BOWLING.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 50, Issue 130, 14 March 1930, Page 2

BOWLING.

THE MADDISON TROPHY. SEVERAL SURPRISES AT CONTEST CHRISTCHURCH, This Day. The Maddison Trophy competition which represents the single-handed championship of the Christchurch Bowling Centre, was commenced m the Christchurch green yesterday afternoon. Only the actual singles champions of clubs affiliated to the Christchurch Centre are eligible to take part in the competition, for whreli twenty-two entries were received this vear The trophy was presented bf the lato Mr J. C. Maddison, who was a members of the Christchurch Bowling Club. The standard of play was good, and at times very high. Three previous winners were* among the competitors, but onlv J. Brackenridge survived to the end" of the day. There were several surprises. Last vear's winner, J. Templeton (Allentoii), went out in the first round, going down to R. Allison, a newcomer in this competition from Beckenham. He proved himself to be a very capable player. In the second round R. Haworth s of Linwood, administered an unexpectedly severe tiefeat to the Ashburton representative, J. 0. C. McLachlan, who was runner-up last vear, but who on this occasion seemed unable to adapt himself to the conditions. Another previous winner of the trophy, J. Burgess, of Dunsandel. had two b'ves, the second due to the failure of his opponent to appear, and then went under to H. E. B. Watson, at United, whose play has been a feature of the Centre championships this season, as lie is engaged in the rings and pairs, as well as in the singles. In the first round R. Allison (Beckenham) defeated J. Templeton (Allenton) 15-13. J. C C. McLachlan (Ashburton) had a bye. Allison scored consistently in the early stages, and at the seventh head led by 7 to 3, while the margin was the same at the seventeenth. Templeton reduced the lead to one at the twentieth, but Allison scored a single on the last head, gaining a notable victory over last year's winner. Allison, who is

a young player, gave a very fine exhibition of steady drawing In the second round R. Haworth (Linwood) beat McLaehlan 23-3. The game was disappointing. Haworth was drawing well, but McLachlan seemed unable to adapt himself to the pace of the green. The competition will be concluded next Thursday, when ir. the semi-finals B. J. Finnegan (Canterbury) will play J. Brackenridge (Spreydon) and R. Haworth (Linwood) will play H. E. B. Watson (United). The competition was inaugurated m 1909. D. Campbell, of Ashburton, being the first holder of the trophy. Campbell was again successful two years later. ELDERLY BOWLERS' DAY. AVERAGE AGE 75 YEARS. (Special to the "Guardian.") CHRISTCHURCH, This Day. Eighty-seven bowlers, ranging in age from 71 to 88 years, took part in games played, on the Edge ware green yesterday afternoon, when Elderly Bowlers' Day, which it is hoped to make an annual fixture, was inaugurated by the Christchurch Bowling Centre. The total number of years represented by the combined ages of the players was G 602, or an average of 75.6 years per player. The oldest players on the green were Messrs S. Manning, of the Christchurch Club, and Mr A. Dudley Dobson, of the St. Albans Club, both of whom are 88 years of age. Mr Manning was Mayor of Christchurch in 1890, and Mr Dobsoii occupied the position of City Surveyor for many years. The oldest person present at the function was Mr Thomas Wilson, of Beckenham, who is 91 years of age, and although not a bowler, is a keen follower of the game. Two former residents of Ashburton, Mr Peter Stewart, aged 81, and the Rev. T. Fee, aged 80, took part in the play. The former, who was president of the Ashburton «Bowling Club for many years, is now a member of the St. Albans Club, while Mr Fee, who did not play bowls when he was superintendent minister of the Ashburton Methodist Church, belongs to the Opawa Club.