November 17, 2003 Ken Drury Horseshoe Canada Hall of Fame

Horseshoe Canada HALL OF FAME Members

KEN DRURY


1988 - Ken DRURY, Sarnia, ONT.
Born in Barrie April 12, 1913, resided in Sarnia. Drury said to a Sarnia reported that he was 11 years old when he saw Frank Jackson's at Sarnia. Following his throwing exhibition, Jackson gave his shoes to Drury (we know Mossman came twice to Sarnia in 1925 and 1926, one time with Jimmy Risk). Ken won his first trophy in 1926. It is said that he was Canadian junior champion 3 straight years. We found proof that he won the 1927 junior championship of the Mueller Cup tournament held in Sarnia. He was 1932 Lambton County Champion. Quit pitching for 37 years. Came back to competition in 1970-71. Three-time Canadian Senior champion (1978-1980-1981). Ontario Senior champion .... At age 64, he qualified in the championship divison at the 1977 World Tournament where he placed 32nd and averaged 68.0 with a high game of 80.0%. There he had a long game of 128 shoes (77.3%) winning 54-49 vs Al Lord. He also had a 102 shoe game vs Seibold losing 33-51 with 75.4%. At the 1978 World Tournament he placed runner-up in the Intermediate division with 64.4% setting world records with 296 ringers and combined ringer percentage in a game with Carl Steinfeldt. 1977 Florida Open champion.

On August 29, 1946, Ken was the first person in Sarnia to bowl a perfect 5 pin game. On May 12, 1962 Ken bowled a 311, 339, 386, 350 and 301, a 5 game total of 1687, the highest total ever rolled in Sarnia. Owned the Mitton Street Bowling Lanes in Sarnia (sold in the mid70s), where he had, for a while, the only horseshoe court in the city (as reported in 1978). Calls to the city hall were referred to Ken. In 1976, he competed in 31 tournaments in Canada and the U.S. Inducted into the Horseshoe Canada Hall of Fame in 1988, and into the Sarnia/Lambton Sports Hall of Fame on September 21, 1985. He practiced a lot to improve (4 or 5 hours a day). He never becomes bored with the sport because "It can never be mastered".

  • See Ken Drury's Summaries in Major tournaments





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