BOWLS

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22592, 23 December 1938, Page 13

BOWLS

NOTES AND COMMENTS

[By ‘TCirTY"]

The New Zealand Bowling Association was formed at Dunedin in 1886, the first president being Mr Thomas Callender. He was also the first president of the Dunedin Club in 1872, and may justly be described as the father of bowling in New Zealiand. Following him in the chair was Mr J. L. Butterworth, of Christchurch. The then Governor, Sir Francis Jervois, was patron and 12 clubs affiliated. The first tournament was held on three greens, Dunedin, Caledonian, and Roslyn, on February 11, 1887, with 28 rinks competing. This executive laid a solid foundation for the control of the game by providing a constitution and adopting rules governing the game substantially as it exists to-day. The first balance-sheet makes interesting reading. Club affiliations were 25s each. It cost 4s a rink for the tournament, the prize being a silver cup costing £5 12s. The total revenue for the year was £7l 14s 4d, and a carry-over of 18s lid was secured. Good business control is evident from the fact that the entertainment costs were more than met by those attending. In addition, six gold medals were given to affiliated clubs for competition. One of these came to Christchurch, and. it would be interesting to know what became of it.

The first honorary secretary was Mr George. Capstick, who held office for seven years. Besides being a good secretary, he was a leading player in those early days, winning many trophies, and for many years he was the bowling writer of the “Otago Witness,” under the nom de plume of “Jack.”

On the Green The playing condition of several of our older greens is far from satisfactory, and must be giving concern to those in charge. For this season the weather cannot be held responsible, as it has distinctly been in favour of growth, as is evident by the rampant erbage everywhere else. One is forced to the conclusion that winter management has something to do with it, and in some cases the mistake of over top-dressing with an insufficiency of suitable manures when required, must be taken*into account.

Grass growing on a bowling green has to survive uncommonly hard conditions, for the winter season is the only part of the year that anything like natural growth is permitted or possible. In all forms of vegetable growth leafage plays an important part in building up vitality and stamina, but this development is continually being checked on the green by sharp cutting and hard rolling. This confirms “Kitty’s” opinion that the salvation of most greens lies in prosecuting vigorously the installation of the so-called Southland cotula weed or the several other types of similar native carpet plants. Types of Bowls

It would almost seem that the day of the wooden bowl is passing. Many of the older bowlers are wedded to their favourite woods, but one seldom sees a new set produced. On the contrary many new sets of composition bowls may be seen on the green, and observations at any tournament disclose that most of our leading skips and many others, prefer the smaller and heavier bowl. It has the advantage of compactness and it conforms to the draw and wind conditions with a greater degree of accuracy under most conditions.

Wooden bowls can be very hard to grip in wet weather.

Centre Competitions

With five rounds played, only two clubs, Barrington and Canterbury, have won all their games, in the threerink competition. Canterbury last Saturday suffered the only blemish on its fine play against Heathcote, when Haworth lost to Andrews 19 to 21. The other two skips, Munns and McNish, had comfortable wins. Barrington

each other in the competition. Even amongst the best in this series runaway scores are recorded that are hard to explain. For instance, last Saturday McNish got 26 to 13, Munns 26 to 14, Rollinson 28 to 13, Steans 30 to 10, Hayward 29 to 15. Hocking, of Returned Soldiers’ Association, got another win over Madsen by 19 to 12 on his own green. He seems to be playing good bowls this year. Manning Cup

Hornby continues to hold-its own in the Manning Cup, and Kaiapoi must also have a chance, but the larger clubs, from the meagre reports sent in, will be lower down on the list. Whyte, of Sydenham, put up the biggest score, winning by 37 to 8. Other successful skips were Hunnibel (Opawa), 27 to 11; Hatherley (Elmwood), 29 to 11; Penlington (St. Albans), 26 to 13; Williams (Redcliffs), 32 to 13; Maher (Lyttelton), 30 to 16; Jefcoate (Linwood), 30 to 8; and Macdougall (Christchurch). 26 to 10. The Robinson junior shield games are being got off more promptly than the Watson series. Harrell’s Linwood rink, with three wins, holds the colts’ shield, and meets the next challenge from Christensen’s Elmwood rink. It is peculiar that the Watson shield has changed hands every time this season. Allen Young’s (Returned Soldiers’ Association) rink lost to Giles (United) by one point, and Sneddon’s (Linwood) team is due for the next match with Giles. Club Notes

Canterbury will be represented at the Dominion tournament at Auckland next month by at least four club rinks, the personnel being as follows: Edgeware—W. Pearce, L. B. Evans, J. W. Beanland, W. Efford (s); Linwood— S. Sneddon, F. Redpath, P. Munns, H. Wilson (s); Opawa—T. Marriott, J. Timbs, R. Haigh, W. Haigh (s); Sydenham—J. Whyte, G. Gibson, W. Britten, G. Spearman (s). It is good to see Wilson defending his title. Bowlers will be well catered for diming the holidays. From December 26 to December 29 the South Christchurch rinks and pairs tournament will be held on Sydenham and Barrington greens. On January 2 a pairs tourney will be held on the Ashburton green. In town Linwood and Canterbury will hold their annual tournaments, while for those wishing a tour Invercargill holds both pairs and rinks at New Year.

An unusual game has been recorded. A champion rink game was being played at St. Albans between Hayward and De Feu. At the interval the former’s rink had scored 25 to their opponents’ 10. On resuming, things did not go well for them, however, and they only got a further three points, making their total 28—quite a good score. De Feu’s team rattled on 19 in the same time and won an exciting game by one point—29 to 28.

Both tournaments on Anniversary Day were carried through most successfully. True .the deluge stopped a final decision in both cases, but section play finished in time, and the players had splendid conditions until 5 o’clock. Both greens were in good order. Sunnyside filled with 16 rinks and St. Albans had 22. The new small green of the latter club was much superior to the old one, and the visitors relished playing on it.

The arrangements at St. Albans were perfect, thanks to the close attention of the president, Mr H. F. Donald. One little attention that all skips appreciated was the issue to them of cards showing the rink changes for the day. Only'two rinks survived the four rounds undefeated—W. Brown’s Turpin’s—and they agreed to divide the prizes. At Sunnyside three skips, Marks, Truman, and Fox, were in a similar position. Marks won the play-off. Thanks to an efficient control,' the club competitions at Canterbury are well advanced, and. the finals should be finished well in advance of the time required for entry for the centre finals. Recent wet evenings must be retarding these games with most clubs. Sfwgrwfiilataons must tee

J. Turpin’s Canterbury rink on its success in recent tournaments. To go through both St. Albans and Canterbury contests without a loss was most creditable. In both cases, his third player, W. Castles, gave invaluable assistance. The orthodox white costume » compulsory at the Dunedin Christmas parrs tournament. This is the announcement from the Dunedin Bosrib