WEEDSPORT #- From George and Chickie to their children, Amy and Tim, the Pidlypchaks are a deeply dedicated bowling family.

“Both the kids got started at Cayuga Lanes,” Chickie said. “And then they moved to Sundays at the Polish Falcons with Nancy Barski and that is how I got involved in working with the kids in the league we've renamed Nancy's Kids.”

There is hardly a time in her life Amy can remember that didn't involved bowling and her parents.

“We started when we were about 5,” Amy said. “We'd go and watch our parents bowl and then we started and we'd bowl on Saturdays and Sundays; it is something we've done all our lives.”

During this period, Chickie often tried to lend her kids a hand with their game.

“It was always good working with them,” Chickie said. “I really enjoyed it. Sometimes it is easier to work with other people's kids because sometimes they'll listen to you a little more, but I always enjoyed it.”

This helped Amy learn and find her own way with the game.

“I'd go through my times of rebellion,” Amy said. “And I'd worked with an outside source. But (my parents) - especially my dad - I still look to my dad to help me; he can really see and understand what I'm doing.”

Amy spent a number of years in the junior leagues and competing in the Junior Masters, before making the leap to the adult leagues almost 10 years ago.

This brought both mother and daughter together, competing in the Women's Masters.

It was a leap that has been a real thrill for Amy.

“I started when I was 21,” Amy said. “I was in the Junior Masters, but I've done a lot better in the adults, so that has been a lot of fun for me.”

Growing up, watching her mother and many of the others that have become staples of the tournament over the years, and now competing with them, has also helped Amy bring her game to a new level.

“For me it is great to know that I am going against the best,” Amy said. “It is great to know that I can compete with them. I grew up watching so many of these ladies and now I am getting a chance to bowl with them that has been a really good thing.”

While for Chickie, it has been a time to see her daughter evolve and grow to this point.

“Every year one or the other of us ends up out,” Chickie said. “But I've seen her become a much better bowler than I am. She averages around 180 and I'm down around 170. So I've seen her become a really good bowler.”

Both Chickie and Amy have had impressive finishes in the past, with Amy taking sixth and Chickie earning third, but as well as they have both done, they have never had to face each other along the way.

“We each just try to bowl the best we can,” Amy said. “And we hope we don't have to bowl against each other.”

But it's the time together, sharing their love of the game that keeps it interesting.

“It is just fun,” Chickie said. “It is something that we can do together.”

And match after match they are there rooting each other on, with Amy becoming the instructor in many ways these days.

“It is nice to have everyone here,” Amy said. “I look to my dad a lot for advice and we try to help mom. She throws different than the rest of us so it is hard to judge, but we all try to give her advice and help her out.”

Something her mother welcomes.

“She is much better than me,” Chickie said. “Sometimes she makes me think I shouldn't be doing this anymore, but it is a fun time. I don't really try to help her, her father is better at that, but they all try to help me and it is nice to do this as a family all together.”

And while everyone's eyes are always set on bringing home the championship trophy, the key for the Pidlypchaks is to always remember to keep some fun in the game.

“There are some pretty good bowlers here,” Chickie said. “I can't take that away from any of them, but I'm really proud of how I've done and how Amy has done and no matter how we do I think we can say we had a good time.”