Bowling History

Kubsie's Korner
Five Pin Bowling History

1905 10 Pin Bowling is introduced in Toronto

1909 Thomas F. Ryan (owner of the Temperance Street Bowling Club) whittled down a set of 10 Pin pins and used a Candlestick sized bowling ball to create 5 Pin Bowling (Pin Count:4, 2, 1, 3, 5). (Setting up 10 pins took too long for the lunchtime games).

1910 The first 5 Pin bowling league was formed in Toronto.

1912 Rubber rings were added to the pins to get more action.

1921 The first Women's league in Toronto was formed.
The First Perfect Game (450) was recognized.

1923 5-pin bowling was introduced to Western Canada (Pin Count: 1, 4, 5, 3, 2).

1928 The first 'Official 5 Pin Rule Book' was printed.

1944 Western Canadian Five-Pin Bowling Association was founded in Regina, Saskatchewan.

1952 The National Pin Count is changed to ( 2, 3, 5, 3, 2).

1959 The National Pin Count catches on in Ontario.

1961 5-pin founding father Tommy Ryan passes away on Nov 19th.

1963 The Bowling Proprietors' Association of Canada (B.P.A.C.) was formed.
The first automatic pin setter was introduced.
The Youth Bowling Council (Y.B.C.) was introduced.

1964 The Canadian Bowling Congress (C.B.C.) receives a charter from the federal government.

1965 The Bowlers' Association of Canada is formed.

1967 Counter (Blow) pin is abolished. (The blow pin was one of the corner pins. If you didn't knock it down you didn't get ANY points!)

1970 Master Bowlers' Association of Canada is formed. (M.B.A.)

1971 Tommy Ryan is posthumously inducted into Canada's Sports Hall of Fame.

1976 The M.B.A. introduces the Instruction & Coaching program.

1978 The Canadian 5 Pin Bowling Association replaces the C.B.C.

1984 5 Pin Bowling celebrates its 75th birthday.

1990 Personal bowling balls come out.

1995 Government statistics report 521,000 Canadians participate regularly in 5 Pin Bowling (37% male vs. 63% female).

2009 5 Bowling celebrates 100 years in Canada.

Want more History? Check out C5PBA's History page!

Other Interesting Facts:

5200 BC In the 1930's Sir Flinders Petrie (a professor of Egyptology at the University of London) found a complete set of pins and balls, in a large tomb in Egypt. The objects were dated back to about 5200 BC and are said to be the origins of bowling.

300 AD German historian, William Pehle, asserts that bowling began in his country about this time. It started in the church. German peasants carried a club called a kegel for protection. In church it was set down and if the peasant could knock it over using a rock he was considered free of sin.

1366 King Edward III alegedly outlawed bowling because he wanted to keep his troops focused on archery instead. Apparently the men kept the spirit alive by calling kills and hits strikes and spares.

1818 Washington Irving mentions bowling in his novel "Rip Van Winkle".

Janet 'Kubsie' Jenkins

1905	10 Pin Bowling is introduced in Toronto
1909	Thomas F. Ryan (owner of the Temperance Street Bowling Club) whittled down a set of 10 Pin pins and used a Candlestick sized bowling ball to create 5 Pin Bowling (Pin Count:4, 2, 1, 3, 5). (Setting up 10 pins took too long for the lunchtime games).
1910	The first 5 Pin bowling league was formed in Toronto.
1912	Rubber rings were added to the pins to get more action.
1921	The first Women's league in Toronto was formed. The First Perfect Game (450) was recognized.
1923	5-pin bowling was introduced to Western Canada (Pin Count: 1, 4, 5, 3, 2).
1928	The first 'Official 5 Pin Rule Book' was printed.
1944	Western Canadian Five-Pin Bowling Association was founded in Regina, Saskatchewan.
1952	The National Pin Count is changed to ( 2, 3, 5, 3, 2).
1959	The National Pin Count catches on in Ontario.
1961	5-pin founding father Tommy Ryan passes away on Nov 19th.
1963	The Bowling Proprietors' Association of Canada (B.P.A.C.) was formed. The first automatic pin setter was introduced. The Youth Bowling Council (Y.B.C.) was introduced.
1964	The Canadian Bowling Congress (C.B.C.) receives a charter from the federal government.
1965	The Bowlers' Association of Canada is formed.
1967	Counter (Blow) pin is abolished. (The blow pin was one of the corner pins. If you didn't knock it down you didn't get ANY points!)
1970	Master Bowlers' Association of Canada is formed. (M.B.A.)
1971	Tommy Ryan is posthumously inducted into Canada's Sports Hall of Fame.
1976	The M.B.A. introduces the Instruction & Coaching program.
1978	The Canadian 5 Pin Bowling Association replaces the C.B.C.
1984	5 Pin Bowling celebrates its 75th birthday.
1990	Personal bowling balls come out.
1995	Government statistics report 521,000 Canadians participate regularly in 5 Pin Bowling (37% male vs. 63% female).
2009	5 Bowling celebrates 100 years in Canada.

5200 BC	In the 1930's Sir Flinders Petrie (a professor of Egyptology at the University of London) found a complete set of pins and balls, in a large tomb in Egypt. The objects were dated back to about 5200 BC and are said to be the origins of bowling.
300 AD	German historian, William Pehle, asserts that bowling began in his country about this time. It started in the church. German peasants carried a club called a kegel for protection. In church it was set down and if the peasant could knock it over using a rock he was considered free of sin.
1366	King Edward III alegedly outlawed bowling because he wanted to keep his troops focused on archery instead. Apparently the men kept the spirit alive by calling kills and hits strikes and spares.
1818	Washington Irving mentions bowling in his novel "Rip Van Winkle".