CHAMPION BOWLS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 4, 6 January 1937, Page 9

CHAMPION BOWLS.

DOMINION TOURNEY. PAIRS CHAMPIONSHIP. HAWORTH'S MEW FARTHER. (By Telegraph.—Special to "Star."/ WELLINGTON, this day. % The opening round in the pairs championship being planned for this morning, further play in th'e New Zealand Bowling Association's singles is postponed, the 26 survivors to meet as soon they are free from the rinks and the pairs. This usually means Wednesday ot' nest week, but there will be only one round of pairs to-morrow, so it is quite likely that most of the singles may be run off during the afternoon, if those drawn to meet each other have failed to qualify in the pairs. Meantime all interest to-day is centred on the second event in the three championships, the pairs, and the rinks will commence on Friday. Auckland is again heavily represented to-day, nearly all those who entered for the singles and rinks having made up the necessary pairs also. Of the South Auckland players, the notable absentees are H. G. Loveridge and R. X. Pilkington (Hamilton), who won the event in Auckland two years ago, defeating the Harris brothers, of Wanganui, in the final. They also wou it six years ago at the expense of a Wanganui pair, W. Moffatt and J. B. Jack. The last-named player is a former mem* ber of the council and he achieved further distinction this week by giving Livingstone, the singles champion, his only loss in section play on Monday. Those who saw the final at Carlton six years ago will expect a good match against J. L. Wakerley and W. A. Hill (Rocky Nook) this afternoon for the Wanganui skip is evidently producing the same form as he showed against the Hamilton pair, and his lead is J. McMillan, who was lead for A. H. Benefield when the latter's rink won in Auckland ten years ago. The same green, Eastbourne, across the harbour, is also accommodating E. Hardley and W. Bremuer (West End), who won this event five years ago. and also the open pairs of the Auckland Centre last March. However, each green has at least one Auckland pair, and usually two, except Woburn and Petone, and at each of those greens there are two South Auckland pairs, so that interest up North will be spread out again to-day, as it was in the singles on Monday. Turpin, the Unique. Spectators always sort out the previous year's champions for special attention, although never yet has a previous champion retained his title in any of the three events. The Kelburn green, therefore, is most attractive this year, the players including R. Haworth (Canterbury), who won in Christchurch last year, defeating J. Higginson and H. Whittle (Grey Lynn) in the final. This year, however, he is supported by P. Munn as lead, who is also with him in the rinks, whereas in Christchurch his final was made all the more remarkable because his lead was J. W. Turpin. the only man who has ever won a bowling championship after breaking his neck at football!

If the weather remains fine there will be no difficulty in playing four rounds today. for four rounds in the three-bowl game take little if any longer than the previous system of playing three rounds with four bowls each. In fact four rounds have been specially arranged until this year, but the council decided last •T''!y to change it to three, as it was found that in numerous cases those who had no chance to win in the fifth round, and were to meet those in a similar position, did not turn up at all on the second dav. The headquarters greens are always a centre of attraction, and two past presidents of the association, James Pascoe and Raymond Sheath, are a pair 011 one green, and past president H. B. Oakey is on the other. Incidentally Mr. Oakey is in a particularly interestina section, for it includes L. M. Xaylor (Thorndon), who won the rinks four years ago, and J M Braekenridge (Lyall Bay), three times champion of champions of the Wellington Centre and Dominion singles and pairs champion in 1921 and 1922 respectively, with J. Eaves and L. L. Macey (Remuera) to give it a little Auckland colour. The Auckland past-presidents will meet the Gagliardi brothers, of Christchurch. to-morrow morning. the skip being runner-up in the rinks last year, but thev miss Moston and Cometti, two of the b®st known Hataitai players. Probably their stiff est proposition will be in the last round to-day, against Porter and Aitcheson (Caledonian).