Jones plans to retire

Press, Volume CXIII, Issue 33418, 27 December 1973, Page 14

Jones plans to retire

.5 Z Press .-tssocintl-iii' AUCKLAND. The Aucklander. P- f- BJones, aged 61, plans to make the Commonwealth Games singles bowls championship his last major competition. Jones, New Zealand's oldest Games representative, said yesterday that after his effort in Christchurch next month his bowling schedule would quietly taper off. “I'm seriously considering dipping out of the top stuff,” said Jones, five times a national champion, today. “The pressure has been nonstop for years now, and it is becoming increasingly hard to put up with,” said Jones.

"It is also time to let some of the younger plavers through now that I am getting older. “I don't plan on retiring completely, Just quietly lessening my participation in national, international and club tournaments." Jones, who turned 61 on Christmas Eve, is one of his country’s top medal prospects. His main worry at the moment is to come out of a flat patch which has plagued him during recent Auckland club and provincial tournaments. He believes the players to beat in the singles com petition at the Games are D. Evans (Wales), the world champion, and D. Bryant (England).

•In addition to these two players. Northern Ireland and Australia should have representatives capable of winning medals,” he added.