The 40th anniversary tournament was written to the Ballmaster Open history as one of the finest chapters. Over 500 bowlers and a great deal of other long time friends of the tournament created a memorable atmosphere in Tali. Now it is time to leave the party behind and start everyday work. The tournament will have a new management as Oy Bowling Ab, the company that owns and operates Tali Bolw, has taken over the organization. From now on the tournament secretary will be Jaana Puhakka.

Ballmaster Open is now in transition. Kimmo Lehtonen will move to the background and so does yours truly. It is time to leave the responsibility of the tournament to new and younger hands. Since a little boy Kimmo Lehtonen has cherished a dream to arrange a bowling tournament. In Ballmaster Open it realized in a scale he had not even fantasized.
- Yes, it was a dream come true, and even more, Kimmo said.
- The goal was to enlarge the tournament and restore it to its past glory. After the few first years I felt it could get even bigger and I began to see to what direction we could take the tournament, continues Lehtonen, who announced his backing off after the anniversary tournament.

To him the spirit of the tournament has always meant a lot. To him every bowler has been special.
- Without them there would be no tournament. They mean everything to this tournament and its spirit. This year the special spice was the senior squad and the squad where most previous winners were present.

To Kimmo Lehtonen Tali has been much more than just a bowling centre. - Subconsciously the meaning of Tali must have affected to my starting as the promoter of Ballmaster. These two just go together. You cannot speak out the feelings I have felt as I have seen all the legendary bowlers as a little kid, stared at the overhead scorers, been on the lanes myself for the first time with shit in my pants, taken over the tournament and even won it, Kimmo explains.

To the back row

The 2010 Ballmaster Open ended in Kimmo Lehtonen’s emotional speech as he announced that the tournament would be taken over by Oy Bowling Ab. A lot of work was done for the anniversary tournament, but the reward was maybe the most positive feedback ever. After that it is kind of difficult, but on the other hand easy to step down.

Kimmo leaves the tournament to Bowling in a confident feeling.
- Nobody can go for ever. It is good to have a big company behind the tournament, Kimmo explains. He believes the tournament will get more fine chapters in its history.
- The spirit of the tournament is its supporting force and it will remain. I would have not been anything without Tali and you all in the organization. An individual cannot do something like this without a working environment. Furthermore it is the bowlers that make the tournament, Kimmo reminds.

During its first years the tournament was strongly connected to Timo Suviranta, who is considered its father. Later with the change of the situation it was connected to me and in the recent years to Kimmo Lehtonen. Planning of Ballmaster Open 2011 is already on its way. In the task force of Oy Bowling Ab are Kai Virtanen, Toni Toivonen and the new tournament secretary Jaana Puhakka.
- I was flattered about the honor and trust when I was appointed the task of the BBO tournament secretary by Oy Bowling Ab. It is great to be there to organize and continue the work you have so splendidly and with craftsmanship done, Jaana Puhakka said about her new “tenure”.
-The tournament secretary is one task more in my job at Oy Bowling Ab and I accept it eagerly. All kind of organizing is my asset and I think I can hold all the strings, even though it is challenging to jump in your shoes.

- It was natural for Oy Bowling Ab to take over Brunswick Ballmaster Open, when Kimmo told about his willingness to give up organizing it. To me Brunswick Ballmaster Open has always been an important and meaningful tournament and it will be so in the future, said Kai Virtanen, the winner in 1995 and the managing director of Oy Bowling Ab.
- We try to publish the tournament invitation for the next year in the change of May and June. At the same time the reservation system will be opened. I want to welcome all old and new participants to 2011 Brunswick Ballmaster Open. It is you bowlers who make it into that magnificent tournament that it is! Welcome, Kaitsu wishes.

There are a lot of challenges for Jaana, Toni and Kaitsu, but I do not doubt a minute that they would not be able to answer them. There is enough of knowledge, expertise and above all, love for the sport.

I use the opportunity here, in my last story to these pages, to thank warmly all the Ballmaster participants all over Europe, and further away, who have become acquainted and also good friends. I also want to thank our small but energetic organizing group. It was a pleasure and honor to work with you! And there is no beginning of January without Ballmaster. So, let’s meet in Tali 2011, in the audience. Even after my “retiring”, I am not entirely released.
- You and I will stay on the background during the transition years, Kimmo Lehtonen grins.

Oh yes.

- seija lankinen -