BOWLING NOTES

Evening Star, Issue 24005, 2 October 1941, Page 9

BOWLING NOTES

[Rv Draw, | All communications for publication in this column should reach the ‘Star’ Office not later than noon on Tuesday. 1941-42 Season. The green supervi-ors and grcciikccpcrs are busy gelling tho playing areas in ot'tlqr for tho opening of the season, which gires every promise of the great majority ot rite "veens being in splendid order. In view of tho fact' that the .New Zealand championships will he hold in Dunedin timing the season, it is certainly pleasing to record their line condition, and it is safe to prophesy that tho greens in litis centre will he in better condition generally than ever before at the “big" tournament time. Most of the clubs will open on October 11, and the remainder will probably followon the 18th. In spile of the war there is every indication of a successful season, even though quite a number ot the howlin'’ fraternity arc members of the armed forces ami others are busy with Home Guard and other duties. Bowling generally regarded as an elderly man s game. Nevertheless, many players arc able to serve the country and at the same time get spmc recreation at, their favourite pastime. “ Draw ” wishes all howlers an enjoyable season.

Club Opening Days. Saturday, October 11.—Caversham; president, Mr Tl. H. Stubbs; secretary, Mr L. J. Jenkins. Caledonian: president, Mr H. A. Newall; secretary, Mr 11. D. M‘Lcod. Portobello; president, Mr W. Anderson; secretary, Mr T. Ellison. Roslyit; president, Mr J. ilews; secretary, Mr C. It. Gatlin. Tainui; president, Mr'Don Cameron: secrctarv, Mr W. F. Mills. Kaitmia ; president,'Mr F. M. Adam; secretary, Mr H. C, Jones. . Saturday. October 18.—Dunedin, Taien. Logan Park. A Bye Obviated.

When the entries closed for the Saturday competition the number received disclosed the fact that there, must be a bye for one section. The Draw Committee was keen to see another, section entered to obviate the bye, and it is pleasing to be able to record the entry of a further section from the Logan Park Club, which will now field three sections (nine teams of fours). I understand that on a few Saturdays Logan Park will have to accommodate, the three sections at homo, and this will be made easy by the kindness of the Ladies’ Association, which is prepared to give the necessary space oil one. of its lawns. The Centre Executive had already provided the rules to govern a bye during the Saturday play, and the fact that it will not now he necessary will, I am sure, be appreciated by clubs and players alike. A. bye is a most unsatisfactory thing in sport. N.Z. Tournament Committees.

The executive of the Bowling Council at its last meeting appointed the following committees to assist in the conduct of the forthcoming Now Zealand championship. Tournament Committee: Mr J. Forster (chairman), officers and members of the council, and Messrs J. G. Butler, G. A. Nelson, E. Longworth, W. W. Callender, \V, Anderson, H. A. Newell, and G. G. Adess. Umpires and markers: Mr S. Devereux (convener), the council executive, and Messrs J. Nisbot, J. Melville, and J. J. Johnston. Refreshments and Catering: Mr S. A. Wood (convener), the council executive, and Messrs A. T. Robertson and Alex. Cook. Greens and Disputes Committee: The council executive. The Tournament Committee will, immediately the entries close for the championships on December 1, have a busy time arranging the draw for the various events. It will be the wish of the executive to have the programmes printed and posted out by December 20, and this will mean that the secretary, Mr R. S. M. Sinclair, will have a period of solid work. The Blazer Question.

Owing to the . fact that blazer cloth is difficult to procure at the present lime and some players are unable to get their club colours, the executive of the. New Zealand Association is providing a dispensation for players who are faced with the difficulty of providing a blazer of their own club colour. The dispensation will not be operative unless special application is made to .the association on a form endorsed by the secretary of the club. It is pleasing to note that the council executive is alive to the situation, and though m sympathy with the players it is not its intention to deal lightly with this important question. It will. I understand, also he pointed out that though a dispensation may he given in regard to blazers the matter of trousers and shirts will he stvict.lv adhered to m regard to association and centre tournaments. A Happy Suggestion,

“Driver,” of the 'Weekly News, in making reference to the fact that the United States Bowling Association became affiliated with the International Bowling Board more than 12 months before the present war began, remarks that howling is the only snort in which the United Slates is united' with the British Empire, and goes on to suggest that the time js opportune for New Zealand and Australia to send a combined invitation to the howlers of the United States to visit our two countries. This would he in return for 19.19. when five teams of fours from each country visited California to nlav in the Redden Gate tournament. Doubtless {he invitation would be a unrelated all the more highly if sent while the war is at its height. It would he accepted during the first summer after the Allied victory. “Draw” has referred to the advance of bowiing in the States, and it is pleasing to note that (he persons in charge of the game over there are keen and responsible people. When times arc again normal the game of bowls as we know it will boom in North America.

A Successful Gathering. The card party held in the Crawford Lounge, last week to raise funds for the patriotic endeavour of the New Zealand bowling executive was in the hands of the Otago Ladies’ Bowling Association. There was a big attendance, and the bridge section claimed a full house, while those who favoured euchre attended in good numbers. As the catering was supplied by funds provided by special raffles, and other expenses were met in a similar way, it is reported that a sum of about £SO will be available to assist the general fund which will be associated with the New Zealand bowling championship meeting, which will commence in Dunedin on Wednesday, January 7. All profits from the tournaments will be devoted to the fund, and during the period until the start of tho tournament one-day competitions will be held in and around Dunedin, and the proceeds will also go to this special patriotic movement.

Bowling Umpires’ Association. The monthly meeting pf tho Umpires’ Association was held last Friday evening. There was a splendid attendance, and the president, Mr S. Devereux, was in the chair. The business of tho evening was confined to addresses by Messrs W. Clark (Kaikorai) and J. Nisbet (Balmacewen), the former dealing with laws I to 9, which refer to the playing green. Rinks are not to he less than 12ft in width or more than 20. There is a condition governing final games in tournaments, which states that these games shall bo played on rinks 18ft wide. Another matter of vital importance regarding the width of rinks was mentioned by Clark—the width or diameter of the boundary pegs, which shall not exceed lin and be driven perpendicularly into the top of the bank, the outside edges of such pegs to be the boundaries of the rink, and when a line is used to determine a measure-' ment it shall he applied to the outer edge of the peg at its base on the bank. Tho speaker mentioned that in championship games the outside boundaries of cud rinks shall be at least 2ft from the edge of ditch, and reference to distance pegs opened up a discussion. On some greens these pegs are fixed into the bank permanently, not only on the line of play, but also on the ends to which play is, directed, and many present were of the opinion that pegs when not actually jn use should be removed from the playing area, as otherwise they were a nuisance and their presence served no legitimate purpose! Another point raised was in connection with the measurement of the distance peg from the ditch (mat end), which is 72ft. It was claimed that the measure should be to the nearer side of the peg and not tp the centre of it, for the reason that if the nearer edge is used then the question of the width of the peg will not come into tho argument. The opinion was also expressed that the distance peg should be painted a distinctive colour so as not to lead to any confusion with the boundary pegs. The laws of the game dealing mainly with the mat, its uses ami abuses, were dealt with by Mr Nisbet, and wc hope to give details in next week’s notes.