A Portage la Prairie Bowler's won the Masters Bowling Association Canadian National Championship with the Manitoba Men's Team.

23-Year-Old Brandon Mansell attended the tournament in Surrey BC with his teammates from Wednesday to Saturday last week. Mansell's team went 5-1 on day one, 3-3 on day 2, and 5-1 again on day 3, putting them in a good position going into Saturday. Mansell says what it was like heading in to that final day.

"The first couple balls on the last day were a little nervous. Just getting into it and realizing that we can do this. We could secure gold before the last game is even done."

Mansell moved to Portage from Minnedosa a couple of years ago, and bowls mostly out of Southport. He's won 2 championships as a Junior bowler, and finally picked one up as an adult, which was quite the relief.

"There's a weight taken off of my shoulders for sure. It's been obviously the 7th time now, and I haven't medalled up until this point now. It's crazy."

He says there wasn't really 1 team that really stood out as opponents, as they all earned the right to be there and were top notch bowlers. He adds it was a long week of ups and downs.

"You get used to familiar faces, and seeing the typicals from different provinces. It's a lot of standing, a lot of bowling, a lot of cheering, and a lot of adrenaline."

Mansell's looking forward to fun summer, then getting back to competition in the fall.