BOWLS

Dominion, Volume 22, Issue 73, 19 December 1928, Page 9

BOWLS

(By

’No 3”)

Hie big event next week will be the Christmas holiday tournament, run by the Wellington centre, which usually attracts a few visitors, while quite a number of local bowlers spend (he holiday period in other centres, competing in the tournaments there. After the disappointing week-end, bowlers generally will breathe a sigh of relief (hat the weather now appears to have decided to settle down and behave itself. Few, if any, ventured to set foot on the greens last Saturday, for the club committees have in mind the Dominion tournament, mid the Test matches with Australia next month, and the green superintendents are anxious that all tlie greens in and around Wellington shall he at their best. Looking all round, the greens generally are looking even better than last year, and one or two committees which experienced green troubles last season arc congratulating themselves on the improvements this year. This applies to one or two greens in the eastern suburbs.

From the news published in “The Dominion” on Friday, in reference to visiting bowlers from Australia, it will be realised that the visitors will be a stronger combination than some would have us believe, and will put up a good fight for the Test matches. However, the cream of New Zealand bowlers will be in Wellington then, and there should be no doubt as to the final results. Several of the visiting rinks will be playing in tlie Dominion tourney, and before they leave, will be able io express their views on the New Zealand methods of running such a tournament. compared with the Australian methods.

The public service tournament will be held on February 7, and if there is no increase on last year's entries, 32 rinks, the event will be played in two sections, on Thorndon and Hataitai greens. It is expected that there will, however, be at least 36 rinks, in which case another green will be necessary. The publie service tourneys started in 1913, with 12 rinks, and have increased almost every year, until they reached last year's record of 32. For several years, Mr. W. R. Jourdain was the secretary, and the sticeess of the tournament was largely due to his untiring efforts and genial personality. Now. he has joined the ranks of the superannuated, and he organises this section of the tournament, giving every assistance to the present secretary, Mr. J. S. Rutter, who so ably succeeded Mr. Jourdain. Quite half the entries are from “pensioners.” Karori green just now is in splendid conditio'n, and has been favourably commented upon by visiting members from other clubs, a tribute to the green superintendent. The club is looking forward to receiving visits from the Australian rinks, and would like one of the big games plaved up there. Karori club competitions are being worked off well up to time. In tlie club rinks. Needham and Adams, have not sustained a loss, and Crawford, Tasker, and Dempster have each had one loss.' In the pairs, some of the strongest combinations have already been eliminated, which seems to indicate that the club has some good material coining along. The club will be well represented in the centre tournament, Crawford, Adams, Gapes, Cooper, and Leggatt having entered rinks. Crawford’s is the only rink to enter for the Dominion tournament, but ten pairs have entered, but only tliree singles, Crawford, T. Gilbert, and Dempster. The brothers Gilbert are wise in seeking experience by entering the Dominion pairs, for experience is the best teacher.