Jim Glandfield was born on November 16, 1945, with bowling in his blood. With his dad Rolly, a Hall of Fame Legend at the Provincial level and one of the top bowlers in the thirties and forties, and mom Dottie, a fine bowler as well, it was obvious that Jim would be a natural in the sport.
Jim started building his own bowling career at the age of ten at Vaughan Road Bowl, where Ontario 5 Hall of Fame member Mabel McDowell, Vera Inglis along with Vi Warren and Dottie had started a youth league because at that time there were no organized youth leagues available. After moving to Willowdale in 1958, Jim continued his bowling at Power Lanes. During a challenge match between Power and Allencourt Lanes, chief instructor Jim Hoult taught young Jimmy how to spot bowl. His most notable win was the Toronto Star’s City Wide Championships, where at eighteen, he captured the Senior Boys Singles title at Parkway Bowl.
In his prime, Jim bowled with many of the top bowlers in all the major leagues of the day. There was the Crosstown Majors at Ace Bowl, the Scarborough Men’s Majors at Aprile, the Metro Majors travelling league and the Tuesday Mixed Majors league at Olympia Edwards. He has a high triple of 1082, high five of 1604 and a high ten score of 2895. Averaging over 250 in all of the leagues, Jim Hoult suggested that he bowl in the Open.
At the Open, Jim qualified on five York Simcoe Men’s Teams and coached on three other occasions. In addition, Jim bowled singles four times. In 1972, his first appearance at the Open, Jim finished fourth in the singles division. Teammate Ian Cameron talked Jim into joining the Master Bowlers’ Association.
In the Master Bowlers’ Association, Jim joined the Tournament Division in 1972 and became the first Master at Power Lanes. When Power converted to 10-pin in 1986, he moved to Ace Bowl. Jim had his only tournament win in 1980, the Mixed Triples with Verna Bryan and Jim Loque Jr. However, it was at the year end tournament in 1979 where he achieved his greatest accomplishment – a perfect game. When the combination of playing soccer in high school and bowling competitively three to four nights a week for twenty years started to take its toll on his knees, he decided that eighteen years in the Masters was enough. In total, Jim bowled 674 games for a lifetime average of 248.
In other tournament play, Jim was a regular competitor in the O’Connor Open, finishing fourth in 1969 and bowled in the first YABA Provincial tournament in Sudbury.
While most bowlers can only dream of bowling a Perfect Game, Jim bowled his second one in the Scarborough Men’s Majors league in 1987. A sentimental accomplishment that he holds dear to his heart because father Rolly and mother Dottie were never able to achieve this ultimate goal.
While work commitments prevented Jim from bowling in the Open as often as he liked, he did find time to volunteer many times as Judge of Play at both the Provincial and National Championships. It was in 1977 at the Nationals in Niagara Falls that Tom Cowan suggested with Jim’s background in bowling, he should get involved with organized bowling.
While attending his first Annual Meeting in 1977, Jim was elected Vice-President of York Simcoe. For the next seven years, he would retain that position as well as becoming the Big Brothers Coordinator and Lane Certification Agent. Over the years, Jim worked on both the Toronto and York Simcoe boards. At the O5 Annual Conventions, Jim received the Lane Certification of the Year Award twice, first in 1981 and again in 1995. He is also a Life Member of Toronto and York Simcoe 5 Pin Bowlers Association. This past year Jim received his thirty-year award as a volunteer.
Following in his dads footsteps, Jim worked as a clerk in the brokerage business with Glandfield and Company for more than twenty years. Jim eventually left the business to take care of his ailing parents. While both of his parents have passed away, Jim and sister Susan have already made plans to visit their other sister Pat, who lives in Vancouver, for the 2010 Olympics.
Today, Jim works for Ashley’s Fine China and upon his return last year to the Masters, showed everyone that he still had what it takes, by winning the first Seniors event of the year at Bowlerama Bathurst. York Simcoe welcomes a worthy and deserving entry into the Bowler’s Division of the Hall of Fame.