BOWLING NOTES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 19141, 6 October 1925, Page 6

BOWLING NOTES.

THE " CARSWELL SYSTEM." DOMINION CHAMPION'S VIEWS. . ■ ' ' ' ' ' GAME AS AN EXACT SCIENCE. ST SKIP, Auckland bow ers will he interested in the following jotter from Mr. Claude Allan, of the Auckland Club, who ha 3 just returned from a trip to Sydney and Dunedin:— " While in Dunedin," he writes, " I had the pleasure of making the acquaintance of the New Zealand singles champion, Mr. J. D. Best, who has been a provincial representative footballer ani cricketer, a crack rower, % tennis player of no mean order, and a fair golfer, besides being our champion bowler. He is a physioaily-fit man, 50 years of age, and devotes two nights regularly every week to gymnasium work. He ig extremely modest as to his attainments, and when 1 asked him about his bowling prowess he gave the credit to his tutor and friend, Mr. Carswell, of the Taieri Club, the 1923-24 Dominion champion. " Mr. Best claims the ' Carswell system ' is the only system known which reduces the game of bowls to an exact science. It has made possible an automatic delivery, which is similar to that from the chute used when testing bowls on the green. ' Length ' and ' green ' are measured by a carefully-studied plan of action, which has taken many years to perfect. ' The yard on shot,' which is so useful yet difficult to attempt with any approach to perfection, is at the bowler's disposal whenever he requires it. This is derived from the adoption of a certain method and can be played with the ease and accuracy of the ordinary draw shot. In fact, everything is studied and worked out to a fraction in regard to the delivery, grip, stance and grassing of the bowl. Everything Worked to Position, " Mr. Best said he knew that in the North the ' Carswell method ' was regarded as a very cramped, ngiy style, but he could not see eye to eye with the ' follow through ' adopted there. He said: 'You swing your bowl back to where? Your stride forward is never set to an exact length. In the Carswell method we bring the bowl back to a given position for the ' draw ' and for the ' yard on * to another place, and so on. Everything is worked out to position. I know you will disagree with me when I say the good old game of bowls can be worked out to an exact science, and is under the Carswell system. Surely Mr. Carswell and I have proved it,.' i " This is, of course, very interesting," Mr. Allan continued, " and I feel that most bowlers in Auckland would like to know and see more of the system which has brought two bowlers right through to the pinnacle of success in Dominion bmvling, but I think there is more than this in Mr. Best's bowling. He is temperamentally right, and exhibits the rare ability to concentrate and eliminate all nervousness in big fights. He practices incessantly and puts in a lot more work than the average bowler. Ponsonby Mid-Week Tourney. The semi-finals and final of the Ponsonby mid-week tourney were played last Friday. A. Parsons emerged the winner and added another victory to his long list. Letham's team led ali the way, and with two heads to go was 2 up, the score being .13—11. The next head was "burnt" by Parsons, when he lay very badly. The replay saw Parsons' team j in good position, and with the shot, but j Bray, No. 3 for Letharn, played a fine shot, which curled on to the kitty and took it to comparative safety. Parsons failed to alter the position, aid the last head was entered on with three, required for a tie. Both front divisions were wide of the mark, until C. Hardley, No 3 for Parsons, placed a counter about 18in. away Letham's first bowl was narrow and Parsons drew a second. Letham was over with his next shot, and there was a tense moment while Parsons' bowl was en route, but it was a fine attempt, and the game was drawn. On the extra head Parsons' men had several shots in, and all th'» bes> of matter", Letham made a great attempt arid missed the kitty only by a fraction. Parsons put in a block j and Letham essayed a running shot , which sent the kitty just dead. On the ; re play Letham's men had the shot till C. j Hardley, with a lovely draw, trailed the j kitty a foot or so into a position of safety j and "lay" on it. Letham had no hope of ' dislodging it and a fine game went to the > veteran. The Edwin Stars. Epsom, holders of the Edwin Stars, j had a close call on Saturday, and just managed to draw with Ellerslie after being one down with the last head to go. Epsom will thus retain the Edwin Stars during the recess, as the opening of the season is now due. The game was well contested, the only exception being a six scored by Ellerslie on the eighth head when they were seven down on the board. The Ellerslie team was a very strong one, as it consisted of Osborne (skip), an ex-champion of the club, Taylor (No. 3), runner-up for the championship last season, Dickson (No. 2), the present champion, and White (lead), a player with all the qualities for the position. The Epsom Club will hold an tourney on Labour Day. Entries close on October 17. The Ellerslie Club. There was a strong muster of players oa the Ellerslie green on Saturday, when the City Central teams played the club representatives. More than ordinary interest centred in the match, as Ellerslie had won at the previous meeting. However, this time the City Central team succewled in winning all three games. Gordon, one of the Ellerslie skips, put up a very good fight against a strong combination skipped by H. Clarke, the champion of champions, who had as his No. 3, T. George, the winning skip of the last Easter fours. Gordon was actually 11 up at one stage, but the City team came with a run of big scores in time to win by a single point. With a membership of 60 the Ellerslie Club will give a good account of itself in the inter-club competition. Last season j the club was well up in its section after having the bad luck to lose four games they had previously drawn. A few more wins would have given them the section. No club is more pleased at the recent decision of the centre to make all drawn games count half a win in this season's matches. The club will hold a drawing, driving, trailing and guarding competition next Saturday. Press at Carlton. Considering that the teams representing the press and printers were drawn fiom all quarters and that they were pitted against such a well-organised dub as Carlton they did very well tc get within j 31 points of their opponents' score. Although many of them were having their first competition game for many months they showed fine form and many keenlycontested games resulted. The heroes of the press and printers' side were Schnackenberg and Kirkham, who both led their teams to victory over such strong skips as Kilgour and G. Hosking. Kirkham, who 'had the assistance of F, Bur bush, was scan to great advantage and did really well. Mr. J. Thomson, the Carlton president, welcomed the visitors at the tea adjournment. Mr. R. M. Racket, editor of the Herald, in reply, thanked the Carlton Club for its generosity in providing the green accommodation. One of the club's summer greens was ' in use for the first time this season, and was in great order. In fact, it was quite as good as many greens would be at the height of the season.

MATCHES AT ONEHUNGA. Following are the results of inter-club bowling matches played at the Otiehuuga green on Saturday, Onehunga players being mentioned first Ross, ll* Bray, G. Court, E. V. Sutherland, 20, v, Auckland (Inglis, Lyell, Hardie Neil, M. Walker)., 15; Byrne, R. Sutherland, Robertson, Mo Farquhar, 25, v, Carlton {Buxton, Edmonds, Pollard, Fookes), 24; McLaren, Harrison, T. George, Bassett, 10, v. Mount Albert (Maxwell, Wallett, Catforth, A llely), 24. , Club Fours: Camplin, Cairns, Irelund, Gatland, 24, v. Farrar, Kirby, Gill, Harlock, 21; Haydon, Gallagher, Coutts, Lomas, 21, v. Milne, E. George, Higgins, Flowerday, 20; Sturgeon, S. Brown, Jones, A. Brown, 28, v. Villa, Taylor, Davenport, Spedding, 23. Cock o' the walk: (Kennedy, Marks, Coldicutt, Richardson), challengers, 11, v. (L. Bray, Fordham, I. Sutherland, E. Wright), holders, 23. The opening of the summer season is fixed for next Saturday. WHITIORA CLUB. [BY TELEGBAX'H. —OWN CORRESPONDENT. ] HAMILTON. Mot-lav. The Whitiora Bowling and Croquet Clubs were officially opened for the season on Saturday. Rain interfered with the programme, and after a few heads had been played the game was abandoned. There were many visitors present, i i.ay were given » cordial welcome by Mr, R. Higgott, president, who stated that although the new Ciaudolands Club had taken away a few players the Whitiora Club's membership had increased. Mrs. Higgott rolled the jack. The croquet season was declared operj by Mrs. Andrews. Mrs. Jenkin struck the first ball.