Bowling

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 92, 15 October 1931, Page 20

Bowling

BY "NO, TWO"

MARKING OF BOWLS

IMPERATIVE NEXT YEAR

CENTRE'S DECISION

The old question of the marking of bowls ■ was again, in evidence at' the [Wellington Centre meeting this week, when: it was decided that after the present 'season/ both, discs on ; all bowla used; in the centre's fixtures must have distinguishing marks/ The position is that the New Zealand Association has a rule which provides that bowls must be -marked on both discs, while the [Wellington Centre's rule is that a bowl must be marked on at least one disc. Uniformity of the local and tho N.Z.EiAi rules is desirable in this matter, but ;it being regarded as impracticable to, have the alteration in the local rule given effect to in its entirety this season;,; if; has been decided that it must bo -done before the: 1932-33 season. Tjiere are few bowlers who have marks on; both sides, although many have numbers, but numbers will not bo regarded. as distinguishing marks. Those about to purchase new bowls, therefore, .would be well '.idvised to see-that'proper distinguishing marks are .engraved on them and that numbers' alone are not used. If they feel that 'they must number their bowjs, then let dots be marked on them along wth'the pioper marks. If a set of bowls are-all of the same size, weight, etc.,'.; as they should be, then thj'numbering is not a matter, of much moment, as~ it is immaterial in what order the foowis';aro played, but'where any variations in the characteristics are, known there'is some, advantage in using' numbers'! ;■•' to , distinguish "t'other, from ■which":so as t6 .preserve some semblance1 of .consistency' in; one's ' play by knowing what, green allowance to take fit «aeh doliyery. If bowlers do decide to'haye dbtsputon their bowls to mark, themfroml to 4,:tjiey should not regard. <a mark with an indelible pencil as sufficient, for a shower of rain will soon imake aniess of'that type of identification,■which may very well lead to the. 'last state being somewhat worse than'; the first. A proper job< should be made of tho thing if it'is done at all. As to the distinguishing marks themsdlyes, bowlers can choose what they Jijto—-a bird, some fancy symbol, an animal,.a plant, initials, or if they feel th'einVelves sufficiently,august, then their family crest. A few heraldic emblems indicative of dukedoms or other aris-, tdcratic. appurtenances would add to the 'gaiety, of nations.and the general dignity of the sport. But n6 one need take: this suggestioa so seriously as immediately to run off and invent a crest or>start digging ;amongst the archives of the: College of Heralds in search of a ;*uspect«d lost ono. A simple sign •wililSo as -well, unless a player should think aVrepresentation of himself argent or rampant on tho" disc of a bowl would enable his wood to be properly identified in a mixed'head.-

The -whole idea of distinguishing marks, of course, is. to enable players to'afoid handling bowls after they havo come' to lest in. breach of the rule which says: f'lf a bowl be interfered with, -m- displaced other ihan by the effects of "play, it is burned." There in good Tcason for suoh n rule, because if in trying to identify a bo.wl a player turns it over ho may accidentally displace it by as much us a hairbreadth and caosc it to becomo a non-counter. ~

Late Mrr J. W. Hardley.

It doubtless came as a.shock to all bowlers yesterday to learn of the death in' Sydney of Mr. J. W. Hardley, the popular -Auckland bowling , celebrity, and manager of several New Zealand teams to Britain and Australia, including the last one- to Queensland. Mr. Hardley contracted a chill which turned-tQ.pneumonia, with the sad result .noted.,''.■■;' His-, death will cause a, great gap iin,the ranks of bowlers, for his breezyvpiesenso was welcome wlierever. he. Weiit^'and: his ■. speeches. ; were noted for "their characteristic vigour. Mr. C.E/Hardley, his younger brother, was present'in* Sydney when he died, having decided to stay there on account of' his. brothers illness; The late Mr. HarfrtoyV ' enthusiastic addresses created .ai; great impression on the recent toiir, and; he spared" no effort to make the to Ur a thorough.success, both from the point, of view of tho tourists and their hosts. Just before the first lot of players left Sydney on their return to" New. Zealand, they sprang a surpmb; on Mr. Hardley by making him a presentation on the occasion of his '70tfc, birthday, Mr. J. M. Paseoe and others of the party • warmly congratulating him on his work during the tour, little dreaming that he was so soon to be laid aside by an illness which wouldprove fatal. Auckland has now lost; -three prominent players in the course of a few weeks, first Mr. J. M, Thomson, who, like Mr. Pascoe, was ..Well- known- in Wellington, and Mext;Mr.:Ha'rdley and Mr. O. Gallahor, the last'oaoied a member of tho rinks which won "the" New Zealand rinks championship:in 1919 and 1921, when, he "played for "Nipper" Jury. Tho recent totiripf the New.. Zealand bowlers has been unfortunate in that it has been ■ marked by , two deaths, tho first being thatiof Mr. H. IS. B. Watson, of Ghristchurch, who died on the Ulimaroa ,when returning to New Zealand at the end of last month, and now Mr. Hardley. It is a long time since tho New Zealand bowling world has been so; stricken by the hand of death aa it has been lately in the demise of men prominent in the game.

A cable message from Sydney states that Mr. Hardley's widow, son, >and daughter, will accompany his romains to! Auckland onboard the liner Niagara, which will leave Sydney to-day.

Jf.B.W. Governor Plays Bowls.

Sir Phillip,. Gan:|', the Governor ■of New.South Wales, played his first game of bowls in Australia during his recent visit to, ; Mullambimby green (near Byron Bay); He skipped a rink against the president. (Mr.' A. E. Dearu). The Governor's; rink included jitr.. A. B. Budd,M.L.C'. At the conclusion honours were even.

Forgetting the Depression,

The following, paragraph taken from the secteta;y?s report of a live Dueedin club hag local application: "You may know ofa friend_who is now. in the doldrums. By making him a member you would be doing him (and perhaps his' family) a good turn. Doc-. tors cannot cure depression, but the bowling green can help one to forget it. Two or three visits there each week would ;help to bring him up to his old'self, but, of course, you know the pleasure of a bowler. Will you hunt up'one of your pals, anyhow? If you would rather I did it, then "let me have his name and address. Just now it may be.a matter of £ s.d. I. think that the treasurer can makn matters corni'orfablo in that rpspent."

A .circular expressing somewhat si nillar sentiments' lias been issuedjby the •Island Bay. Bowling Club.' : "Bgriish all care: and .dump your depression into fb»: eeai";it._cnjoins. "Here's the good

Big Carnival at Sydney,

Testing Tables.

news. AYo aro off the gold standard nud on the green sward, shortly. . . Everyone, introducing a new member at this time renders their club a real service. . . . Boost your club and bo alert for new members."

To mark tho official opening of the Sydney harbour bridge, the New South ■Wales ißowling .Association decided.-at its meeting on.24th September (subject to approval of the Australian Bowling Council) to hold a big bowling carnival beginning on Monday, 21st March, 1932. It was also decided to cablo invitations to participate 'in tho carnival to Ihe British Isles, United States of America, Canada,-New Zealand, South Africa, and Fiji. It was estimated that possibly 2500 bowlers would take part in tho historic gathering. To commemorate the occasion, the association decided that silver and bronze medals should be struck. The carnival will begin on 21st March, and continue for twelve or fourteen,- days, excluding good Friday. Kink games will be played in sections, three rounds a day, on 21st,-22nd, and 23rd March' ensuring a minimum of nine games to each rink. Singles will be played on the one-life system. ■■

From time to time controversy arises in Australia regarding the coverings for testing tables. It is interesting, therefore, to note. that, the baize-cover-ed tables as used in New South Wales and. Queensland are f similar to thosein general use in England. Mr. George Parkes (Eandwick Club, Sydney), who recently returned from a- trip to the Old Country, stated that he ivisited tho various plants whero bowls were made, and in each instance..a-baize cover was in use. At Melbourno a canvas top is adopted,, and at the last mooting of the Australian Bowling: Council held at Brisbane dt was resolved that testing tables.'could be coveved with either canvas or baize. '.

President, A.B.C,

At the council's annual meeting held last month at Brisbane, Mr. James Wall,, of: Sydney, .was elected presi; dent. Australian Bowling Council.'Mr.

Wall, who is aiso patron, Now South Wales Bowling Association, is a highly popular and respected figure in tho Australian bowling world. He is also well known in New Zealand, his latest visit to the Dominion being early this year, when, in company with Mr. John Scott, president, N.5.W.8.A., and other Mother State players, he took part in the Dominion annual tournament at Auckland. Messrs. Wall and Scott also paid a flying visit to Wellington.

Art of Delivery.

Writing iv the Sydney "Globe" on flic art of delivery, Mr. A. B. Stanley, tho noted Australian bowler, says:

Having procured his implements of war, the embryo soldier set's about laying tho foundation of a knowledge of tho art of fighting. So it is with the bowler. He starts to master the rudiments of the science which is to propare him for tho fniy. You .are equipped with suitable bowls, suitable for tho correct grip that you have assimilated, and-you take the first step in actual performance—a step on to the mat to be drilled in the matter of stance, the starting point of actual play. . At the outset, then, let me say that, as in other sports, there aro three divisions in the actual play of bowls— technique, skill, and strategy. The technique consists of the several actions in delivery' comprising grip, stance, balance^ swing, footwork, and grassing. In o.ther-words, it is the method of delivery, and by it, taken as a whole, your bowling style is determined. , ....■■'-■

. The actions* are chiefly mechanical. Definite instructions and tuition can be obtained, and, provided that the player exercises sufficient care and concentration, there is no reason why he should not become highly- proficient, in fact letter perfect, without fear of losing his individuality in being "mechanised."

Skill, the next division or factor, is the non-mechanical,, non-routine part of performance; in other words, tho extent .of the- player's control over the bowl. It embraces ability and brilliancy iv making the various shots, aud accuracy in length, strength, and green.

To a. certain, extent it depends upon one's natural gifts, the wonderful understanding between . eye, brain, and muscle, and,: for the rest, is acquired by intense practice under wise guidance. . . , .

Practice makes perfect,, and if wo may accept the definition of genius as "the infinite capacity for taking pains," then tpgll may we'agree that the Toad to bowling'skill is via appli-

cation, determination, and perspira- ' ion.

Tribute to Robertson,

"Boomerang," the well-known bowling critic of the Sydney "Referee," paid a nice compliment recently to Mr. 11. A. Kobertson, of the Onebunga Howling Club, runner-up in the singles championship at the Australian Bowling Carnival. "Alex Kobertson, who by his own fault was not the winner of the eighth Australian single-handed championship, proved his good sportsmanship, when, about half-way through the game with me, one, of my bowls was disabled by a fast drive," he said. "Alex at once offered to allow tlio use of another set of bowls, or to secure one to correspond with tho remaining three. ■ Prom first to last the Onehunga player put up attractive games, but he readily admitted that the final, up to about eight ends of the finish, was his worst.*' >