BOWLING NOTES

Evening Post, Volume CXXIX, Issue 21, 25 January 1940, Page 17

BOWLING NOTES

(By "Kiwi.")

The Centennial tournament is now only a memory, but a very pleasant one, to the hundreds of bowlers who took part in it and the large crowds of enthusiasts who saw the play in the final stages. The brilliant . summer weather during the last week enabled play to continue uninterruptedly to the end on Friday afternoon last. Mr. M. J. Casey, president of the New Zealand Bowling. Association, in congratulating the winners, • spoke of the high standard of play shown throughout the largely-attended historic tournament. Mr. Casey eulogised the invaluable services rendered by the secretary, Mr. A. F. Spiller, who had done so much to make the tournament the great success it was. and thanked the markers and umpires for their self-sacrificing aid. and the Press. Messrs. Livingstone and Pavitt, in reply, made grateful reference to the excellent way in which the visiting ladies had been looked after by the association. Mr. Pavitt congratulated the Wellington Centre on the general good condition of the greens used, his opinion in the matter being confirmed in a communication received later from Mr. Bremner by the association secretary. Mr. A. H. Nancarrow, umpire at the Thorndon Club throughout the tournament, was specially praised by Mr. Pavitt for his efficiency and tact.

* In 1937 wet weather rendered the Wellington Club's greens, hitherto always used, unsuitable for two final games. These finals, therefore, in the pairs and rinks, were decided on the Porirua Club's green. In the present instance the Thorndon Club's green, which ,was in excellent order, was the scene of the three finals.

G. A. Deare (Carlton). winner of | previous Dominion honours, was the first contributor to Aucklands triple crown victory by winning by 18-15 the singles championship after a brilliant display against M. J. Squire (Hawera), who played exceedingly well. Squire had previously figured in big bowl games, as he was the 1933 champion pairs skip. Then came L. G. Donaldson and W. Bremner (Wfjst End), who defeated R. C. Watson and A. W. Cullen (Thorndon) by- 25-17 in the final trial. Bremner played as one inspired; no shot seemed beyond his capacity to execute, and he was soundly supported by Donaldson. The Thorndon pair were on their home green, arid it was hoped by their clubmates, going by the form hitherto shown by the Thorridon couple in the tournament, that the final game would be a close and exciting one, but it was not to be so. The occasion when Dominion honours came to the club, as its old members would recall, was 24 years ago* when V, Dimock (now Porirua Club"* and the late Charles Parata won the pairs championship at Christchurch. It would have been a nice memento of. t M.r. M. J. Casey's term of office as president of the New Zealand Bowling • Assocation, had his own club won the pairs honour. Here, it may be asked, why should not the, names of championship runners-up be! permanently recorded in the tournament yearly programme, in addition to those of the actual-winners?1 The contestants deserve such lasting recognition, and it is given in similar cases in Australia. . _ The Onehunga four, W. Whittaker, J. T. W. Wackrow, H. A. Robertson, F. Livingstone, who won 21-14, were too good for the Fitzroy (New Plymouth) rink, H. Farmer, E. Dingle, H .S. Sutton, J. T. Pavitt. The final game, as in the case of the pairs final, was decidedly onesided. Robertson gave powerful support to Livingstone, and Whittaker-.^d Macklow functioned well indeed, : The Fitzroy men, going on "previous form displayed, were expected to make a respectable showing. A 5 scored against them early, when their skip, lying 2 down, unluckily took put his third saving bowl, proved, however, to be the beginning of the end. Pavitt subsequently exhibited his skill in play, but the team were troubled with what bowlers colloquially term "the nears," and things would often not go right with them. Dingle, their 73-year-old, humorous, goodnatured, sagacious No. 2, was the outstanding player, and his sound display was watched with admiration by the thronged banks of spectators. The tournament results were a triumph for North Island bowlers, as no winner came from the South Island. Numbers of Wellington district players circled round the crowning distinctions, the nearest to fame being Watson and Cullen (Thorndon) as runners-up in the pairs. H. Rolls (Featherston), that brave sportsman, loved by Wellington bankers for his happy smile and geniality, took third place in the singles. C. Spearman (Sydenham) giving him the game by default. J. R- Smith (Kelburn) defeated by 21-13 Whittaker (Onehunga) for fourth place. H. R. Nicholls, J. B. Lawrie (Island Bay) were fourth in the pairs by defeating J. Martin and P. McWhannell (Hataitai) by 21-14. arid F. Langdon, H. Hale, J Conder, F. G. Hazelwood (Lyall Bay) filled fourth place in the rinks by defeating A. Bell (Tauranga) by 23-19. It is a tribute to the standard of play existing in the Auckland and Auckland South centres that since 1934 those two districts havr between them secured nine New Zealand championships, viz., three singles, three pairs,' and three rinks. In the same period one championship only (the pairs in 1937). came to the Wellington British Efripire Games fame has also been won by Messrs. Whittaker, H. A. Robertson. B. Jury, W Bremner (champion). Macey and Demson (champion pair), and F. Livingstone (singles runner-up, also Australian singles champion). What is the reason for the northerners' continued success? Is it because of the large number of ers?l™ere are approximately, 5000 • affiliated bowlers in the combined Auckland and Auckland South centres). Is it because their greens are, generally speaking, better than Wellington's? Or is it because climatic conditions allow of outdoor play throughout the year, especially at the numerous one-day open club tournaments held in Auckland? COUNCIL NEWS. Sir Ivor B. Thomas, president Internationa] Bowling Board, was reappointed New Zealand representative on the board, and authorised, if called up for military duty, to find a substitute and also a further representative should a New Zealand bowler not be visiting England when the board's next annual meeting is held. As proposed by the.Auckland centre. New Zealand bowlers on service overseas will be presented with an association membership certificate, printed on parchment, and signed by their club and local centre secretaries. WELLINGTON CLUBS. The following club nomination games have recently been played:— Singles.—A. B. Duff, Goldfinch, and Stirling have reached the fourth round in A section, and E. Walker in B section. Pairs.—Stonebanks (s) is; m the fourth round. A section, and Cooper (s). Newson (s), and Needham (st are in B section. j Rinks.—Ansley. Toms, Jolly. Gilby (&) are in the third round by decisively winning against Jennings. Goldfinch is ir> the same round. Sixteen fours played on Anniversary Day in the President's v. Vice-Presi-dent's match. A. Smith, Berry, L. Hill,,

E. Walker (s) won in A section, and D. Walker, F. Basham, .Phelps, Fairway (s) in sB section. The final game will be played on a mutually convenient date.