BOWLS

Press, Volume LXIX, Issue 20987, 16 October 1933, Page 6

BOWLS

OPENING OF SEASON OPAWA CLUB The Opawa Bowling Club opened its season on Saturday and at the same time celebrated its twenty-fifth anniversary. The president, Mr F. C. Bobbins, declared the season open and, drawing attention to the twenty-fifth anniversary, said that the membership at present was-a record one. Mr A. Selwyn Bruce, a foundation member, traced the history of the club from the year it was founded. Mr H. A. Bruce and Mr F. D. Muirson also spoke, and a photograph was then taken of the following foundation members of the club:—Messrs A. Selwyn Bruce, H. A. Bruce, A. E. Talbot, H. M. Hunter, B. Best, J. W. Hillary, and Mrs Bruce, the first life member. Mrs W. T. Tregurtha, wife of the secretary, sent up the first kitty and Mrs Robbins the first bowl. SYDENHAM CLUB More than 300 persons attended the opening of the Sydenham Bowling Club's season on Saturday afternoon. The Mayor of Christchurch (Mr D. G. Sullivan, M.P.) and Mrs Sullivan were among those who were present. Mr J. S. Barnett, the president, welcomed the players and visitors. He congratulated the green superviser (Mr W. A. Britten) and the greenkeeper (Mr J. Shrimpton) on the fact that not for many years had the club had such a wonderful green. The Mayor also offered his congratulations on the excellent condition of the green and then declared the season open. Before play began special reference was made to the great help rendered to the club by the women's section. Mrs Britten, the president of the women's section, threw up the first kitty, and Mrs Sullivan sent up the first bowl, which ran very true and touched the jack. In the men's section Mrs Britten threw the jack, and Mrs Barnett sent up the first bowl, drawing a toucher. RETURNED SOLDIERS' CLUB Mr M. F. Barnett, president, opened the season on the Returned Soldiers' Association Club's green. He read letters of congratulation from the Roslyn Club (Dunedin) and the Sydenham Club. Mr Barnett sent up the first jack, and Mrs A. P. Taylor bowled the first bowl. There were nearly 100 visitors and players present. \LLSEBROOK\S CLUB Bright sunshine favoured the opening of Aulsebrook's Bowling and Tennis Club on Saturday. Mr A. Clark opened the season for the bowling section, expressing the hope that the season would be a succcessful one. The first jack was sent up by Miss Joyce Clark and the first bowl by Mrs Hobbs. The tennis section was opened by Mr A. C. Holmes, the president. Mrs Holmes served the first ball. Later in the afternoon, on behalf of Aulsebrook's, Ltd.. Mr Holmes presented the club with a photograph of a gathering on the green. REDCLIFFS (J-LL'B The Redclift's Bowling and Croquet Club opened the season on Saturday afternoon, in ideal weather conditions. The president (Mr A. H. Thompson) and Mrs Thompson received the many visitors, members, and representatives from the various clubs around Christchurch. The president, in declaring the season open, remarked on the thorough manner in which the committee had done its work during the season, and referred particularly to the greenkeepers who were responsible for the fine condition of the lawn. A cup, given by the president for the champion doubles, was presented to the winners, Messrs G. Jobberns and H. T. Seymour. Other winners were:—Handicap singles. J. H. Peek; championship rings, R. Hannah (skip); championship singles, W. J. Smith. Amongst those present were the Mayor of Sumner (Mr W. H. Nicholson) and Mr Finnegan, of the Christchurch Centre, who congratulated the club and wished it every success for the coming season. Miss Helen Jobberns, grand-daugh- j ter of the president, threw up the kitty, and Mrs Thompson played the | first bowl. J BECKENIIAM CLUB Many visitors and a substantially increased membership swelled the attendance at the opening of the Bcc.kenham Bowling Club on Saturday afternoon. Mr F. J. Dann, the president, who declared the season open, said that all praise was due to the greenkeeper, Mr E. W. Pearce, for the excellent state of the green; he had not seen any as good in Christchurch. Other speakers were Messrs E. J. Howard, M.P., G. T. Thurston, and E. Fox, vicepresident of the Canterbury centre. Prominent visitors during the afternoon were Messrs D. G. Sullivan, M.P., W. W. Keighley, patron of the club, and H. B. Oakey, president of the centre. Miss Wanda Dann sent down the kitty and the first bowl was played by Mrs Dann—who was presented with a bouquet by Miss Nola Healey.

UNITED CLUB Members and visitors were present in hundreds at the grounds of the United Bowling, Tennis, and Croquet Club when Mr H. Kitson, chairman of the Christchurch Domains Board, declared the season open. The grounds were in excellent order. The president of the club. Mr S. McCullough, said he did not think they had ever looked more beautiful and enticing, and the highest credit was due to the greenkeeper and his assistants. After welcoming the visitors, Mr McCullough said the club could do with a great many more members, especially in the tennis and bowling sections. The croquet section was not so badly oft. There was certainly no place m Christchurch more suitable ??** attractive for sport ehan the United Club's grounds. In the past it had been necessary to delay the opening of the tennis season for a fortnight after the official opening; but this year the position had been remedied and play was able to be commenced at once. Declaring the season open, Mr Kitson said all sportsmen should be grateful to the pioneers who had set aside such a spacious park to be preserved for all time. There were many persons, however, who were unable to take part in sport, but sportsmen should remember that all had the right to enjoy the peace and simple dignity of the park and the restfulness of the gardens. "Unfortunately* there are some persons who would like to see the park turned into a sort of Coney Island, with cars, noisy crowds, and coloured lights, but I think it is the wish of all present that the park should forever remain a park," he said. He hoped that a fitting value had been placed upon the magnificent gift of Waitangi made to the Dominion by the Governor-Genera), Lord Bledisloe, and Lady Bledisloe. "If you realise what these 450 acres have meant to ycu, you will realise what a reserve of 1000 acres will mean to the people of New Zealand." Mr Kitson congratulated the club on its position. The executive, he said, had had a very trying time in the last three years, but he thought the next thre years could be looked to with confidence. Mr George Harper also spoke. "I congratulate the club upon its present numbers and hope they will increase," he said. "I also hope the members will be long spared to enjoy this beautiful site." Miss E. Ranger threw up the first jack on the bowling green and Mrs J. G. Poison bowled the first bowl, which was a toucher. An exhibition tennis match was played by T. Rhodes-Williams. H. Dymond, C. Angas. and H. A. Barnett The United Club is the largest of its kind in New Zealand, having three croquet lawns, two bowling greens, and no fewer than 34 tennis courts. EDGEWARE CLL'B The Edgeware Bowling. Crocmet. and Tennis Club opened its bowling and croquet season on the club grounds on Saturday afternoon, the ceremony being performed by the president of the combined club, Mr J. Chatfield. The Deputy-Mayor (Mr J. K. Archer) was present and apologised for the absence of the Mayor fMr D. G. Sullivan. M.P.). In opening the bowling section Mr Chatfield welcomed the visitors, including Mr Archer and Mr J. D. Colville, the centre representative and a life member of the club. He remarked that the Edgeware Club was in a very fortunate position in that its membership had increased since last season. Mr Archer expressed pleasure at ! being present, and Mr Colville, on be-. half of the centre, also spoke, saying that he thought the new system of | match play would be a great improve- j merit on the old. ; The first jack was put up by Miss L. M. Crocker, and Mrs A. Chidgey, wife of the vice-president of the club,' played the first bowl. Mr Chatfield also declared the croquet lawns open for play, the first ball being hit by Mrs Chidgey. SPREYDON CLUB ! A welcome to all visitors, both players and spectators, and pleasure at the increase in membership of the Spreydon Bowling Club, was the basis of the opening remarks of the club's president, Mr H. H. Lane. Mr D. G. Sullivan, M.P., who visited most of the clubs holding their opening day on Saturday, said that he had always given his whole-hearted support to those bodies and clubs which helped persons to get out of their homes and into the fresh air. Games of any sort always received his support. His wish was for a successful season for the club. The kitty was sent down by Miss Dorothy Lane, and the first bowl was played by Mrs Lane.

I BELFAST V. KAIAPOI A four-fink friendly match played at Kaiapoi on Saturday afternoon between teams representing the Kaiapoi Working Men's Club and the Belfast Working Men's Club was won by the Kaiapoi team by three games to one. Following were the scores, the names of the Kaiapoi skips being mentioned first:—Ramsay 19, Grimshaw 13; Taplin 20, Stevens 19; Bristow 15, Hall 29; Simpson 25, Shepheard 20. j SUMNER CLUB I The Sumner Bowling Club held its opening ceremony on Saturday after[noon. The season was declared open by the president (Mr T. Newburghl. There was a large attendance of members and guests. Reviewing the last season, Mr Newburgh said that the club had had a very successful year. Thanks were due to Mr T. Chambers and Mr F. Edwards, who were responsible for the excellent condition of the green. It was with regret, he said, that owing to business reasons the club was losing Mr Edwards, a very valuable member and greenkceper, who would soon leave the district. The Mayor (Mr W. H. Nicholson) congratulated the club on its progress and on its great social value to the community. He wished it a prosperous season. Mr F. D. Muirson, representing the Christchurch Centre, offered his congratulations and good wishes for a prosperous season. The son of the president, Bruce Newburgh, rolled up the jack, and Mrs Newburgh registered a toucher with the first bowl. The winners of the club events during the last season were:—Championship singles, J. Martin; championship doubles, F. Edwards and J. Martin; champion rink, A. Cheshire. H. W. Heslop, F. J. Edwards, and J. F. Menkes; handicap singles, E. Peek; handicap doubles, A. Cheshire and J. F. Menzies.