Portage la Prairie five-pin bowler Brandon Mansell's returned from Sudbury, Ontario as a National Champion.

The 24-year-old represented Manitoba at the Canadian 5 Pin Open Championship that wrapped up June 3rd and was thrilled to be crowned a national champ.

"It was incredible," says Mansell. "We flew out and basically got right to it. We came out slow the first day and went 3-4 on the day, then we only lost two matches between the second and third day and placed second in the round robin, half a point behind first place Alberta."

Mansell says they went to the playoff round which was a stepladder format and their incredible play carried them through to the finals.

"Fourth place played third place, the winner then played us, and that winner would go on to the finals. We beat out Saskatchewan in the semifinal and it was a close match, it went down to the final ball with the final player on our team and we just edged them out. Then we played Alberta and we had to beat them twice and we came out 'guns-a-blazing' and the first three frames of the match we got strikes or spares marked and put a lot of pressure on them. We put the pedal down and never looked back."

Mansell says the event ended with a Champions Banquet where they got to sit at a head table and were celebrated as champions. Mansell's not done with national championships though, as he'll be heading to the Master Bowler's Association National Championships from June 29th to July 3rd in Regina.

"I was fortunate to play well enough through the year that I've been named Manitoba's Single Representative for the event," adds Mansell. "I'll be out on my own bowling against seven other provinces in a triple round robin, match-play format. Hopefully, I'll bowl well enough to end up in the playoff rounds"