ourselves on camera and representing our club, hopefully making us look good for what it was intended to be.”

The Amazing Race Canada contestant, Nella, bowls next to a member of the Vernon Lawn Bowling Club. (photo courtesy of CTV)

The Amazing Race Canada contestant, Brendan, bowls next to a member of the Vernon Lawn Bowling Club. (photo courtesy of CTV)

Irwin also noted that the club was first approached by the location scouting team to be part of The Amazing Race Canada two years ago, but had to sign non-disclosures and keep the secret until the episode aired.

He said hosting the contestants was “a real thrill” adding it was a unique experience and “was probably an enhancer for both the bowling club and the city.”

Irwin added that he hopes the exposure will inspire others, particularly younger people, to try their hand at lawn bowling.

If you missed the episode, you can watch it on the CTV website.