FRIENDLY BOWLING

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 49, 27 February 1937, Page 11

FRIENDLY BOWLING

VISITORS ENTERTAINED

PLAY THIS AFTERNOON

Four rinks of Christchurch bowlers arrived at Wellington this morning to play members of the Wellington Bowling Club in the annual match for the Barnett Friendly Bowl, which has been held by the local club during the past year. The trophy was presented by Mr. W. Barnett, of Christchurch, to promote good fellowship between the two clubs and is taken home by the visiting- team each year, no matter which side wins the games.

Before commencing play this afternoon, the visitors were entertained at luncheon in the Wellington Club's pavilion, and a number of toasts were honoured. The president of the Wellington Bowling Club (Mr. H. G. Mayer) presided and Mr. J. Kershaw (treasurer) represented the New Zealand Bowling Association and Mr. W. Gilbert (president) represented the Wellington Bowling Centre. The Christchurch team was captained by the president of their club (Mr. C. H. Ridley). . Mr. Mayer welcomed the visitors and said that Wellington bowlers had been looking forward to their visit, particularly as it was their jubilee year. ' The annual matches for the Friendly Bowl had been going'on for many years, but they were not competitions. When Mr, Barnett presented the bowl he did so to promote an exchange of visits between the two clubs to foster the friendship of bowling. Mr. Mayer presented the Christchurch Club with a silver kitty, and handed a Wellington jubilee badge to each of the visitors. He then proposed the toast of the Christchurch Club.

Replying to the toast, Mr. Ridley said that the silver jack would be looked upon by Christchurch players as an emblem of the excellent friendship that had always existed between the two clubs. Each member of his team would be • proud to wear the badges, and they were glad that it was their turn to visit Wellington during the jubilee year. He paid a tribute to the foresight and energy of the founders of the Wellington Club, and said they had placed the club high in the estimation of all bowlers. The Friendly Bowl originated by Mr. Barnett had been responsible for many social and non-competitive games between the clubs, and had fostered the true spirit of bowling. Mr. Ridley wished ■ Mr. Mayer and members of the Wellington Club happy days during the remaining term of their jubi: lee year.

Mr. A. Fletcher, vice-president of the Wellington Club, proposed s the health of the Wellington Bowling Centre, and Mr. Gilbert replied.

Mr. A. A. Wylie proposed the-health of the donor of the Friendly Bowl, and said that they were all pleased to-have his son, Mr. S. Barnett, present to take part in the match.

Mr. Barnett replied, and said that nothing would have pleased his father more than to be present to see the evidence of the friendship that existed between the two clubs. His father was over 80, and had had a serious operation recently, : but he still went to.the bowling green three or four times a week, and if he could coach younger players he did so. Mr. Barnett suggested that in the future the visiting team should be given one member of the visited club to play in each rink so that the. .competition could be extended and more players ■ interested.

Mr.- W. H. McDougall,. a "past president of the Christchurch Club, handed a-silver rose-bowl for the junior singles championship competition to Mr. Mayer to mark the jubilee year of the.. Wellington Club, and "as a token of the love and friendship existing between the two clubs."

..Mr. Mayer expressed the warm appreciation of the Wellington Club members for the gift, and said the directors, of his^club had decided that the trophy should be known as the McDougall Rose Bowl.

Mr. Ridley proposed the toast of the Wellington Bowling Club and Mr. A. Erskine, a past-president, replied.