BOWLING

Grey River Argus, 9 January 1941, Page 3

BOWLING

N.Z. TOURNAMENT. OPENING TO-DAY. CHRISTCHURCH, January 8. . With a record entry for the South Island of 856 players, the twentyeighth championship held by the New Zealand Bowling Association commenced in Christchurch to-day. The whol e of. the profits wib be given for patriotic purposes Great interest will be taken in the tournament, for there are more than 20.00 b bowlers in New Zealand The tournament is divided mto three sections, singles, pairs, end fours. The singles commenced ■ this morning, and by this evening sonw 300 of th e players were .miminateci. leaving the minority to light out the post-section play to-morrow, when the number of survivors will bo lur(her reduced until, only eight remain. Plav was on 21 greens in various parts' of the city and suburbs, and each attracted a crowd, for previous champions were seen in action. All last year’s winners defended their titles.

On Barrington green one of the grand old men of the game was seen in action. This was W. Carswell, of the Taieri Club. Dunedin. Acknowledged as one of. the best singles players the Dominion has produced. Carswell is one of the small band who has won the singles ehan':’’ * ” oe. His liis? victory was at Christchurch in 1924. and hi s second at Dunedin in 1934. In addition, he skipped the lour that won the championship at. Dunedin in 1922. He failed to-day.

Although the hot, dry spell 01 weather has affected some of the greens, most of them were in good order. The Commercial Travellers’ and Warehousemen’s Association, the Pioneer Sports Club, and the Automobile Association have offered the privileges of their clubs tu visiting plavors during the tournament. The sensation of the morning was the elimination of M. Squire (Hawera), who was runner-up to Deare in the final last year, and who has several times been in the finishing few. The Blenheim player, T. F. Mitchell, heat him 20-18 in the first game. All four members of the champion Onehunga four of last year won both of their games. They were: Livingstone., Macklow, W. Whittaker, and H. A. Robertson. AL the end of play to-day, 66 players were left in, and their elimination games will be continued throughout to-morrow.

/. s usual, there were many surprises the ’chief among them being the elimination of last year’s winner, G. Deare (Carlton, Auckland) and Hie runner-up to him, M. J. Squire (Hawera). Deare lost his first life in the fourth round, when he was beaten after a great game, by the local Cashmcre player, A. E. H. Christie, 16-14. I n the last round of the day he went down to another local player, J. M. Giles (United), 17-8. Squire, who has been among the last few on several occasions, was beaten by T. F. Mitchell (Blenheim), 20-18. anil then by J'. W. Thomas (Roslyn Dunedin), 27-10. Included among those who went through the day unbeaten ar e names well known in the past. J. Veitch (Dunedin) is a veteran who has come out on top in many battles. R. E. Austin (Cromwell) although playing in a small centre,' is always well forward in big games each year. J. R. Smith (Elmwood) has reached the semi-final stages, and J. DowJand (St. Kilda, Dunedin) is a hard lighter who takes a' lot of beating. "in the one-life section is J- Ainger, who won the Madison Trophy m Christchurch last season. W. Ure (Auckland) is a previous winner, playing third for W. Bremner when he won the links in 1924. C. Spearman (Sydenham), former New Zealand champion, just missed last. year. On his disclosed form. J. S. Carlton (Auckland) was a hot tip for the singles this year, and R. Haworth (Canterbury) is the only skip to have won the rinks championship two years in succession. W. Carswell (Taieri, Dunedin), who has twice previously won the singles, made a bold bid for inclusion this year but he went down in his. first game to W. F. Raphael (Canterbury). He went on to win the next three, but he suffered a final defeat when he went down to B. Walker (Waimate). 19-16, in the last game of th? day. Although some of the greens have been affected by the hot weather, the play throughout to-day was of a high standard, and games in every section went to extra heads. An analysis of the geographical spread of those left in for to-morrow shows that there are 17 North Island players, and 49 from the South Island. Out of the total, 20 of these players come from Christchurch clubs.