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Already honoured as a Builder of our Industry, Dot Britton’s efforts to build our sport will receive the ultimate recognition with her induction to the 5 Pin Bowling Hall of Fame.
Originally born in Toronto in 1928, Dorothy Paul began bowling at the Ace Bowl on the Danforth and, in the Toppers Club League, met her husband-to-be, Harry Britton. Following their 1952 wedding, Dot and Harry moved to Niagara, first settling in Grimsby before moving to Beamsvile the following year.
Since arriving in the Niagara Peninsula, Dot’s involvement in 5 pin bowling has included the Youth Bowling Council, the Master Bowlers’ Association and, of course, the formation itself of the Niagara Peninsula 5 Pin Bowlers’ Association.
Bob Falconer, a former president of the Ontario Bowlers Congress, introduced Dot to organized bowling through the Niagara zone as Bob was provincially involved with the controversy surrounding the elimination of the counter pin. Both Bob and Dot bowled at Orchard Lanes in Grimsby and, in 1965, this duo also began a Youth Bowling Council program at the same centre. As well, from this centre, and also in 1965, Dot joined the Master Bowlers Association, the first female to be accepted by the MBAO from the Niagara region.
In the YBC, Dot had initially began a youth program at Beamsville Lanes in 1958 prior to the official start of the YBC in Grimsby, first at Orchard Lanes in 1965, followed by a fifteen year stint at Grand Lanes from 1975-1990. Currently, Dot instructs at Bowl-O-Rama, Welland and since 1981, has been the YBC Zone Representative wearing the prestigious "red jacket" for the Niagara Peninsula.
In the Master Bowlers Association, Dot joined the tournament division in 1965 as her league average reached as high as 253. In all, Dot bowled in the tournament division for fifteen years and she quickly brought her talents to the administrative level as well. She joined the MBAO Board in 1969 and was provincial secretary for two years before being elected president in 1974, a position she held for two years.
In the Niagara zone, Dot was elected president in 1969 and moved to the provincial level in 1971 as both a director and vice-president. For her efforts, she was recognized as Executive of the Year by the Ontario Bowlers Congress in 1973 and her hard work during that season set the stage for the zone to win provincial honours the next year. The bowling industry honoured Dot as a Builder of the Bowling Industry in 1982 and, in addition, the Ontario Government recognized Dot with a provincial award for her volunteer effort in 1984.
While Dot has been one of the best cheerleaders that our sport has ever known, her favourite event has always been the Open. She visited her first provincial final in 1964 in North Bay and has been to every one since. Several times, Dot was closer to the action, as she not only bowled in eight Opens, but she has coached a phenomenal eighteen years. This coaching success was also recognized by the Master Bowlers Association as she was the first coach selected by the teaching ladies in 1980 and this team won a gold medal. She followed that success with five more gold medals with the Ontario tournament lades from 1982-88.
Dot also brought her leadership skills to the league arena as well. Along with Del Pintwala and Ivy Eggleton, Dot began the Niagara travelling league that bowled on Saturdays from Hamilton to Fort Erie for twenty years. Other pioneering efforts included both the Golden Horseshoe Pro League at the old Bar Don Lanes and the Pro League at Pla Mor Lanes in St. Catharines.
Harry Britton passed away in 1990 and, in 38 years of marriage, Dot and Harry raised three children, Leslie, Andy and Jack, as well as four grandchildren have arrived to certainly increase YBC registration. Dot Britton has enjoyed nearly fifty years in 5 pin bowling. With tonight’s induction, Dot, in reality represents every volunteer that has given of their time to promote amateur sport.
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