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A very private man, George Corbridge was born in Toronto around the turn of the century. Little seems to be known about his off-lane activities, but on the lanes, he was an exceptional bowler. George was the assistant manager at several bowling centres including Downtown Lanes at Yonge and Queen and Central Lanes at Richmond & Sheppard Streets working under Frank O’Connor. The Central location was the hub of five pin bowling in its day as bowling centres dominated the downtown core. George’s slow and deliberate style and his introverted nature earned him the nickname of "The Grim Reaper". He always appeared in shirt and tie and many times with a vest & suit jacket. For more than ten years, he was the lead-off bowler on the Central Team that was the best team during the forties. Teammates included such great names as George Kerr, Tommy Sutclife, Hoppy Hopkins, Charlie Goldsmith, Hal Kellett and Hall of Famer, Rolly Glandfield.
These bowlers frequented the annual CBA event and George won the overall aggregate title, the most prestigious honour of the day. In statistics from the 1944 season, George averaged 257.8 to lead both his team and the league and also rolled a 1026 triple, the highest three game score recorded that year.
At both Downtown Lanes and Central, two of George’s most notable pinboys were Hall of Famers, Jimmy and Billy Hoult. In fact, George was their first instructor and taught them many of the fine skills of the game.
After his bowling career ended, George continued in the sport and managed both the Towne Bowl & Gross Machinery Team in the City Majors leagues from 1952-55 and, as such, may have been one of five pin bowling’s first coaches.
He passed away in the late sixties and, in his will, left his CBA championship ring to Jimmy Hoult. To all of us, he left the legacy as a gentleman, a credit to our sport and a true legend of the game.
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