BOWLING NOTES

Evening Star, Issue 25422, 1 March 1945, Page 8

BOWLING NOTES

[By Dkaw.] Short paragraphs dealing with club activities will be appreciated, but it is necessary that they reach the office of this paper not later than noon on Tuesday. Elderly Bowlers' Day. • Last Saturday, at the Dunedin Club's ereens the thirty-first anniversary ol this popular function was held under ideal conditions, and the 100 players taking part in the games thoroughly enjoyed the day. The Dunedin Club s members, as usual, by contributions' to a special fund, defrayed all the expenses in connection with the gathering. It was in the 1914-15 season that the first games were held, and they have continued uninterrupted ever since. It is pleasing to record that over the last three years the games have attracted a larger number of entrants than at any other period. The oldest player last Saturday was 89, and there were some who had held their eighty-eighth birthday. No "youth under 70 is allowed into this function, and the average age this, time was' higher than at any other gathering, the figure being 76.55. I understand . that there will probably be another clause inserted in the schedule that no person who has nofcjbeen for at least 10 years; wall be admittedto the circle of elderly bowlers. This is a good idea, but there are some' connected with.' the institution who think that five years would-be a more reasonable limit. . The writer, in with, one of the players, discovered thatcbe looked' forward to attending this function each year as it gave him a-grand opportunity of Tenewing friendships which had

existed over many years. . Another man, who had reached his eight-fifth year, paid a tribute to the Dunedin Club for its generosity over the years in entertaining them in such fine style. I understand that the parent club has,a few .friends who do not forget to assist the club each year with a little of the " spirit of.the ages," , a spirit which does not these.days appear as regularly as of yore. Elderly Bowlers'' Day is a great function, and there one meets many grand old men.

Port Chalmers Club. The annual match between Port and the West Harbour Clubs was held last week. Seven rinks a side participated. With the scores at 146 each and the last end being played between C. Boyd and A. Portman (W.H.), keen interest in the result was manifest. Each bowl played on the head changed the position, but Portman, who had the last bowl, drew a fine shot to win the contest for West Harbour. In the club's championship in Section A. J. Smith defeated his father (Charles Smith) to win the section. In the other section W. Love will plav J. Miller, and the winner will play T. Anderson (an exGreen Island player). After various trials the selector has submitted the following team to represent the club in the Adess Shield competition:—G. Sirett, W. Hawkins, N. Caldwell, and H. W. Scott (skip). At the club's annual meeting the selector was instructed to pick the team from members playing in their respective positions in the Saturday interclub matches.

Otago v: Southland Match. Southland sent along a very solid team, and its win over Otago to the extent of 196-168 was not surprising, as it can he truthfully stated that the Otago team was certainly not composed of its best men. In a letter to 'Draw,' which appeared in the notes of last week, ' Inquirer' made use of the following words: "A representative team in any sport, I take it, means ' the selection of the best players available.' " The, Otago team was a matter of discussion over the last fewi weeks wherever bowlers congregated, and it was generally agreed that a poor selection had been made. The sooner, the selectors take over, full control and select teams-on the standard of merit, the better for all concerned. In the recent four-link games the writer saw players reaching a high standard, but not one of these appeared in the Otago team. It was the same old crowd. To get a better game, and, _ perhaps, a greater interest aroused in these games from the players' stand-point, reduce the number of rinks a side to, say, 5. Then we may see the cream of each province at play, in games worth watching and serving to improve the play of novices. These interprovincial matches should be a little more than mere* social visits. They should be

tests, as well as a means of improving the (standard.

Dunedin Centre's Competitions. The final round of the Saturday interclub matches will be played on Saturday next, and the competition is in a most interesting position. It is quite possible for the four leading clubs to end up the season with an equal number of points. Balmacewen _ and Mornington each have 78, Kaikorai 75, and Otago 72. Should the day prove unsuitable for .play and a postponement be made, Balmacewen and Mornington would tie and a play-off would be necessary. Regulation 6 covering this competition states that games not played on the date-set down shall be annulled. The Wednesday competition will conclude on March 7. This series, like the major competition, has had a few rounds abandoned, and here again it is difficult to pick the winner. In the Holmes Feathers section ties, Mornington accounted for St. Kilda and Kaituna headed off Balmacewen, and in the play-off for section winner Kaituna defeated Mornington on Monday night by 83-73. North-east Valley won from Kaikorai in the play-off for the other section. The final is between "North-east Valley and Kaituna, and the game, I understand, is set down for the Caledonian green one night this week. North-east Valley won this competition three years ago, hut Kaituna, which has had more successes' than any other club in the Adess Shield game, has so far been unable to account for a Holmes Feathers final. Entries for the Adess Shield competition and the leads and seconds competition close next Wednesday. Secretaries please note this date. Entries for the, Dunedin Centre's Easter tournament close on March 19.

Champion of Champions. Secretaries should remember that next Wednesday the entries close for this competition. There is some complaint that the weather has delayed some of the clubs in finding their champion, but the human aspect has also been a factor, as some players do delay in making, appointments with their opponents, and in some cases the Ties Committee is just a little too lenient.

The Kaikorai Club has four players left in its championship—S. Devereux (two lives), and Ufton, Stoddart, and Clyde (one life each). Logan Park has reduced the number to threes—R. A. Crawford, with two lives, and F. Farquhar and J. Hunter, each with one. The two latter play, and the winner will meet Crawford in the final. At Dunedin the position is—A. Rankin, with two lives, and J. Veitch, D. Gardiner, H. Walker, K. Morrison, H. Gibson, and G. Brophy, each with one life. Pavilion Pars. The Otago Club abandoned its oneday tournament, which was to have been held last Saturday. The entries were very disappointing, due to so many other attractions. The Dunedin Club, which is holding its first one-day tourney on (March 10, advises that it has already received the full quota of 20 teams. Jack Scott, one of the club's live wires, is mainly responsible for the quick fill-up. Kaikorai also holds a one-day tournament on March 10, and this club should have little trouble getting the required number of teams.