SIDELINES

Press, 16 February 1980, Page 20

SIDELINES

THE TOP Barrington lawn bowler, Merv Robinson, has won only one Christchurch centre title, the champion-of-champions fours three years ago. But for consistency in getting to the latter rounds there is noone to match him. Last week-end Robinson finished third in the open pairs and he estimates that this was about the twelfth time since he took up the game seriously in (he late 1960 s that he has played in finals or semi-finals. He has also reached the last eight many times, the onen singles on six occasions. Then there is his third placing in the national pairs two years ago. It is no wonder Robinson is known as the hardy “bridesmaid” of Christchurch bowls.

B/ARRY SALISBURY, the towering Wellington freestyle swimmer, will complete his training for the New Zealand championships in March, in a new environment. Last month Salisbury moved to Dunedin to train with Duncan Laing’s sound wh'ch includes several of New Zealand’s top freestylers. Salisbury and his coach, Dave Henderson, made the decision when Henderson found his senior squad decimated with the start of university and training colleges imminent. Salisbury would have been th? only male freestvler left in the squad.

JUDITH PHU who suffered strained ligaments in he’- right ankle through fa’ l ng in a match at the Canteriwv tennis ehamnionships. has thrown awav her cnitche c —and the off <,r d , ’ng tennis shoes. In a bid to get back to fi’H fitness for the Ohrnipic hockey competition in Moscow, slw will trv swimming and cycling as a means of strengthening the iniured ankle. At the t'tnp of her accident she was looking a likely mixed doubles finalist.’'

CHRISTCHURCH will be opposed by Central Otago, Manawatu and Northland in the national final next month of the Rothmans inter-centre bowls tournament. Central Otago, which has a record second to none in the event, and Manawatu were predictable winners of their zone eliminations, but Northland, which boasts few name bowlers, caused an upset bv coming from behind to pin Auckland in the top half of the North Island play-off.

AT THE relatively young age of 55, Charlie Rhodes will next week receive the ultimate honour from the Canterhurv Rugby Union which he has served so conscientiously for the last 22 years. Mr Rhodes, has been nominated for life membership at the . union’s annual meeting on Wednesday and confinnation will undmihfedlv be a mere formality. A popular administrator, whose career includes the presidency of the New Zealand union. Mr Rhodes is hopeful that he will he able to continue in some sma'l way in the running of Canterbun’ rugby. “If its only hist attending meetings, I would like to stay involved," he said. A KFF.N SPECTATOR at the Davis Cup tennis tie at Wilding Park last week was Kevin Laidlaw, a 1960 All Black centre who was noted for the excellence of his tackling. Laidlaw and his wife came all the way from the western Southland settlement of Nightcaps, as they did last vear when New Zealand played Australia in the eastern zone final in Christchurch. Laidlaw was a competent tennis player as well as a successful dog trialist and race horse owner.

AFTER a successful Shell Trophy series for Canterbury, the Riccarton all-rounder, David Stead, did not have a happy return to senior club cricket. On his first day back with his team, Stead broke his little finger on the right hand when fielding a ball and will be out for several weeks. It was a further set-back for Riccarton, which is at the bottom of the points table.