BOWLING TOURNAMENT.

Evening Star, Issue 11451, 19 January 1901, Page 3

BOWLING TOURNAMENT.

[Special to the Star.] The bowling tournament closed to day in fine weather, the last game being for the singles, when Brightwcll beat Maddison. The play during the tournament was generally of a high-class character—some, indeed, was brilliant. At the same time, games were seen in which the veriest tyro might have beaten the champions, some heads being worse than what would be expected from men at their first game. These, however, were certainly the exception, the general standard of the play being firstclass. The competition in the rinks, doubles, and singles was very keen, the tournament being remarkable for the number of times an extra, head had to be plaved to decide a tie. Seldom has such a collection of cracks been seen at a tournament before. The rinks were a thoroughly representative lot, and capable of holding their own anywhere. Some well-known faces were, however, missing, among them being John Hunter (skip of last year’s winning Dunedin rink), W. Carswell (the Taieri crack, whose rink occupied second place at the last two tournaments), A. Gillies (runner-up for the singles last year), and W. MTlwick (winner of the singles three years ago). In their places, however, were several North Island cracks, so that the general average was well maintained. The whining Christchurch rink well deserved their position, which was secured as the result of steady play. Their win did not come as a surpise, the strength of the rink being recognised before the play commenced. First, there was W. Bruett, who skipped the winning rink two years ago, and who on this occasion was lead. His leading was uniformly good, “ touches ” following one another with unfailing regularity. No. 2 was W. M. Gibb, wbo, though less experienced, was not far behind the leader for consistency. A. V. B. Bishop (by many considered the Christchurch champion) showed in each game that the title was not given without cause, and 1.. 11. "Wood (alwavs calm and steady, with a good shot if required) made an ideal skip for probably as formidable a rink as have ever represented the Christchurch Club. Tho winners had some very tough fights, winning two of their games by a. point, and a third by two points. Their hardest game, however, was the first one, in which they met the veteran Martin, of Oatnaru. In the final game they fairly wVe their opponents down at the finish. The position of the Victoria rink came rather n,s a surprise, few giving them a chance at the beginning of the week. They played some splendid games, and though scarcely ns consistent a lot as ''Food’s combination they fairly earned their position, and were by no means disgraced in their final game with the winners. In Brackenridge they had a skip who lost verv few opportunities. The two rinks which wen’, out in the semi-final round (Sneddon’s and Prince’s) were both strong teams, skipped,by past-masters who have very little to learn from anyone. The successful pair in the doubles. W. M’Laren and T. Morris (Dunedin) were picked out early as having a big chance. Morris led with wonderful steadiness, and he had an acknowledged champion behind him in M’Laren, whose drawing and driving were equally effective. Both these players are well known at Association tournevs. Morris led for tho winning ring last year, while M’Laren Ims twice been successful, once in singles and once in doubles. As to his ability as a player, there is no question ; indeed, one well-known North Islander this week’ dubbed him the finest player in the colony. Maddison and Wanklyn, who succuniltgd by a narrow margin in the final game, created a surpise by their forward ■position. Not that any doubts were cast on Maddison’s right to be classed among the best, but it was somehow thought that he had seen his best days at the game. His play, however, both in doubles and singles, showed that be ds as resourceful and accurate a player as ever. His partner (a comparatively young player) lent valuable aid in all the games, but it is no discredit to him to ascribe their position largely to Maddison. The singles introduced us to W. Brightwell, a player from the Newtown Club (Wellington), who made his first appearance at a South Island tournament. Though a stranger to many, there were not wanting many among the North Islanders who held the opinion from the start that he would have to be reckoned with. He learned his bowls on the Newtown green about three years ago, and twelve months later represented his club in the champion rink match at the Wanganui tournament. Since then he has steadily improved, and for some time he has been recognised as one of tbe most dangerous single-handed players in the Empire City. He rarely plays a fast one, but his drawing is very sure, and it was steadiness in this department of the game that brought him out on top. A pleasant feature in connection with the tournament was the area over which the prizes were spread. The Christchurch Club came out with the best record, winning the rink and scoring second in the doubles and singles. Dunedin won the doubles, Newtown the singles, while Wanganui supplied the third prize taken in the singles. Among the unsuccessful players were many who have carried off honors on former occasions, as well as others who were young at tournament play, and the form shown by some of The latter was a sufficient indication of the fact that there is no immediate fear of the game deteriorating in New Zealand.