In her first year of eligibility, Sandi Horton has been selected for induction into the Ontario 5 Pin Bowlers’ Hall of Fame. Be assured, this induction is well deserved.

Born in Newmarket in 1971, Sandi was the youngest of four girls, namely Linda who is in Halifax, and Nancy and Debbie who live locally. Sandi was bowling by the age of three and watched over by her parents, Betty and Tom, as well as the proprietor of Newmarket Bowlerama, Marg Ingram. While her early years in the Youth Bowling Council (YBC) were uneventful, Sandi rose to prominence in 1989 and 1990 as a senior with provincial victories in the 4 Steps to Stardom. On both occasions, Sandi finished third nationally.

Leaving YBC, Sandi bowled in the Master Bowlers’ Association (MBAO) bursary tournament, losing by just one pin to Brenda Campbell Walters, another of tonight’s honourees. In the MBA, while she did not win the bursary tournament, her first year in the Masters was sponsored by Hall of Famer Sid Morris, as he was a most generous supporter. Sandi won her first Masters tournament that year with the Spring Classic and also added the aggregate title. Before the nationals, Sandi won the Rose Festival in Welland. Capping off a great year, Sandi won the MBAC National singles title, which was bowled in Victoria, British Columbia. Overall, she would win MBAC singles titles in 1994 (Oshawa), 1995 (Saskatoon) and 2005 (Red Deer). On nine other occasions, Sandi was a member of the provincial Ladies team, and at the national masters, these powerful teams won eight gold medals. In all, Sandi won 12 provincial MBA tournaments and, among several highlights, was a 3167 ten-game qualifying score in London at Fleetway, and over the years, added two 448 singles. In the Masters, Sandi is eying both the teaching and senior divisions in the years ahead.

Sandi also began bowling in the Provincial Open, conducted by the Ontario 5 Pin Bowlers’ Association. For eight of the first nine years, Sandi was a singles representative for the York Simcoe zone. In addition, the 1997 Ladies team were provincial champions and finished third nationally. In 2004, Sandi was again a singles representative and won the provincial title only to finish third nationally. In 2013 Sandi, now representing Huronia, won the Ontario singles and also won the national title bowling in St. John’s Newfoundland. This triumph placed Sandi in the exclusive Double Crown Club, winning singles titles with both the C5PBA and the MBAC. In all Sandi has bowled in 19 Provincial Opens with 14 times in the singles, 17 Ladies teams, and two Mixed teams. Hopefully, she will celebrate her 20th in the near future.

While Sandi was a major force in both the O5PBA and the MBAO programs, she excelled in other tournaments as well. Sandi competed on three occasions on television on the ladies side of the TSN Pins Game and qualified from an open field of men and women to appear on the CBC television series. She partnered with Shannon Wright to share the $20,000 first prize in the 1997 Pro-Am, as conducted by the MBAO. In total Sandi has won more than $50,000 in tournament play. In 2000 was voted number eight of all female bowlers in the first 90 years of our sport.

Off the lanes, Sandi joined the workforce in 1990 at Snap-on Tools, and currently, she is working in Newmarket. In bowling, in 1989 and 1990, Sandi was the Program Director for the YBC at Super Bowl in Newmarket. From 2000 to 2015 Sandi owned Bradford Bowl, a 12-lane 5 pin centre. Today, Sandi continues to live in Bradford.

In her personal life, Sandi has overcome several setbacks. The loss of a baby, Delana Rose, who died at birth, and in 1996 her father Tom, a Hall of Fame member, passed away from heart issues. Currently, her mother Betty is residing in a long-term care home in Bradford, and she is nearby for a daily visit. Finally, in 2019, Sandi was in a car accident that resulted in severe damage to both her wrist and ankles. With a strong rehab program, which included bowling, and with her best friend Michelle Swan pushing her all the way, Sandi is back on the lanes. Hopefully, more victories lay ahead.