National U-25 lawn bowling champ from P.E.I. rolling on to Ireland for shot at world title

P.E.I.'s Amy Spence has never left Canada and didn't dream of travelling for sports — but in a few months time she'll do both.

Come December, Spence will be in Ireland for the international lawn bowling championships after dominating the competition at the 2022 Canadian Youth Championships in Mississauga, Ont.

"It was very shocking. I went and I didn't think I was going to win," she said. "When I won I actually did cry, because I was so excited."

Spence is now the Under-25 Canadian junior women's lawn bowling champion, playing out of the Sherwood Lawn Bowling Club in Charlottetown. The 21-year-old went undefeated throughout the national tournament, and claimed the gold medal with a 21-8 victory over opponent (and close friend) Alexis Gallacher from Alberta.

It was a competitive run, but what draws her to the sport and keeps her coming back is not just being good at it, but the camaraderie on the green. 

"It's just a great atmosphere. Everyone is friendly. It's competitive but it's never, like, serious," she said. "Going across Canada, I've made so many friends, so getting to go just hang out with people I know, play against people I know, is great."

She describes the sport as a meeting between curling and bowling — two sports with much more in common than some might think.

The strategy, style, finesse and flair of both sports meld into a fun, easy-to-learn summertime favourite for many.

"I didn't expect it to be what it was when my mom said we were going lawn bowling, that it was going to be bowling — on the lawn," she said with a laugh. "It's amazing."

Not only did her mom introduce her to the sport, she's been there for every major moment since the beginning.

"She takes me everywhere. She does everything," Spence said.