OLD BUT HEARTY

Evening Post, Volume CXXV, Issue 28, 3 February 1938, Page 7

OLD BUT HEARTY

VETERAN BOWLERS

GALA DAY CONTEST

Veterans' Gala Day. which is always regarded as one of the outstanding events of the Wellington bowling season, was this year as successful as ever, ana the 128 bowlers who participated in the contest at the Wellington Glub's ereens yesterday afternoon thoroughly enjoyed themselves. To qualify for a "veteran" a oowler must be at least 70 years of age. but in spite of this rule the accommodation at both greens at the club was fully taxe... So numerous were the entries i ftr yes.erday's conte that the president of the Wellington Centre (Mr. M J. 'Casey) humorously remarked thai it ieem^J 3S though the age barrier would have to be raised. Some excellent bowls "was seen, ana the Hull riiik which won its game by a margin of 34 points was declared (he winners, and took the Shallcrass Trophy. Veterans' Gala Day is always eager1> anticipated by the veterans themselves, am is ihe one day when the old bowler* have the opportunity of meeting and renewing life-long friendships. A tribute to the work of these men in laying the foundations of the game was paid by Mr Casey when welcoming them to the green He points, out that the present bowling fraternity owed a debt to the vet-1 erans for the pioneering work they had dout and he said that ne was sure that thi' debt was. willingly acknow lodged ' y present-day bowlers. The oldest veteran present was M.r. S. Roberts, who was 93 years of age last week, and to him was given the honour of throwing jp the silver kitty and the first bowl. Another respected bowler present wg Mr. C. M. Luke who will be &1 shortly The winning rink fro..i the Hutt was composed o Muter, Brooks, Shearer. ar.d Hendry. Their win by a margin of 34 points save them a clear-cut victory. The iners-up were a Karori rink—Bowler. Oldbury-Jpnes, Fulton, and Burn—who won their game with an 18-point margin. In prpsentinp the Shallerast Trophy -Mr. Hendry the usual skip of the i-irik, Mr Casey said that the trophy was presented by the veterans of Wellington for competition among veterans in memory of the late Mr R W Shallcrass who was secretary or tne Wellingtor Bowling' Centre for many ye. .. He congratulated the rink on its win, and said that the margin ol points must be regarded as a record Mr Casey also thanked the Wellington Bowling Club for the use of the greens ior the day, and expressed appreciation of the arrangements which had been made. , In accepting the trophy., Mr. Hendry said that fie rink certainly made an effort tf extract as much pleasure as they could out of the game, both for themselves and for .their opponents. He also expressed appreciation oi uie arrangements nade for the contest a delightful afternoon tea wai served oy a committee of ladies under the guidance of Mrs. Casey. . Results of the matches played are "iffiS (Thorndon) 22. Mvinro (Island iiay) 9; Stonebanks (Wellington) 22, Sands (Lyall Bay) 9: I*n«tofe (Combined) 19. Dryden (Combined) 13; Ferguson (Eastbourne) 31, smitn (Newtown) 15; Washington (Combined) 23, GoSder (Wellington) 13, Marks 24 de Tourettes (Thorndon) 17; Kirker (Kelton) 23 Walker (Hataitai) 11; Wyatt <Woburn) 21 T Green (Combined) 20; McLaren, (Victoria) 22, Taylor J^'oh^ rnL}^ Roberts (Wellington) 19, <T. Brackenr'dee (Lyall Bay) ' 14; Mackenzie (Hutt) 29 y Greig (Combined) isr Burn (Karori 29. McCos?-er (Combined) 11. Knowles (Eastbourne) 20 Burbidge (Victoria- 17: Hendry (Hutt) 41 Wanting (Khandallah) 8; Hemsley (Karon) 26 Gilbert (Eastbourne) 19; McArthur (Peton-0 "0. Dimock (Porirua) 16.