As the youngest of four girls, Linda Armstrong used 5 pin bowling to build a competitive edge both in life and especially in sports. Her mother, Margaret, was part of the Youth Bowling Council (YBC) at Cliffside Bowl and introduced Linda to the 5 pin bowling. Coach Bill Gooding saw the potential in Linda and started her on the Four Steps to Stardom youth program and developed her great backswing.

The competitive spirit moved both Linda and her mother to the larger youth program at Parkway Bowlerama and championships followed. In 1982, Linda qualified for the YBC provincials in the junior girls’ singles, and in the three game Ontario finals, Linda bowled a 782 triple to wire the field. At the nationals in Saskatoon, Linda posted a 19-3 win/loss record and averaged an amazing 274 to capture the national title, all of this at just 13 years old.

By 1984, Linda had a 254 average and led the Agincourt Zone team to a national title in the Pepsi High School tournament, as she bowled 952 for four games to win Canadian honours.

In 1985, at just 16, Linda led the Central East regional team to the Ontario Winter Games, and this competition included bowlers as old as 24.

At 18, Linda had a 261 average at Parkway Bowlerama and the adult ranks beckoned. In 1988-89, Linda joined the Master Bowlers’ Association and, in her first year, she won the Mixed Triples with Ernie Tataryn and Hall of Famer, Brian Kaye, the Double Knockout in January of 1989, the Mark Ten Accuracy Contest at year end, and in October of the same year, the Oktoberfest tournament. Overall, Linda has won 14 ladies’ events and two senior tournaments. One of her wins was the 1992 Special Olympics tournament when she partnered with Special Olympian, Warren Wright. This victory was a favourite not only for the Special Olympics involvement, but it was also Linda’s fifth tournament win on the MBAO ladies tour. In total, up to the end of 2023, Linda has bowled 1322 games in the MBAO and averaged 245.41.

Nationally, Linda has been to 11 MBAC nationals with the Ontario tournament ladies, and she has won three gold, (1997, 2000 and 2019), five silver, and one bronze medal.

In the provincial Open, Linda has dominated at the zone level. She has qualified on 30 occasions and has been the singles representative at 26 provincials. Overall, Linda was ranked number 46 on the Top 90 list as voted on in 2000.

Over her career, Linda has “given back” to her chosen sport. She has been a regular at the annual bowling school. In the Youth Bowling Council, Linda also instructs on a weekly basis and, in 2018, coached Cory Dumais and Carter Beatty to a provincial gold medal in the YBC bantam boys doubles.

Education is very important to Linda. With over 90% in her final year of high school at Sir Wilfrid Laurier High School, she earned a full scholarship at the University of Toronto. Following teacher’s college, Linda now nears retirement as a kindergarten teacher at Glamorgan Public School.

Coincidentally, Linda met her husband, Iain, through bowling. Following their wedding in 1995, they have raised two boys, Cameron 19, and Justin 23. Both Linda and Iain are top bowlers and compete on the 5 Pin Universe team pro league, on the Motor City Mayhem team, representing NEB’s bowling centre in Oshawa. This team competes against other teams from across Canada using livestream as a platform.

Linda keeps in touch with her sisters as well. Sue is in Scarborough, Kim is in New Brunswick, and Debbie is in Alberta. A retirement in 2025 will give Linda more time to not only bowl, but maybe to develop some reading strategies for youth and, of course, travel.