BOWLS

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22336, 25 February 1938, Page 21

BOWLS

NOTES and comments [By ’■KITTY”! Many of our most capable bowlers are often accused of being "pothunters." This is largely because of their ability to win competitions and jhe cups 'that accompany them. The accusation is in most cases misplaced, ?or it is not - so much the trophy as the desire to exploit his skill to the utmost that urges on the player. The ..pot-hunter” can better be defined as C ne who is over-keen to win and is not averse to subtle tricks to accomplish that end. That definition releases the great majority of sportsmen, -nd in bowls the player with repeated successes to his credit is generally Pie who does yeoman service to his At-' and the game generally. An example of this class is the subject of this week's sketch—Carl Madsen, of the Opawa Club.

Arriving from London in 1922, he was induced lo take up bowling with the Sydenham Club, and was not long in becoming proficient. The Besley jingles trophy was given to the club in 1926, and he was its first winner For 14 years he played for the club, wid won several championships during that time. Probably his best year was 1935-36, when, in addition to being president, he won bath singles and doubles club honours, and lost the Easter tourna-

ment to T. Chambers by one point only. Last year he put up a record by winning 11 consecutive Watson Shield games with the same team. In addition to club activities, Madsen has been consistent at both local and Dominion tournaments. He has been in final games for both Easter and West Coast tourneys, and a winner of the South Christchurch tournament. In inter-provincial matches his record as a successful skip is well above the average. The winter indoor game has his strong support, and the shield bearing his name, played for by threerink teams, is always keenly contested, while he himself has won the ipdoor championship. He was ’delegate on the centre for Sydenham for manv years, and at present represents Oxford, and is a zealous worker for the game. He is a foreceful driver, and where necessary can play the drawing shot equally well. Among bowlers he is popular as a bright and cheerful opponent, and, like most of our successful skips, is alive to the possibilities of a well-built head. Bowling Attire Commenting on bowling attire, Mr T. P. Sewell writes as follows:—“I was surprised to see some bowlers playing in the champion pairs on the St Albans green not wearing correct bowlting attire. Some looked very dowd v indeed. Such a state of affairs would not be tolerated in Australia. During two years there I have not seen on» player engaged in pennant games or champion of champions who was not correctly dressed. I think the rul* in reference to this subject should bo strictly enforced.” In all sports to-day changes of dress are apparent, and bowls is no exception. The “all-white” slogan is being met by the adoption of “greys,” which, though not nearly so picturesque or traditional, are more economical. It is a recognised rule that the white uniform and blazer must be worn at all important games, and on halfholidays players owe it to their clubs’ that they should turn out in orthodox dress The rules of the game lay it down that all competitors must be correctly attired, but there were several offenders taking part in the centre pair* games last Saturday. It is possible some of these had not time to go home and change, but this could be overcome by donning whites in the pavilion. These notes are inspired by comments sent in from onlookers holding traditional views. Bowls in Australia T. H. Patton, St. Albans, has returned from the Australian bowling carnival, much impressed with his experiences both in sight-seeing and in bowling. Coupled with J. H. Williams (Barrington) in the pairs, and with two northern players in the rinks, he enjoyed several days’ play with ne success, but had a splendid time. The

authorities treated their visitors extremely well, and their visit ended in a trip to Canberra as guests of the Government.

Greens in New South Wales are quite different from those in New Zealand, playing much heavier because of their surface of coarser grass. An exception was the Waverley green, which is a brown-top one, resembling our local greens. By reason of this surface difference, Patton thinks the great success of the New Zealand players was most meritorious. Livingstone he considers a great player. To be first in the Australian champion singles and second in the Empire singles, was an outstanding feat among 700 Empire bowlers. Macey and Densem. first in the Empire pairs, and W. Bremner (Auckland), winner of the rinks, decidedly put New Zealand on the map as a bowling country. Badges were in demand, of course, and Patton has an interesting collection, but none was in greater demand than the striking silver fern leaf from this Dominion.

Dilatory Players A feature in most clubs, and one leading to trouble for responsible officers and players, is the way in which club games arc shelved until the last minute, when drastic steps are sometimes required to push them through. The remedy, of course, is to begin early in the season. It is astonishing to note how the long evenings of December are frittered away. Rink games are as easily played then as in January, yet players dawdle along with friendly games, and only get really keen about their obligations when February comes. It cannot be pleaded that centre games cause the delay. In fact, if more of our Saturdays wore occupied with pennant games it would have a good effect on pushing club games along on week nighis.

Club Kink Games Beckenham’s champion rink, decided on Monday, reveals new blood to uphold the honour of the club. Five points separated the two rinks in the final game, the winners being McGarry, Iggo, Healey, and J. Smith C-5), who defeated Mundie, Carroll, Burke, and T. Watts <s). Smith’s rink went through without a loss. Opawa rinks resulted in a victory for Hey’s team, which will now represent the club for final honours. The members of the winning rink, Adcock, Empson, Burgess, and Hay (s), are to be congratulated, the lead being a first-class player. Their opponents, Patterson, Timbs, Harrington, and Tregurtha (s), had a good lead at one stage, but lost control and went under at the finish.

At Elmwood the rinks championship was won by P. Bryson, A. Bryant, J. R. Smith, an.d H. B. Oakey (s), who beat R. Smith, G. Osman, R. Featherstone, and H. Minogue (s) rather easily. The semi-final was a much better game, an extra head being required to decide the tie—24 all—on the twenty-first head, W. Hoff, G. Haylcy, H. Barlow, and T. D. Lennie (s) extended Oakey’s rink to the utmost. Both skips played outstanding bowls and received full support from their teams.

On the Returned Soldiers’ Association green the rink final was a keen fight. The scores were: G. Mclntyre, E. Elwood, G. Williams, and W. Chapman (s) playing W. Morlcy, J. C. Young, R. Hocking, and A. Young (s). The former won 17 to 12. This club entered two teams in the colts’ shield competition. Both lost playing Austin’s United rink, and decided to have a friendly match to decide their respective merit. The A team, Herman. Jones, Hillyer, and J. G. Young is), made 14, while Iheir opponents, the B team, Foster, Henley, Smith, and F. Dey, made 17. Edgeware adds another leaf to Efford’s crown, as his rink, Paterson, Matson, Burns, and Efford, secured the honour by a fairly easy win over the other finalists, Robinson, Young, Dick, and Bennett <s). United staged a good final, the rinks engaged being Davis, C. Broughton, McNish,, and W_. Broughton (s) and Pitcaithly. Rhodes Williams, R. Brown, and J. Brown is). A close game was won by the former team, 24-21.

Linwood representatives arc the same as those who won club honours last year, and arc ’a strong combination. Buchanan. Redpath, Sneddon, and Wilson comprise three of the successful team at the Dominion tournament last month.

At Canterbury the rinks final was between Haggcr. Smcaton, Ives, and Brown (s) and G. Paul, Taylor, Castle, and Turpin (s). They played off on Tuesday, the former winning. Results in the singles at Canterbury are still very open. Delargey and Raphael, each with two lives, Haworth, Turpin, Castle, and Ives, one lifers, will have to settle the issue among them.

Other club champion rinks known to have been found are as follows: Papanui: Taylor, Chester, Kettle, and Hartley (s). Rangiora: Lindon, Taylor, Mclntosh, and Hargreaves. Lyttelton: Bladder, Bisman, Kerry, and Kroening. New Brighton; Hudson, Litelcy, McCarthy, and Pattrick. St. Albans; Kingfland, H. D. Lowry, Renton, and J. H. Lowry. P. Munn still holds the Watson shield after meeting R. McNish. His next game is with a Kaiapoi rink skipped by J, Mealings. Austin’s (United) hold on the Robinson coils’ shield was increased by his sixth win. and he next plays Powell, of Beckenham. Two whole-day tournaments arc set down for next week —Elmwood on Wednesday and Shirley on Thursday. As the season is drawing to a close, both clubs should get good support. Three-rink Final In the final of the three-rink championship Canterbury proved too good for St, Albans by two games to one and 69 points to 52.- Haworth's rink defeated Clarkson’s by 29 to 17, and this decided the issue, as the other two games were fairly close. Ives beat J. Lowry 19-13, but McNish lost to Hayward by 21 to 22. - Play in the centre pairs championships leaves eight pairs to fight it out next Saturday. Most of these are new aspirants to the honour of winning, the Maddison trophy, and surprises may be jn store m the final games.

VISIT OF CANADIAN TEAM

CHRISTCHURCH RINK Defeated

The four members of the Canadian bowling team which competed at the Empire Games at Sydney defeated a local rink yesterday afternoon on the Christchurch Club's green. After the midday shower, the green was sticky. The Canadians quickly ran to a lead and won by 20-17. The visiting team was skipped by R. Gray, the other members being A. Reid, J. Fleming, ana R. Adam. The opposing rink was I. Woolf, past president of the Christchurch Club, R. E. McNish, president of the Canterbury Club, W. H. MacDougall, president of the Christchurch Club, and £. F. Barnett, president of the centre, the last-named being the skip. The Canadians, who were accompanied by Mr D. M. Robinson, of Vancouver, rejoined the Maunganui last night for Wellington. They will leave New Zealand for Canada on March 22.

CHRISTCHURCH CENTRE MATCHES

Th-e Christchurch Bowling Centre will continue the champion of champion pairs competition to-morrow, on the Riccarton Racecourse green. The third round will be started at 12.30 p.m.. and the ■ fourth round at 3.15 p.m. At the conclusion of these games, only the final will remain, to be played.

The following is the draw;—Shirley tW, Ross and F. C. Williams) play Opawa (S,

Marriott and A. F. Rollinson), Linwood (R. Buchanan and S. Snedden) play rington (T. Carey and T. G. Fox), Returned Soldiers’ Association (H. Mason and A. B. Young) play Spreydon (R. D. Kennerley and J. J. Kennerley), Canterbury (G. Paul and J. W. Turpin) play fat. Albans (J. E. Wilson and C. Lancaster). CANADIAN RINKS PLAY AT LYTTELTON MATCH ENDS IN A DRAW The bowling match between the Canadian Empire Games rink and a Lytteixon rink, which was played ori the Lyttelton Bowling Club’s rink yesterday morning, proved a very enjoyable one to coin visitors and their hosts, and was watched by many spectators. . t The short green puzzled the visitors at first—they went down six on the second head—but they soon found their length and scored on several heads, 'Hie score was equal when the ninth, and last, head began. Canada was 2 up when the Lyttelton skip, Neville, with his last bowl, burned the head and the match resulted in a draw, 13-13.