On the RINKS

Northern Advocate, 6 January 1937, Page 2

On the RINKS

By “Modernist

Kensington, Tournament, To the regret of all bowldom. weather conditions caused a postponement of this interesting fixture which will now be held next Friday and Saturday when it is to be hoped that Jupiter Pluvius will hold his hand, and that all players will do their utmost to rally round the north-end club and in some measure at any rate retrieve the position. Given fine weather Kensington would have re-

I * ? January. • ? i ? 8 & 9. Kensington Annual Tourney j I 29 & 30 Whangarei Annual Tourney ? t i

corded a wonderful success as no stone had been left unturned that would have benefited the tourney. Pavilion Palaver. With play off during the holiday, pavilions were haunted by disappointed trundlers, who spent the time more or less profitably in discussing aspects of- bowls. Several themes received are worthy of consideration.

Conducting Tournaments. In addition to umpiring, time limits and substitutes mentioned in this column last week, constructive criticism was directed at what all tourney committees admit is the weakest spot in their armour and that is short games to find section winners etc. With a limited time for play it is difficult to suggest any improvement on the present system, which allows a team, after tieing for a section, to be put out over five heads or even being beaten in a semi-final of seven or eleven ends. A suggestion that is perhaps worthy of consideration, is to cut the heads down from 21 per game to say 15, which would allow seven games of reasonable length in place of five as at present. This would certainly give more time in the concluding stages, and probably more satisfaction. It may be said that the present system gives more play to the majority, but a tournament is not social bowls, but a trial of skill under certain definite conditions and as far as possible skill should prevail, a state of affairs not altogether fostered by games of five heads. Another bright idea discussed was that all section winners who are eliminated in postsection play should receive a small memento trophy, say a badge. There are many seasoned tournament trippers who compete year in and year out, who have nothing to show for being well up on occasions, and this suggestion would supply the deficiency.

Draw of Bowls. From time to time one hears remarks about the draw or bias of various makes of bowls, and many players apparently think that the material a bowl is made of has something to do with its drawing power. Some say composition bowls ara straight, which is only a comparative term as no doubt they are (compared with some of the circus horse material used), but I venture to say that there are not six sets of straight pokers in Whangarei, and by pokers I mean bowls that have less bias than that proscribed by the N.Z.B.A. The minimum draw allowed is 4ft 11 ms in a run of eighty-four feet on a standard green, and a standard green is one in good condition, not fiery but running well. We all know that there are bowls used that draw twice the specified amount, but that is because tire owners like them to, and it is a

fallacy to say that so and so’s bowls should not be allowed because., by comparison with wide drawing material, they are straight. Approximately five feet is a narrow draw,’ and is known generally as “number three.” Then we have “full three,” a trifle wider; “three full,” a wide bias; and “number four,” which will come round and look at you. Many say that the Australian made bowls are straight, but it should be noted that these bowls are designed to curve from start to finish, not to .run straight part way and then work over the rest; That is why they are excellent material for singles play, but when wanted to go round bowls they are deficient in finish. For this reason some players find it difficult to change from wood to Australian compo. When such diehard supporters of wood as Norrie Bell and Maxwell Walker were converted to the new material they had compo bowls made that were replicas of their woods. They ran and drew exactly the same and these players had no difficulty in changing over. If anyone still thinks compo won’t draw, let him try out the “Crimson Ramblers” used for years by a very popular member of the Whangarei Club. Writing of bias reminds one that some players claim to be able to alter the drawing power of bowls by the way they put them down. Most “stand them up” artists use minimum bias bowls, and should be invited to display their skill with "number fours.” , j;