Bowl N.Z. TOURNEY TODAY

Press, Volume XCVI, Issue 28472, 30 December 1957, Page 5

Bowl N.Z. TOURNEY TODAY

Singles On 32 Greens

On 32 Christchurch bowling greens this morning the main event of the year for bowlers, the forty-third Dominion tournament, will commence. The tournament will be opened at 8.15 this morning at the United club’s green, which is the headquarters for the event. Two temporary Stands have been erected at United and they will be able to accommodate 500 persons. For 1024 bowlers, the first round of the singles championship will provide the first testing matches of the tournament. Several leading contenders for the title will be playing on various greens throughout Christchurch today and with seven former singles winners taking" part in the championship, the singles should be very keenly contested. The tournament will continue for about two weeks.

Many of the younger competitors will be taking part in their first national tournament but the event will be no novelty to most of the older bowlers. Possibly the oldest four competing will be the Linwood team skipped by W. Brown. He is 84, the number three, F. Billens, is 74, the number two, F. Redpath, is 84, and number three, F. Billens, is 74, the number two, F. Redpath, is 84, and the lead, V. Graham, is 76. Redpath, the patron of the Linwood club, is also' entered in the pairs in the tournament. Although this is the first time this combination has played in the national fours, all the bowlers have previously played in Dominion tournaments.

Many visiting players had practice matches at the Canterbury club yesterday. Included in the visitors are T. T. Skoglund, A. Connew, H. Wiggins. W. P. O’Neill (Carlton); A. L. Albertson and J. H. Rabone (Auckland); E. P. Exelby and C. G. Goosman (Frankton Junction); H. N. Hunt (Hataitai), J. Vodanovich (Taumarunui), P. C. Skoglund (Palmerston North), F. White (Runanga), E. A. Warnes (Greymouth), and W. R. Fleming senior and junior. Several leading Canterbury club players also competed against these bowlers.

On the Sydenham green a tournament for tournament fours was held and in the final H. H. J. Robson (Mangakino), national title skip in 1956, beat C. Hellyer (Caledonian).