Guelph history trivia

Thomas Ryan, the inventor of 5 pin bowling, was born in Guelph.

Canada Post  has issued a stamp in recognition of the sport’s 100th anniversay in 2009.

“When members of the Toronto Bowling Club complained about the weight of the standard ten-pin bowling ball, Thomas F. Ryan, the club’s co-founder, introduced a smaller ball and had his father whittle down five pins to match. He devised a new scoring system and introduced his game in 1909. This year, five-pin bowling, now the number-one participant sport in the country, celebrates its 100th anniversary. Note that on the first day cover, a bowler holds the coveted goose prize.”