A “bring a buddy” program at the local bowling centre in Fenelon Falls, introduced Iain MacLean, at age 11, along with his brother, Eric and sister, Heather, to 5 pin bowling. Under the guidance of YBC program directors, Hall of Famers, Shirley and Ross Wilson, Iain’s bowling career was underway.
From this visit, Iain became more than just a top bowler. In his career, he has competed across Canada, excelled in tournament play and coached with great success.
While he qualified for his first provincial Open in 1985 and joined the Master Bowlers Association in 1986, Iain knew he needed mentorship to improve his overall game. He looked to Hall of Famers Greg Peteraitis and Roger Davies for assistance, he talked with Canadian singles champion Mike Wood and, for mental toughness, Doug Stuart. Even as he improved, advice from Hall of Famer, Connie Ward was added to his arsenal. Even today, Iain looks to John Honeyford for guidance when things are feeling a little off. Following this mentoring, in 2005, Iain was ready to take on the bowling world.
This year, he received his 30-year plaque for qualifying for the provincial Open. He has been a zone champion four times, qualified for the singles on nine occasions and bowled on twenty-four men’s teams and six mixed teams. On a mixed team, he was a provincial champion in 2018 and, in 2022, won provincially with the Ontario Durham men’s team. In Gatineau at the nationals in 2018, Iain had a 405 single, 924 triple, 1241 for four games and a 1529 five game score.
In the Master Bowlers Association, Iain won the Fall Classic in 2017 and 2021 and, on the senior tour, won an event in 2016 and, in 2020, also won the Fraser Hambly doubles with Dave Secord. Nationally, he has qualified for five Master Bowlers Association of Canada championships. On the tournament men’s team, he won gold in 2012 in St. John’s, gold in 2013 in Calgary, and bronze in 2016 in Surrey. With senior teams, he was a silver medalist in 2024 in Winnipeg and, in 2025, won gold in Surrey. Overall, in the MBAO, Iain averaged 248 for 1176 games.
An added feature of Iain’s career has been his participation in several cash tournaments in most provinces. Included are the KG and Jubilee Ford Open in Saskatoon where he was high qualifier in 2008 with an eight-game score of 2347. Other events are the St. James Classic in Winnipeg, the Regina Classic, the TPC at Sherwood Park in Alberta and, most recently, at the Green and Gold in Edmonton where he bowled a six-game block of 1840 and averaged 290 for the tournament. He has bowled scores such as 1582 for five games in Edmonton, 2118 for seven games in Timmins and a 2359 eight game score in Oshawa. In all, Iain has bowled fourteen 400+ games, with a high of 442and a high triple of 1020, dating from 1991 to 2023.
As well, during Covid, with bowlers staying close to home, a cross Canada concept, the 5 Pin Universe was born. Today, Iain, along with wife, Linda, are teammates on the Motor City Mayhem team, one of 26 in this competition. The “Mayhem” bowl out of NEB’s in Oshawa and the competition is at the highest level. For example, the high average is Evan Lacourssier of Edmonton at 317. The NEB’s group, consisting of Iain and Linda, are joined by Jeff England, Davin Florent, Jon Cowen, Matt Houston, Ian Gavel and Hall of Famer Connie Ward. The team manager is Andrew Pike.
Based on his considerable knowledge from his personal growth and mentorship, Iain was a logical choice as a team coach. In the Open, he coached six times, with his last being in 2013. Iain has coached in the YBC program for over 25 years and has also coached at the Youth Challenge, the Winter Games, and, as recently as last year, at the YBC nationals. As well, he took his vast coaching ability to the annual Ontario 5 Pin Bowlers Association bowling school.
In the MBAO, Iain has coached nationally nine times. With the ladies team, he has four gold medals, the most recent being in 2026, as Ontario hosted the national event. Iain also has two silvers and a bronze from previous years. On the men’s side, he coached for a gold in 2008 and a silver in 2009. While these team efforts have been successful, Iain places extra importance on the coaching of both his sons, Cameron and Justin. After a few years off due to Covid and work schedules, Justin hopes to return to competitive bowling. Cameron has blossomed into a top bowler in the Ontario Durham zone and this year competed at the MBAC nationals on the Ontario tournament men’s team.
Iain and Linda met through bowling and married in 1995. Living in Bowmanville sons Cameron and Justin are at home, completing a great bowling family. Iain continues to bowl, even improving, and, one day, hopes to bowl on a team with his two sons and bring home a national medal.