BOWLING CENTRE

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIII, Issue 248, 16 September 1933, Page 2

BOWLING CENTRE

ANNUAL MEETING DISCUSSIONS. CONTROL OF TOURNAMENTS. Arrangements for this season’s tournaments were discussed at the annual meeting of the Manawatu Bowling Centre when it was continued at Palmerston North yesterday afternoon, Mr J. A. Nash, M.P., presiding over a-large attendance of delegates. The recommendation was advanced by the Northern Bowling Club that a rinks tournament should be conducted by the centre at the New Year. Supporting this remit, Mr P. Larcomb stated that a rinks tourney gave the opportunity for a maximum number of players to participate, as they surrendered their own greens to the centre at that period. He moved a resolution that a rinks tourney be held, and this was supported by Messrs J. K. Paton (P.N.) and J.' C. Young (Northern) for the same reason, even though the latter said luy personally preferred to play in a pa-irs tourney at that time. Mr • W. McKinnon (Dannevirke) stated that country clubs had difficulty in arranging a representative rink, though they had great pleasure in participating in the tournament. Mr A. Williamson (Feilding) moved that a paris tournament be conducted, and this was supported by Mr D. Christie (Foxton) who, however, said that instead of four bowls being used, three could be played, the same as for the Dominion tournament. Mr A. K. Drew (Bulls) stated that he favoured the pairs, which provided great encouragement for young player|lr A. Cooksley said that the Takaro Club preferred pairs to rinks. Mr. J. Bartholomew (Feilding) emphasised that pairs had a distinct advantage for young players, and it would be a mistake to revert to rinks. The opinion was expressed by Mr N. H. Nash (Pahiatua Club delegate) that no young player would ever become skilful unless he learned m a rink. Even though a weak rmk was beaten, considerable knowledge was to be gained. Two bowls had to be played much more carefully than four. Mr Bartholomew said that it was the pairs plav which produced the skips. A similar view was expressed by Mr Williamson. It was decided by 16 votes to 7 to hold a three howl’ pairs tournament at the New Year, a.nd that it be conducted on section play, the same as for the Ea.ster tournament. THE EASTER FIXTURE. There was a unanimous decision that the Easter fixture should be a rinks tournament. It was reported by the Palmerston North Club delegates that, though it was not advanced officially by their club, a suggestion had been made by Mr T. L. Arnott, a member of that iclub, that for the Easter tournament, in order'to avoid unnecessary travelling, the centre be divided into three separate country sections, comprising not less than ten entries each, these sections to finalise their winners on a club green-within their own particular area. Other entrants could be divided into sections of ten each at Palmerston North, where .all the section :,winners could meet to contestiv.the.-ifihal. Mr W. Trueman (Foxton) the pleasure of coming to Palmerston North was well worth the short journey. The tournament was regarded as a holiday, and he would regret •. to see the proposal adopted. He moved that the letter he received and no action taken. ; \ The Feilding Club, said Mr A. ’Williamson, was strongly opposed to ; the proposal, and he expressed similar timents to those of the previous speaker. Mr H. P. Horne (Woodville),- said the suggestion deserved discussion and should not be condemned at once. His club had favourably considered: iti.tSection play would undoubtedly have the effect of improving entries, probably adding as many as 30 rinks. The country pi ayers were always outnumbered by Palmerston North rinks, and if 10 in each district could be formed, into a section, it would foster interest in the game. The chairman said it meant that four tournaments would be proceeding at once, and that would be a difficult matter. Mr Horne then moved that the suggestion be agreed to, a.ml this was supported by Messrs Henderson and McKinnon, the latter saying it was definitely difficult to come to Palmerston North from the other side of the range, where it might be advisable to conduct a section. Mr Williamson stated that the tournament was not confined to the centre, but was open to all comers. There was the difficulty of supervising the different sections, and he ’ did not favour dividing the centre. Bowlers liked to meet all participating in the tournament.

Mr R. Ramsay (P.N.) suggested that all players on the other side of the range should be;permitted to conduct their own section in conjunction with the tournament.

Mr N. H. Nash, as a representative of the Pahiatua Club, said it had issued definite instructions to its delegates to support the proposal. It was therefore hoped that the proposal would be carried as it would be in the interests of the clubs over the range. Mr Horne said the last thought in his mind was that over the range they should conduct a tournament on their own, but the proposal was favoured from the point of view of inducing additional entries. The amendment to adopt the scheme advanced by Mr Arnott was lost. Mr Ramsay then moved that the clubs over tlie range be afforded the opportunity bv the executive of conducting their own section, if there were sufficient entries to warrant it, in conjunction with the usual tournament. Mr J. C. Young (Northern) said there was a. danger of overlooking the majority of the players, with the social aspect involved, in favour of the post-section spotlight. It was decided that the proposal advanced by Mr Ramsay should he carried out, provided that there were not less than ten entries for an over-the-range section. The entrance fee for the New Year pairs tournament was fixed at 10s per player, the prize money allotted to be the same as last year. The entrance fee for the Easter tournament was fixed at 10s per player, and the prize money at £2O. CENTRE CHAMPIONSHIPS. ■ The recommendation was advanced by the Levin Club that in all future centre championships the three bowl system be adopted for pairs play. This remit was supported by the Levin delegate (Mr H. Walker) who said it shortened the time and made play more scientific. The same system was followed in the Dominion championships. Opposition was expressed by Mr Horne, who said the four bowls were the standard method of play. Mr Ramsay said the three bowls should not be on the “sudden death” principle, but only for section play. It was decided that four bowls should be played. The Shannon Club advanced a remit that all future centre championships should he decided on 21 points up. This was moved by Dir J. Bovis, the club’s delegate, . but Mr J. M. Gordon (Terrace End) considered the method should remain as at present.

The remit was defeated. GENERAL. It was decided that it should be a recommendation to the executive | that no tournament section comprise more than ten rinks. Advice was received that a sports queen was to be selected for the Central Relief Committee’s queen carnival, and the bowlers were invited to attend a meeting called to consider representation. Application was made by the Palmerston North Club for a. grant towards the cost, estimated at £lO, of providing movable seating accommodation for the use of spectators during tournament final play. Mr Paton said about £SO had been spent in the last few years in building up the banks which, with the greens, had to be protected. It was decided, by 12 votes to 11, to vote £5 towards the cost. It was decided that all bowlers participating in the centre tournament should be entitled to morning and afternoon tea. until the fixture was completed. Tne chairman paid a tribute to the work of the secretary (Mr A. F. Wimsett) who was granted an honorarium of £2O. A plea for more support for country clubs' gala days was made by Mr Cooksley, who stated that visiting clubs to those greens should be better represented. Delegates, were invited to discuss with their clubs the possibility of the centre sending eight rinks on a visit to Auckland, with the probability of playing at Hamilton on the return journey, and some members going on to Rotorua. Dealing with the matter of the levy per member made by the centre on all the affiliated clubs, Mr P. Larcomb (Northern) expressed the opinion that it might well be reduced from 9d to 6d, as the amount paid to the Dominion Bowling Association appeared to be much less than that collected from the members. The chairman stated that there was a prospect of an all-round decline in membership, and it was necessary to secure all the revenue possible. Mr Larcomb commented that this was a strong argument in favour of some concession being granted struggling clubs. No action was taken.