BOWLS DRAWING MORE PLAYERS : CENTRE REVIEW

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22729, 30 August 1948, Page 3

BOWLS DRAWING MORE PLAYERS : CENTRE REVIEW

Attention to the growing popularity of the game as indicated by tlie substantial increase in the membership ot clubs is drawn in the report to be presented by (he president, Mr. E. U. Somervell, at the annual meeting of the Gisborne-East Coast Howling Centre this evening. The report expresses deep regret concerning ihe death during the year and extends sympathy with the bereaved relatives of the following members of clubs: Messrs. P. Brady (Kahutia), li. S. Briant, J. G. Aiton, G. Bennett (Poverty Bay), E. Ward (Matawai) and P. G. Burton (Ruatoria). Excellent weather during the season enabled the completion ot the various competitions without interruption, states the report. As the result of special tournaments held by clubs a substantial sum was realised for the Crippled Children’s Fund. Contests For Trophies The 40 members of the Hawke’s Bay centre who made the biennial visit to Gisborne won the "Cock ot the Bays" trophy. During the coming season it would be the turn of the GisborneEast Coast centre representatives to visit Hawke’s Bay. In the inter-club events both the Fisken Cup and Yelverton Shield (Pennants) were won by Kahutia. Entries of rinks from outside centres in the Peace Shield and A. G. Slight Memorial Shield were curtailed by restrictions on travelling which also in liuenced such entries in the tournament for the Burton Trophy and D. G. Robertson Memorial Shield. In the Peace Shield tournament seven rinks qualified for post-section play and in the final F. Wise, R. Johnson, E. O’Brien and J. H. Walker (s) Gisborne, defeated LI. Garrett, J. C. O. Hill, F. W. Roberts and W. Langiands (s), also of the Gisborne club. This was the second successive occasion on whicn J. H. Walker hud skipped the winning team.

Nine rinks qualified in the Burton Tropny tournament. In the final H. Duckworth, J. R a smith, P. Williams and H. A. Armstrong (s) defeated G. Burns, F. Wickens, P. vV. Roberts (s). Both rinks were irom the Gisborne club. In the competition inaugurated by the N.Z.R.S.A., the district winners and representatives in the Dominion tourna ment were H. J. Poole, A. K. Smith, M. E. Robertson and S. McKenzie (s). It was expected that the competition in the coming season would attract a con siderabie increase m entries. The Veterans’ Association held several gatherings during the year. The progressive pairs tournament for secretaries, centre delegates and committeemen was won by P. Meredith and H. B. Tyerman. Centre Championships The standard of play throughout the centre .cnampionships was excellent continues me report. Winners and runners-up were: Singles.—Senior: 3. Gooch (Kahutia); runner-up, H. Roberts (Wairoa). Intermediate: F. Kelly iKahutia); runnerup, r. Bickering (r-overty Buy), junior: P. Tilley (Kahutia); runner-up, A. Sheen (uisborne). Fairs.—Senior: H. Barnett, J. H. Robinson (poverty Bay); runners-up, W. Hickman. R. Graham (Kahutia). Intermediate: K. S. smith, H. W. Nelson (xoiaga Bay), runners-up, V. Norman, E. Roderick (Poverty Bay). Rinks. —Senior: H. E. Crowley, E. A. Beer, V. Huristone, G. F. Crowley Uolaga Bay); runners-up, A. Atkins, A. Archibald, D. Patterson, A. Bennett (Wairoa). Junior: F. Welts, R. Connop J. Fulton, N. Russell (Kahutia); runners-up, O. James, A. Johnson, R. Hays, J. Rennie (t'oiaga Bay). In conclusion the report expresses thanks to all who co-operated in the activities of the centre during the >ear.