Shirley Horsman achieved a major bowling achievement at the young age of 21 when she qualified for the Toronto East region team that, in 1956, was successful provincially and bowled in the national finals at O’Connor Bowl, unfortunately losing to the ladies team from Vancouver.  This was only the third year, in the history of our sport, that an East-West team championship was ever contested.

Shirley and her father, Jack, began to bowl together in 1950.  Jack was an active bowler in Toronto and, at that time, persuaded Hall of Famer John Martin, the owner of O’Connor Bowl, to sponsor Shirley’s team in the prestigious Toronto city major league.  In 1959, Shirley rolled one of many 900’s and her 993 triple was the highest score of that season.

Shirley graduated from Eastern Commerce Collegiate Institute and began to work in the office at Canadian Arsenals, a military supply company in Scarborough.  Subsequently, in 1956, she married Ed Neal and together, they raised three girls, Wendy, Karen, and Laurie.  As well, they lived in Toronto, London and Barrie before settling in Dunnville in 1965.  While living in London, Shirley bowled in the 1962 City of London singles championships and she finished in fourth place.

With this ongoing success, Shirley continued to improve, and, in Niagara, she began the qualifying process for the provincial finals for the Open conducted by the Ontario 5 Pin Bowlers’ Association.  In all, Shirley bowled 19 times, beginning in the ladies singles in 1966 and ending in 1992 on her 17th ladies’ team.  In addition, in 1977, Shirley and her Niagara team qualified for the Ontario Winter Games.  Bowling in North Bay, this was five pin bowling’s first visit to the games and Shirley and her Niagara ladies team were gold medal winners.

Shirley also bowled in the Master Bowlers’ Association for 14 years and, in 896 games, averaged just under 230.  During that time, she won two tournaments, the first being the 1983 Mixed Doubles with her partner, Bill Williams.  In 1989, at Bowl-o-Rama Lanes in Welland, Shirley won the annual Brunswick Rose Festival.  In the stepladder finals, Shirley defeated Hall of Famer Claudina Lista (Sula) 300-246 and a second Hall of Famer, Brenda Heaney (Pankoff) 236-220 to win the $1,000 first prize.

Shirley was also a competitive league bowler in the Niagara area as well as an active league executive.  At Pla-Mor Bowl in St. Catharines, she bowled a 1024 triple during a zone Hi-Lo Doubles roll off and added a 412 single and 933 triple at Arrow Bowl in Dunnville.

In 1965, Shirley and her husband, Ed, began Inter-County Concrete in an agreement with St. Lawrence Cement.  They ran this company until Ed passed in 1982.  From that point, Shirley, along with her daughters, Wendy and Laurie, continued the operation until 2007.

In 1985, Shirley married Hall of Famer Joe Chiki and Joe would pass along some golf skills to Shirley and she continues to play to this day.  Sadly, Joe passed away in 2012, leaving Shirley on her own.  However, she enjoys eight grandchildren and five great grandchildren and weekends at a family cottage on Lake Erie.  As well, she dabbles in tenpin bowling, still earning high average titles with an average ranging from 150 to 160.