WINTER BOWLING.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 110, 12 May 1930, Page 16

WINTER BOWLING.

NOMADS ON THE MOVE. CHALLENGE MATCHES DELAYED. TOURNAMENTS FILLING UP. (By TRUNDLER.) The winter season is usually ushered in with th© resumption of the challenge matches, but last Saturday none could be played, as in each case it turned out that one side was not quite ready. It is understood that everything is now in train for all three to commence next Saturday. However, the Nomads more than made up for any other deficiencies in officially starting winter bowling, for they resumed their . wanderings under most delightful conditions, and at Epsom their caravan found plenty of green grass for their camels- and other impedimenta, including the two-legged livestock who carried ■ their bowl bags. On arrival at the green they were welcomed by. Mr. W. J. Jordan, M.P., for Manukau, who conveyed the best wishes of the district to Mr. Donnell and his merry men, 14 ri.'.iks strong. He took the opportunity to congratulate all bowlers on having had an extra half-hour of daylight during the recent summer evenings, and explained that while a good many members of Parliament would have liked the full hour, they had found that for the present it was a case of half an hour or nothing. Half a loaf is better than no bread. At the afternoon tea adjournment tno president of the Epsom Club cordially welcomed the party. He -well remepibered the time when they comprised only a rink or two, and he congratulated them on their amazing growth, commending the idea of wandering round to the various, clubs. Mr. J. J. Donnell, organiser of the Nomads, replied, thanking the club for their invitation, and intimating that already several invitations for future Saturdays had been received. Mr. J. S. Fletcher, M.P., and Mr. J. W. Hardley also spoke. The results of the afternoon's play will be found in another column. Organising the Nomads. During the week a meeting was held' in order to place the party on a proper businesslike footing. Messrs. J. J. Donnell and J. McDougall were appointed joint organisers, with a committee of seven, Messrs. C. E. Clarkson, J. Whitehouse, H. Beckett, W. Taylor, J. S. McMillan, H. K. Clayton and J. B. Paterson.

The objects of the Nomads were defined as a desire to bring together all bowlers who are willing to turn out for a good game of bowls during the winter, and thereby maintain the spirit of good fellowship all the year round; to enlist into their ranks as many as possible who belong to clubs that do not possess' a winter green. With regard to the invitations to visit other clubs during the winter, it would seem that only a limited number,, can accommodate the whole party, which will usually number twelve to fourteen rinks It seems likely, therefore, that about every other Saturday they will have to divide, and visit two clubs oh the same day. Tournaments Ahead. The only tournament this week is at Mount Albert, on Wednesday. By last advices there were still two or three vacancies. There will not be so many tournaments on King's Birthday this year as usual. The only ones announced are Auckland, Eclendale, Mount Albert, Mount Eden and Onehunga. The Onehunga list is full, 28 rinks, and there is only one vacancy at Auckland. The president of the Onehunga Bowling Club, Mr. Robert Buchanan, made his first appearance at the green _on Saturday since his return from hospital, and was greeted with a warm welcome from the members. Although he is rapidly recovering from his severe operation, it will be some weeks before he will venture to play again. The president of the Hillsboro' Club, Mr. E. A. Pearce, was an early visitor at the Onehunga green on Saturday, in order to present the prizes to the club's representatives who won the recent Hillsboro' tournament. The winners were S. McMaster, J. H. HarJock, E. J. Gatland, F. Livingstone, and their fellow members heartily supported the congratulations of the Hillsboro' president.

Frank Livingstone has now completed what has been by far his most successful season, a result probably flue to a large extent to his adoption of the Australian rubber bowls, which ssem to suit his style. In addition to all his local wins for Matamata, of which club he is also a member, it will be remembered that in February ho had three very spectacular performances in three successive weeks; He skipped the winning rink at the Matamata tournament and the Tauranga tournament, and although he was neither the winner nor the runner-up at Kotorua in the intervening week it was generally admitted that his meeting with Bremner's Dominion champion rink in the semi-iial was the best game of the whole tournament. a ■' ■.''•-