ELDERLY BOWLERS’ DAY

Evening Star, Issue 22882, 14 February 1938, Page 1

ELDERLY BOWLERS’ DAY

HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL FIXTURE The Dunedin Bowling Club’s annual Elderly Bowlers’* Day, which was held under excellent conditions on Saturday afternoon, was regarded as one of the most successful since its inauguration 24 years ago. Competition on this day is open only to those who have reached the age of three score years and ten, and those who took part clearly demonstrated that age had not altogether weakened the cunning of the hand with, the bowl. The function was efficiently organised, and a most enjoyable afternoon was spent. The average age of the veterans was 77 years, and the oldest bowlers taking pert were .Mr A. iiilgour (Balmacewen) and Mr T, H. Hammond (Warepa), who are 88 years of age. The oldest rink on the green was a country combination, skipped by J. Burns, and in* eluding F. Bradley. T. H. Hammond* and A, Cameron, their aggregate age* being 321 years. - Extending, a welcome to the elderly bowlers, Dr W. Newlands. apologised for the absence of the Dunedin Club’s president (Mr S. D. Lawson), wlm was playing in the match against North Otago. Dr Newlands welcomed the veterans very warmly to the Dunedin green and expressed the hope that they would enjoy the fixture. He mentioned that there were 12 players over, the age of 80, and he congratulated Messrs Kilgour and Hammond on being the oldest on the green. The man responsible for introducing Elderly Bowlers’ Day was the late Mr Hector Mercer, who for 20 years was secretary of the Dunedin Club and who was closely associated with the progress of the game! in New Zealand. Mr Mercer worked hard to bring this popular gathering into existence, and his efforts were rewarded in the February of the following year, when the first function was held. Dr Newlands said that they were particularly fortunate in experiencing such beautiful weather, and he felt sure they would all enjoy the afternoon’s play. A much enjoyed interlude in ' the afternoon’s games was the afternoon tea served in the attractively-decorated pavilion by the Dunedin Women’s Social Committee.

The games, which, took up the whole afternoon, provided many dose contests, and' the play showed that many of the veterans had not lost their skill at drawing and driving. The organisers of the fixture, Messrs E. A. Rosevear and W. Smith, did everything possible to make,the day enjoyable for th«. players, and their efforts met with full appreciation by the visitors. The following are the results of the games, the aggregate ages of the rinks being given in each case:—

Ex-presidents Dunedin. Club (W. A* Scott, J. B. Frame, J. Rodger, W. Smith; 308 years) 33, beat Caledonian: (D. M'Lennan, C. M'Kenzie, S. Burgess, G. Swift; 307 years) 14. Dunedin (R. M'Kinlay, A. E. Selby, J. M'Kay, W. Briggs; 305 years) 18 beat Otago (J. M'Connell, T. M.. Gillies, T. Dallas, C. C. Beasley; 293 years) If. Leith (W. Boss. W. Grimsdale, J„ MTntosh, D. Mac Kay; 303 years) 9 lost to Port Chalmers (J. Osborn, N.Dodds, John Watson, S'. Knewtubb;' 304 years) 19. Leith (W. Dryden, W. Barker,. J. Braid, F. Burrows; 301 years) 21 beat Anderson’s Bay (M. Maloney, J. Kay* A. J. Gall, C. Clark; 318 years) 16. Kaikorai-Oamaru-Outram (C. Kellett, I. Reid, H. Gamble, H. Thomson ; 286 years) 13 lost to Green IslandMornington (J. Tapp, J. Bell, R. Thomson, J. Thomson; 292 years) 17. Kaituna (J. Murray, M. J. Lister,P. N. Hiddinott, G. Campbell; 293 years) 10 lost to Jiorth-east Valley (T. : Allen, D. Lunan, J. Rhodes, J. Tonkin; 306 years) 19. St. Clair-North-east Valley (M< Hagen, J. Gillespie, T. Hilgendorf, H, J. Duncan; 297 years) 17 beat Balmacewen (F. G. Gumming, A. Kilgour, J. Radcliffe, W. Thompson; 319 years) 15.

Portobello-Port Chalmers-Pembrok* (O. Westfield, J. Dotting, J. Murray, C. J. Morris; 314 years) 10 lost to St. Kilda (S. P. Norwood, F. Lowry, R. Emerson, E. Brocklehurst; 289 years) 29.

Taieri-Warepa-Hampden (F. Brad» ley, T. H. Hammond, A. Cameron, John Burns; 321 years) 24 beat Logan Park-Opoho-Irivercargill-Roslyn (J. M'Laughlin, J. W. Mitchell. J. M'Natty, J. Moir; 305 years) 18.