Danyck Briere, Ste. Genevieve, Quebec, and Robin Crawford, a Canadian citizen who works for the Young American Bowling Alliance in suburban Milwaukee, have been named 2001 Canadian Bowlers of the Year by the Canadian Tenpin Federation.

Briere won a gold medal for Canada in the men's singles event at the Federation Internationale des Quilleurs American Zone Championships in Argentina. His 1,428 six-game series broke the Federation Internationale des Quilleurs American Zone Championship record of 1,419 that stood for 12 years. Briere finished fourth in all-events, fifth in team, seventh in doubles and ninth in Masters.

Briere continued his winning ways when he returned from Argentina. He won a charity event held at Rive-Sud Lanes in Longueuil, Quebec, in November which earned him $2,000 and another $2,000 first-place prize at the Quebec Bowlers Club event at Salon Quilles in Valleyfield, Quebec. He is a three-time member of Team Canada. He represented his country at the 1997 American Zone Championships in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, the World Championships in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, in 1999 and the World Youth Championships held in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic in 1999.

Crawford, a member of Team Canada, won the gold in women's singles at the American Zone Championships. She also finished fourth in doubles, fifth in trios and ninth in team.

Crawford also excelled at the collegiate level. Bowling for Morehead State (Ky.) University, she finished second at the Bearcat Hoinke Classic in January and made the all-tournament team. She won the Association of College Unions International Region 5 event in February with a 227 average.

At the Intercollegiate Bowling Championships in April she was named to the all-tournament team and was named to the 2001 National Collegiate Bowling Coaches Association All-America Team with a 104-game average of 205 for 12 tournaments. She earned the Marion Ladewig Award and the all-events title at the ACUI Championships in May.

Crawford followed her ACUI win with a fifth place at the WIBC Queens tournament earning a spot on the TV show and finished second at the Professional Women's Bowling Association Southwest Region event in June. She finished fourth in the Bowling Journal International 2001 Amateur Bowler of the Year poll.

Both players will be in Vancouver in May to try for another spot on Team Canada when the Canadian Tenpin Federation conduct’s its team trials.