BOWLING NOTES

Evening Star, Issue 20687, 9 January 1931, Page 4

BOWLING NOTES

[By Measurer.]

tournaments, etc. Auckland (Dominion Association), January 12, Public Service, January 2S. Dunedin (mixed pairs). February o. Elderly Bowlers’ Day. February 14. Dunedin, L.8.A.. Irebruary 17. South Otago, February 28. Several important centre tournaments have now been completed, ana bowlers are now enjoying themselves with somewhat less keenness than lounu in the highest type of play, and the holiday spirit marks their performances.” Defeat carries with it no sting. Success is accepted as an incident, rather thou made the object of strenuous effort. It is the holiday season, and wo have relaxed. Soon the interclub fixtures and other play with purpose will be resumed, and many ambitious bowlers will recommence their practice for the various centre championships. The best part of the bowling season—for the man who prefers to play for keeps—is nearing. The local contingent for the Auckland tournament left on Thursday morning, and carry with them the best wishes of their brother bowlers: Particulars of their doings will be eagerly looked for daily. The singles will be played first—on Monday and Tuesday (12th and 13th], followed by the pairs (two days) and rinks (three days), then the post-section play in all sections. It is to ho hoped that the tournament runs to a smooth conclusion, especially as regards the weather. There is no doubt that the working arrangements—greens, entertainment, accommodation, and transport—will be as perfect as the council can make them. i

The presentation to Mr J. Rennie at Queenstown at the conclusion of the holiday tournaments was given freely as a well-deserved honour. The work entailed in arranging the daily matches has been cheerfully and willingly undertaken, and it entails attendance at the green morning, afternoon, and evening. Mr B. Nisbet, who made the presentation, spoke of Mr Rennie’s unselfishness in giving up his games in these matches, and said that all players were grateful to Mr Rennie tor his successful organisation. The concluding matches were won by rinks skipped by J. Nisbet (his second win) and G. Adess (who, with his wife, also won the mixed doubles). Inquiries are already being made of Mr Hanning regarding the customary trip of bowlers round the Goldfields at the beginning of February. For those who can spare,,the time (about five days) this is a most enjoyable outing. The gathering of elderly bowlers for the annual games has been fixed tor February 14 oti tho Dunedin green. The executive of the Dunedin Centre has courteously arranged that no iuterchib matches be played on that day. The recent tournament (singles and pairs) of the South Canterbury Centre was notable for tho coincidence that tho same players won the events at last year’s tournament. J. Tonkin (Valley) reached the final of the singles with two lives, but lost them both to Howarth (Christch urcb).. Wellington is not tho only' place where the wind is troublesome on tho green. A whirlwind played strange tricks on a Christchurch green a few days ago. On one rink a bowl lay exactly in line with the pegs dividing the rinks. It was tjie last head and the scores were even. A player was about to put tho measure oil the bowl to decide the result of the game when tho whirlwind came over tlie green. The bowl was blown back into tho head of the rink to which it belonged, and the wind then curled round ail the bowls on the head and rolled them across to the ether rink.

The Valley Club .will hold a gala day to-morrow week (17th) in a commendable effort to reduce the debt on the property. Starting at 2.15, there will be many attractions, including driving and drawing competitions, with special sections for lady bowlers, for which good prizes are offered. Music by the Kaikorai Band will add to the gaiety. There will be cards and dancing in the pavilion in the evening. Those players from Dunedin who went to Invercargill tor the Now Year tournament report having had a most enjoyable time. Langley (St. Kilda) is to bo congratulated on landing the rink prize, for he. and his men (Carman. Lowland, and Cameron) put up some sterling performances before emerging winners. The final between Langley and Stewart (Southland) was admittedly the contest of the tournament, ana the former won by one point with fine drawing play in the face of a handicap of five which Stewart scored at the start. Langley was runner-up in the singles. M'Gorlick (Bluff) winning by one point after an interesting tussle. Fountain (Caversham) and French (West Harbour) filled third and fourth places, so that the Dunedin visitors did very well in the singles. Concerning the incident reported last week of an isolated bowl being wrongly supported while being measured, there is another point which might arise. At the completion of a head it is necessary to measure two bowls to decide which is the .shot, and one is leaning outwards from the jack. This is measured first, aud then the other. The measure is so fine that a second measure has to be made,'hut before this chn he done the leaning bowl falls outwards, leaving the other bowl shot. Jf this occurs after the half-minute allowed has elapsed, how is the result of the head to bo decided ? I have received from Mr R. Culbert, secretary of the South Otago Centre, notification of the annual rink tournament. This will be held on Saturday, I'ebruary 28, on the Balclutha, Kaitangath, and Stirling greens. Kntries. closing on the previous Tuesday, arc invited from those who are interested.

Don Bradman, in his interesting articles on cricket, quotes the saying of an old Australian eleven captain: “ If vou cannot be a good cricketer yon can look like one.” This is recommended ■to bowlers with slight alteration: “If yon cannot be a first-grade bowler yon can at least look like one ” —especially at tournaments.

ft is often noticeable that a player who may be a good lead, as far as ability to draw to the jack is concerned, often nullities his usefulness by careless throwing of the kitty. A lea'd should remember that one of the most important of his duties is to throw the kitty as nearly as possible to the spot where his skip is ; standing. A lead should display the same care in rolling up the jack as he does with his bowls. Bowling, while it exercises the body,' also exhilarates the mind arid puts all players in a joyful mood. Where, it niay be asked, save on a, bowling green, is the bitterness of, sects r.nd parties ignored and forgotten? Where, save at the gentle game, do so many classes meet, mix, and converse freely on one .common .topic? By what other “ humanising influence ” save howling is that Utopia of our national bard to be realised?;—

When man to man the wide world .... ower Shall bidtfiers lie, an’ a’ that.