Around the Greens

Press, Volume XCVI, Issue 28434, 14 November 1957, Page 17

Around the Greens

Few clubs in New Zealand cani claim a 20 per cent increase in membership in the one season;! such a club is Waitotara in the; Wanganui district. Waitotara has increased its membership from five last year to six this season. • Good entries have been received for the United club championship events which start this week and in some sections there is a record number of bowlers competing. The first round of the championship will be completed by the end of the month and will be played on the two-life system.

The status of the male has further declined, with the Dallington club’s decision to reverse the playing order in its annual married couples competition. Until this year, the husbands have been the skips, the wives the leads, but this time the women will, as is their wont, have the last word.

The Gordon Cup competition for pairs at Canterbury began in good bowling conditions on Tuesday evening. This competition is usually the most popular event of the season with the members iof lhe Canterbury club. There is , a very large entry for the event ' again this year.

A good start was made by the I newly-formed Christchurch worn- ! en’s club in the women’s competition when it won its first match. The men at the Christchurch club are holding their club championships in which two games of the fours have been played. D. Orchard and A. Taylor have been winners in the games played so far.

1 There is a welcome intake of 12 new members at Sydenham this season. The club, one of the oldest in Christchurch, has been depleted in membership over the last few years because of the effect of the residential area giving way to industry. To cater for the retired men in the district, the club has decided to admit men for afternoon play from Monday to Friday at half the usual subscription. The committee thought that this scheme might appeal Io persons who did not wish to enter into the more strenuous play of competition bowls. The club intends to provide bowls for those men who cannot afford a set and will not insist on any special bowling attire for them.

There was a suprise in the first round of the Canterbury club’s championships when the pair skipped by the former New Zealand champion, R. Haworth, was beaten by J. A. Petre’s pair. Haworth's young four played very well, however, to beat L. Huston's four by one point. The first rounds of the championships were finished ahead of schedule and were played on greens which were in perfect order. •

Although he has had little experience as skip, G. Hoffman played extremely well in the Canterbury club championship fours to take the former Dominion champion C. J. Shaw to an extra end before Shaw could win. The performance of Hoffman's four! was even more creditable when the standard of Shaw’s team was considered. In the pairs, Shaw was extended by J. Musgrave and an extra end had to be played in the game.

The annual Sanatorium Day Tournament will be held by the Cashmere club on December 12. All proceeds from the tournament will be given to the Cashmere Sanatorium Social Committee for spending on the patients. These tournaments have always been very successful and this year’s event is expected to be as popular as the previous ones.

The first round of the Van Dongen Cup competition played between the Dallington. Burwood and Christchurch Working Men’s Bowling clubs was held at the week-end. In the first round, which was played at the Dallington green. Burwood scored three wins. Dallington gained two and Christchurch Working Men’s Club one.

Bowling fixtures arranged are:—Thursday, November 14: Opawa all-day tournament. Friday, November 15: Shirley, St. Martins, Elmwood all-day tournaments. Saturday. November 16: Pennants and three fours, Robinson Shield. Sunday, November 17: Kaiapoi and Redcliffs Sunday tournaments, Dallington mixed fours all day tournament. Monday, November 18: Sydenham electric light tournament. Wednesday, November 20: Lincoln and Beckenham all-day tournaments, Kaiapoi Working Men's Club electric light tournament.