OPENING OF SEASON

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 265, 7 October 1940, Page 8

OPENING OF SEASON

BOWLING, CROQUET, TENNIS. CITY CLUBS FAVOURED. Bright sunshine favoured the opening of the season of several summer sports clubs in the city on Saturday afternoon. There was little wind and in all cases the. greens and courts were in excellent condition and enjoyable play followed tho official ceremonies. MANAWATU CLUB.

Flags and bunting fluttered gaily at the Manawatu Bowling, Croquet and Tennis Club. The official opening was performed by the club’s patron, Mr A. E. Mansford (the Mayor) who was accompanied by Mrs Mansford, while Mr J. Hodgens, M.P., was also a speaker. Mrs Hodgens was welcomed as a visitor.

The president of the club (Mr J. W. Velvin), in welcoming the visitors, expressed gratification at the attendance and wished all an enjoyable time. He mentioned that all members serving overseas would be retained in full membership. He expressed appreciation of the aid given in the off season by members in improving the grounds, especially the green supervisor (Mr Bruce Levy) and thanked Messrs G. Tremaine (chairman of the City Council reserves committee), P. Black (city curator) and J. R. Hughes (city engineer) for assistance. The work of the caretaker (Mr W. Clayton) was also praised. Mr Velviri submitted an apology for absence'from Mr C. F. Spooner, the first president of the club, who, he said, had not missed an official opening of the season for 23 years. Mr commented on the fortunate position occupied by participants in summer sports in New Zealand in that they had to worry only as to whether the sky would bring sunshine or rain, and not, as in England last summer, aeroplanes and bombs. Ln calling on the Mayor formally to open the season, Mr V-'lvin expressed the club’s thanks that Mr Mansford had again accepted, the office as patron. Mr Mansford congratulated the club on its excellent progress, both in membership and in finance, and said it was a tribute to the energy of the members. Referring to the war, Mr Mansford said the club, along with all other sports bodies., would feel the effects of the great struggle now raging. He referred to the magnificent fight the Motherland wias putting up against the forces of despotism, and was confident that every citizen would play his part—and the help of every citizen was needed in bringing victory to the arms of Britain. “And,” concluded the Mayor amid applause, we know that Britain will be victorious. Mrs Velvin sent up the first jack, Mrs Mansford bowling the first bowl. Mr Mansford also officiated on the tennis courts and Mr Hodgens on the croquet green. The following were the results of the bowling the participants being members ot the Manawatu Club■ Purton, Harvey, A. Whitehead, Corbridge (skip) 23 v. Byrd, Wylie, Winks, Velvin (skip) 15, Longney, Baylcy, Drew, Tantrum (skip; 24 v Sweetman, Jones, Cockburn, Francis (skip) 20; Drake, Hodgson Sniillic. Mason (skip) 25 v. Poltndge Blankard, R. Allen. A. E. Allen (skip) 16; Crook, Lett, Harkness, Thorburn (skip) 23 v Waters, Stevens, Houghton, Billens (skip) 20; Gabriel, Opie, Yortt, Mills (skip 20 v. Turner, Thompson, Blake, Gcrrand (skip) 19; Jones, Coup, Royal, W. Robertson (skip) 28 v. S Brown, Blandford Bates, King (skip) 16; Levy. W Whitehead, Collins. R. Robertson (skip) 26 v. McKee, Beilis, Exton, Dav.dson (skip) 13; Greening, Holder, Penketh, Beatson (skip) 21 v , . Rutherford, Screech, Cogswell, Taylor (skip) I<J.

AT TERRACE END. <Vt the opening of the Terrace End Club’s season the Manawatu Bowling Centre’s ceremony was held in conjunction. There were numerous visiting rinks, and on the green for the opening ceremony were Mr W. R. Kells (president of the club), Mr J. A’. Nash (president of the centre) , Mr G. Tremaine (deputy-Mayor) and Mr W. Mouldey, a member of the City on behalf of the club, thanked Mr Tremaine for the assistance he had given as chairman of the reserves committee and expressed through him thanks to the City Council for its assistance to bowlers Mr Nash said he firmly believed that, notwithstanding all troubles and difficulties, sports must go on. He relerred to the progress the game had made, and said that the centre, m common with a number of others, was very dissatisfied with the constitution of the New Zealand Coifncil. There were 22 centres but only 10 had direct representation on the council. The result was that it was most difficult to get alterations made or anything new added. The only reply the centre bad received To o. protest wus tluit the 10 members elected represented every* body. Manawatu contended that there should be a representative from each of the 22 centres just as in other sports councils. Mr Nash said Manawatu would continue to object till thev achieved what they were after. He said that petrol restrictions might interfere with the number of visits this ■ season and the question of playing the pennants competition had not yet been decided. He congratulated the Terrace End Club on laying down another beautiful green and declared the centre’s seaMr Tremaine said that bowling clubs in Palmerston North had, benefited in many ways. Practically every game in the city was played on City Council reserves and the council did more fqr sports than any other local body in New Zealand. Tho club, he said, might suffer from enlistments, but he urged those remaining to carry on. He then declared the club’s season open. Cheers were given by centre players for the president and members of the Terrace End Club, and by club members for the visitors. Club championship trofihics of last season, and the croquet championship trophy, were presented by Mr Nash. The first bowl was sent down by Mrs J. J. Kells, daughter-in-law of the president of the club. Bowlers then simultaneously delivered- bowls to a jack, which was placed in tho middle of the green, t ■ The following were the results of games played between Terrace End (mentioned first) and visiting iinksMcLean, Reay, Cherric, Hanley (skip) 13 v. Feilding: McDowali, Simson, Nesbit, Burne (skip) 18. Barry, W. Brown, R. Allen, Childs (skip) Bv. Oroua : Collier, , Smithcre, Stewart, Edelsten (skip) 31. Melville, Luke, Burrell, Gordon (skip) 18 v. Takaro: Spilman, Henderson, Harrison, Christensen (kip) 16. Christie, Curran, Otter, Dixon (skip) 28 v. Paliiatua: Truscott, Goer, Davy, Hodd (skip) 19. King, Bursfall. Browne, Snell (skip) 19 v, Foxton : Dawson. Heppner, Christie, Mattar (skip) 19. White, Shackleton, Bee, Reeves (skip) 19 v. Hokowhitu: Bennett, Sims,. Gillam, Wycherley (skip) 19. Mills. Bell, Hart, Lock (skip) 8 v. Woodville: Kenyon. Vowell, Levell, Boyd (skip) 31. Claughton, Shelton. Johnson, Kells (skip) 14 v. Palmerston North: Evans, W. Child, J. Child, Mouldey (skip). 22. _ The visitors won four games, lorraee End two, and two were drawn. TAKARO CLUB. A large number of enthusiasts attended the official opening of the Takaro Bowling, Croquet, and Tenuis Club. The. president (Mr F, Hearsey) in introducing'Mr J- T. J. Heatley.

expressed gratification at the large attendance of both Takaro members and visitors. He mentioned that a number of'the younger members of the club had enlisted in the Forces, and he wished them a speedy and safe return.

In officially declaring the season open, Mr Heatley congratulated the club on the magnificent appearance of its grounds and wished the members a most successful season. He then called upon the president’s wife to deliver the first bowl. Mr Hearsey served the first ball over the net to open the tennis section, and in doing so wished the club a successful season.

Mrs J, Morgan, one of the oldest members of the club, hit the first ball through the hoop to open the croquet season.

Subsequently games ( were enjoyed in all sections.

The results of games played on the Bowling green were: Men’s section. —Hokowhitu : Cox, Heatley, Hancox, Hodd (skip) 15 v. Takaro: Thompson, Fuller, Morgan, Titshall (skip) 23. Dannevirke : Allardice, Bibby, Young, Howart (skip) 19 v. Takaro: Field, Mortland, Dawiclc, Cooks’.ey (skip) 18. Woodvillc: Robotham, Sullivan, Jamieson, Bly (skip) 23 v. Takaro: Purcell, Loymond, Dixon, Clark (skip) 19. Palmerston North: Kettle, Law, Sealor, Morgan (skip) 21 v, Takarq: Waugh, Abraham, Wass, Bovis (skip) 16. Oroua: Cantwell, Thurston, Iloffmeister, Law (skip) 22 v. Takaro: Spooner, Polglase, Lyall, A. Smith (skip) 16. Pahiatua : Mitchell, Badger, Lett, Pilkiqton (skip) 23 v. Takaro : Arnott, Yates, Stewart, Farrar (skip) 23. Terrace End: Brown, Morgan, Clinton, Wills (skip) 22 v. Takaro: R. Field, Woskett, Frew, Kendrick (skip) 15. Feilding : Major, R. Jones, Haywood, Dummer (skip) 19 v. Takaro: Walker, Bayliss, Wagstaff, Johnson (skip) 21.

Ladies’ section. —Mesdames Hammond, Farrar, Knight, Spinlcy (skip) 20 v. Mosdamcs Woskett, Taylor, Stubbs, ' Sporlc (skip) 11. Mesdames Perrin, Spooner, WoodroofTe. ,Scott (skip) 26 v. Mesdames Abraham, Birkenshaw, Alpe and Miss Underwood (skip) 14. The Northern Club also opened its season on Saturday when enjoyable games were held.