BOWLING SEASON.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19427, 8 September 1926, Page 18

BOWLING SEASON.

ELLERSLIE CLUB'S TOURNEY. THE PLAY IN RETROSPECT. NINETY-SIX COMPETITORS.

JSY SKIP.

The next six weeks will see, the great army of bowlers once again on the move. More than 600 bowlers, including 96 engaged in the Ellerslie tournament, were in action on Saturday afternoon, when conditions were ideal for play. The Ellerslie tourney was a decided success from every point of view. The club's officials are to be congratulated on their staging of a function that went off without a hitch ou both days. The newly-elected secretary, Mr. A. J. McKelvie, although a competitor in the event, had all his spare time between shots occupied in attending to details. The club possesses a great worker in Mr. Williams, the treasurer. On both days he was here, there and everywhere and made, many friends by his geniality.

Before play commenced it was thought victory in each of the sections would go to teams with the highest aggregate of points. This surmise came true in respect of one section when the two Epsom teams, skipped by Jones and Richmond, tied with 5 wins apiace, but in the other section the Mount Albert combination, skipped by G. Clark, had a clear-cut win on games.

Individual Form Reviewed, C. Warren was irresistible and notched tlireo wins on the day. The veteran opened with a big win against Dickson's strong Ellerslie four. W. Gavey was again in good form. Tonkin (West End), made a big effort in the first game and got home on Parsons but could not sustain tho effort in the next two contests. Richmond (Epsom) had the bad luck to go down in the final game and thus lose tho section. He found Dickson's team too solid. Parsons has had far better days. A drawn game was his nearest approach to success.

In the B section T. R. George (Epsom) was supported by his proper team for the day but on account of tho first day's losses did not take things too seriously. Tho team was obviously out for practice. G. Clark was hard pushed in the first round by Gollan, the keen Ellerslie skip, bat a fine shot by his lead, S. Dimery, saved the situation on the last head. It is pleasing to note the success of this consistent Mount Albert skip. The father and son combination, the two Dimerys, gave good support throughout. Disappointing Leading.

The Rev. W. Ryan gave a display of his real form by going through the afternoon without a defeat. A beautiful shot with his last bowl enabled him to beat the St. Heliers champion, Keys. Johnson, the Stanley skip, was sible for a fine performance when, with three magnificent shots on successive heads, he retrieved his position when lying a good many points to the bad against the West End rink. P. Norris and Keys, wore both in fine form and in the game against Stanley gave Johnson no peace. R. Quin (West End) is a veteran who still finds his way close to the jack. On Saturday he was of great assistance to his skip, Tonkin.

For a young player Koefoed, of St. Hellers, is a marvel. His work as No. 2 was first-class and apart from drawing, he was very clever in resting a shot bowl. A noticeable feature of the tonrney was the disappointing work of the leads. Of the 24 players scarcely six played consistently. Knaggs (West End) was one of the best leads. J. Taylor was a favourite with the "bank." His style of play and witticism attracted quite a following. Edwin Stars Challenge.

The Onehnnga four skipped by Bassett did not allow the Grey Lynn team to remain in charge of the trophies for long. The game was a 1 good, hard tussle for fully three-quarters of the way. The Onehunga men gave their skip splendid support. Kennedy, the land, was right up to usual form. Bassett held his team well during some critical- stages on the early heads. The opposing No. 2, F. Baildon, was perhaps the outstanding player for Grey Lynn. Whittle, the skip, played his usual aggressive game but on several occasions luck was against him. Onehunga will play an Ellerslie team in charge of Godfrey next Saturday. The draw for the season's pennant matches no doubt occasioned much interest for the members of the 25 competing clubs. The Centre Executive is to bo commended for its early publication of the details, thereby not only stimulating interest in the competition, but also allowing the various clubs to map out their own fixtures. That the work of computing the various quotas and arranging the draw is of some magnitude is evident •when it is considered that the 25 clubs competing represent 912 players. Mr. W. Foreshaw, the popular Edendale Club entertainer, will appear at the Capitol Theatre on Monday, September 20, when an effort in the form of a picture and concert evening will be made by the -club to liquidate the debt incurred by recent building operations.

AMATEUR CYCLING. CHAMPIONSHIP EVENTS. Two track events were held at Alexandra Park on Saturday, when M. P. Byrnes, J. Whitten, F. J. Casey, C. Galbraith, W. T. Bray and K. "Mathieson secured all the places. In the first race, the one mile, J. Whitten caused a surprise by sprinting the redoubtable Byrnes. Byrnes appeared to take the sprint too easy, end Whitten, who is capable of finishing strongly at any time, undoubtedly canght him napping. Byrnes, however, reversed the order in the two miles handicap. Casey and Galbraith both rode well, but the former did not hive the finish in the mile. Galbraith sprinted well to secure third place in both races.

Mathieson's sprint in the one mile heat was a lightning one, and Bray crossed the line barely half-a-wheel to the good. All the backrnarkers on Saturday rode well, and in almost every instance tho limit bunch was well in hand when tha sprint for the line commenced. Daring the last few weeks a number of amateurs have undertaken long Sunday rides with a view to becoming fit for the Auckland road championship. At 7.30 a.m. next Sunday riders who are desirous of journeying" over the course should meet at the Symonds Street end of the Grafton Bridge. The pace for these runs is generally well within the province of the younger lads, and they should all take advantage of this opportunity to fit themselves for future road events.

Two amateur races, 22 miles seniors, and miles junior, will be held on Saturday. Amateurs all over New Zealand are preparing for the 100-miles road race from Palmerston to Wellington. As this race finishes on the Basin Reserve, almost in the heart of Wellington, a large crowd should witness the finish of the premier amateur event in Dominion cycling.