BOWLS WITHOUT BIAS

Dominion, Volume 26, Issue 28, 27 October 1932, Page 14

BOWLS WITHOUT BIAS

Care of Greens for N.Z. Tournament MARKING THE DISCS

(By

“Armada.”)

It is very natural that the Dominion Bowling Council should be anxious that all Wellington greens shall be at their best on the occasion of the Dominion bowling tournament, and the Wellington Centre is equally anxious that this should be the case. Some of the clubs go even further, and desire not only that the ■greens shall be in tip-top condition, but that the garden plots and surroundings shall be in first-elass order. They want visitors to feel that the bowling clubs in Wellington are as good as anywhere in the Dominion. The greenkeepers and superintendents have been putting in a lot of work on the greens during the winter months, and there is no question that the standard of all of them is higher than it has been for some years. One or two greens in particular which have been hard to get into good running order, have never looked so well before, and are as good as they look. This being so, it is up to the members of clubs to bear all this in mind, aud observe the cardinal rule of stepping back on to the bank as soon as they have delivered their bowls. At some of the openings I have noticed a tendency to disregard the rule, and the president of Thorndon Club issued a timely word of warning to those present last Saturday to remember it. There were several offenders at Island Bay and Lower Hutt, but many of the club executives have announced that they are determined to see that the rule is observed. Thorndon Club. Noel W. Nelson' is now in his third year of office as president of the Thorndon Club, but this is by no means a record, although he has plenty of time to make one. The record in this direction is held by. G. Johnson, who has seven years to' his credit, while the late Hon. Dr. Grace held office for six years in succession, from 1897 to 1903. The club was opened in 1895, and W. J. Nathan was the first president, while others who have held the office are the Hon. R. J. Collins C.M.G., and the late T. S. Ronaldson, who passed away during the year. The present secretary, A. H. de Tourettes, took over the duties in 1926, the year in which the club became incorporated. Dr. Grace was with the Imperial Forces and was at Wanganui for some years. On coining to Wellington he joined Thorndon Club, and was soon made president. Mr. Russell Grace, a well-known Wanganui farmer, is his son. It may not be generally known that in its early days Thorndon Club had two greens, one being at the corner of Tinakori and Park Roads. The burden of rates, however, was more than the club could then stand, so it disposed of the corner section and retained the present green, which was acquired from the Halswell Estate. “While I Live I’ll Crow.” The president of the Thorndon Club has set his fellow-members a good example by getting both discs on his bowls marked with « distinctive mark. The big disc was alreffciy marked with his family crest, a crowing cock, and the other has been similarly marked. The motto belonging to the'crest is “While I Live I’ll Crow,” so he has something to lire up to. Use of Ditches. The ditches round the bowling green are not provided for the reception of smokers’ refuse and other odds and ends which make the surroundings untidy. Thorndon and one or two other clubs have provided special receptacles for cigarette butts and like refuse, and those clubs which have no such provision should follow suit. There are still ditches the bottoms of which are filled with gravel, and many bowlers complain of Hie marks made on their bowls by large stones. Wood or turf ditches give the greatest satisfaciion, and most bowlers would rather have bare earth than pebbles. Marking The Discs. Most bowlers are getting the discs on their bowls attended to by having a distinctive mark on ' each. Failure will mean trouble •when they come to play in the pennants or other competitions, and as the purpose is to avoid the necessity of interfering with bowls after they ‘have come to rest the reason is a good one. Many a time has a bowler been seen to turn a bowl to ascertain from the mark on the large disc to whom the bowl belongs! ' In the case of a. measure the smallest error in replacement might win or lose a game. Hataitai Green. The scoring boards on Hataitai green have been repainted and are much more visible to onlookers. Scoring boards on some other greens Would be all the better for similar attention. Is it not possible to have a uniform scoring board in use throughout the centre? The types in use are as numerous as the colours in Joseph’s.coat. The green has been so carefully nursed during the off:season ' that it will rank among the best in the centre when the Dominion tournament comes round. The aviary is also thriving, for the mules and other varieties'except canaries have been rerrioyed, and the occupants arc now much happier. Plinnuerton Opening; Plimmerton green will be opened on Saturday, and theu every green in the centre will be in full swing. As the first round of the senior pennant commences on November 12. bowlers have only another fortnight in which to get their eye in. The junior pennant will start on the same day, blit the first round of the mid-week pennant-was due to open yesltedday. The weather earlier in the week was not too promising, and! all play on Labour !Day had to be abandoned. Club and Personal. Owing to the fine weather. Victoria green was fully occupied every afternoon last week, members enjoying the sunny days to. the full. 11. Jay. the senior member of Thorndon club, is well in the "eighties, but hopes to enjoy a good many games yet. He sent down the first bowi last Saturday. Dr. Pattie, who is on holiday in Blenheim. and Harry King. Hastings, an old member, sent good Svishes for the season at Thorndon! I understand that one Thorndon rink to play in the Dominion and centre tourneys will be J. B. Hprwood, J. B. Uulle.n, M. ,J. Casey and P. W. Smith. Good luck to them. There was a pleasant little function at Lowry Bay a fortnight ago, when a private green of two rinks at the residence of E. F. Kain, a member of Thorndon club, was? opened. The function was attended by about 25 members of Thorndon, one of whom wanted to name it Thorndon Country Club. The green, which has taken about four years to construct, was duly christened and opened for play The oldest, and an original member of the Wellington, club,. L. Blundell, was absent from the opening function on Saturday, much to the regret of those present. The second oldest member, T. Churchward, who has been a member for 42 years, was there, and is looking forward to the season. He was a great bowler in his day. for he won 23 club trophies, was in the Dominion champion rink twice, and three times in the champion pairs. Archdeacon Innes Jones was also at Wellington club opening, his only regret being that they could not get on the green. Andy Hamilton, another,old and esteemed member of the club, was' on deck as well, as was W. A. Chote. H. S. Gillies, of Auckland club, was a visitor to ■Wellington club’s opening. The secretary put up a notice oh the board on Saturday that two umpires were wanted for the Dominion tournament. .1. Webb was one of the first to volunteer. One volunteer is worth two pressed mm. and few arc keen for this particular job.