BOWLING

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XIX, Issue 220, 3 September 1929, Page 3

BOWLING

EAST COAST CENTRE PRESIDENT’S ANNUAL REPORT. .. LAST YEAR’S ACTIVITIES. .. The report of the president (Mr J. E. Hall) of the East Coast Bowling Centro to be presented to delegates at the annual meeting to-morrow evening, reads as follows:— From a financial standpoint, the year has not been very satisfactory, although both our annual New Year and Easter tournaments were well up to the average as far as the number of rinks engaged were concerned; but the system adopted this season prevented the same margin of profit as in previous years. Commencing the season with a credit balance of £33 12s 9d, you will perceive from a perusal of the balance sheet there is only a small credit balance of £2 10s 2d. “The executive fully considered various methods of deciding the conditions of play for the shield, with the object of giving the full playing strength of each club an opportunity in this contest. The system of clubs playing their average playing strength on a percentage basis was tried with varying reports as to its suitability. The weather was so very bad that the system did not get a fair trial. This year Waipawa, with two teams Competing, won with a percentage of 70 points, St. Leonards, with four teams, being runners-up with a percentage of 68 points. “The Easter tournament was played on the Napier greens under most trying .conditions. The competition semi-finals and finals were played over a period of three weeks before the final decision was reached Maher (St. Leonards) winning from Engebretsen (Napier). “The championship fours was as usual played over three consecutive Saturdays in Waipawa, St. Leonard’s and Port Ahuriri, and resulted in a win for Burge’s rink (Kia Toa), with Napier’s rink (skipped by Engebretsen) as runner-up. The first of the centre’s efforts to provide a contest for the “champion pair’’ of each club met with disaster, bad weather conditions causing an abandonment with games still to be played. The champ- , ionships singles competition, another initial effort, met with bettor weather conditions and provided most excellent play, Kummer (St. Leonard’s) winning, with Thomas (Wairere) and Somerset-Smith (Bluff Hill) equal run-ners-up. An effort was made to inaugurate a veterans’ day and was a great success. CLUBS’ MEMBERSHIP. The membership of the clubs in the centre remains about the same as in previous seasons. During the season thp centre was very active. Various sub-committees were set up, and each carried out duties successfully. RULES REVISION. “The centre decided that the rules should be revised, and a sub-commit-tee consisting of members Messrs Smart, Williams and Maher was set up to draft a new set of rules. These have now been considered by the executive, and they will be submitted to the annual meeting for adoption. “During the season two rinks from Queensland played in an electric light tournament in Napier, they being tbe guests of the Napier Club. The Dominion Bowling Association was unable to arrange for an official visit from the Australians, but the president and some Hastings members of the executive met the Queenslanders on their way through, and gave them a hearty welcome to Hawke’s Bay. EXCHANGE OF BADGES. “The exchange of badges was not possible, and in this respect it would be nice in future to return the compliment when visitors from overseas hand the officers one of their badges. The striking of a suitable badge by the centre should bo considered by the incoming executive. “This report cannot be closed without refercuce to the shield contest and the refreshment system at tournaments. Waipawa has a notice of motion to abandon the shield. It is to bo hoped that whatever system of play is decided upon, each and every club will carry out that system in its entirety. The system adopted last year for the providing of refreshments at tournaments was in the nature of an experiment. The centre raised the entrance fee 2s 6d per man. and provided all teas free. The centre also paid tho green keepers for preparing tournament greens. The new system has its good points, but resulted in a loss to the centre of £2B 2s. It is therefore quite apparent that the entrance fees must be raised considerably, or that the system adopt ed in former years so successfully be reverted to.