BOWLING

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 11249, 29 June 1922, Page 8

BOWLING

NEWTOWN CLUB A SUCCESSFUL YEAR. The annual meeting* of the Newtown Bowling Cl'oib was held in the club pavilion last evening. The retiring president (Mr James Brackenridge) was in the chair, and there was a muster of well over half a hundred clu’b members. ANNUAL REPORT. Tho annual report stated that notwithstanding a ,’arger membership than had been the case for a number of years, the club had not yet reached an entirely satisfactory state in that direction. The remarks of the previous directorate would boar repetition—the club must have an ir,creased membership to maintain a reasonably strong financial position. On© hundred n embers should he the minimum. During the year death had visited several of the clubs in the centre, theirs being among the number. Mr C. Pankhurst, an old, enthusiastic and respected member, died after but a few days illness, since the close of the season. His absence from the club would be much felt, for he was a regular attendant and had done years of service on the -green oommittee. Another valued member, although he had not been many months in the club before be was lost to them, was Mr Finlay Bcthune, late headmaster of the Newtown School. Mr Bethune's death was a loss not only to the club, but to the city in which his services as an educationist and Imperialist were thoroughly unobtrusive, and yet wellknown. The aged mother of Mr White, a new member, also passed away during the year. The deceased lady was within a year oa* two of a century old. To the relatives of tho departed they gave their deepest sympathy. Referenoe to th© death of Mr S. H. Underwood, the club’s secretary, will bo found m out personal columns. Messrs James Brackenridge 6enr., and J. M. % Brackenrige (s) had won the champion pairs of the Dominion bowling tournament in Dunedin in January, after a very exciting finish. Several teams had done very well in the centre tournament at Christmas time. * At Palmers- , ton North, at Easter, Messrs Cobb, Ferguson, Stewart, and Brackenridge een. (s), won the Manawatu Centre's tournament, after a thrilling finish, thus making the club's third consecutive win of this tournament. Messrs Powell, Leahy, Priddle, and J. Russell (s) again won the Eastbourne Club's Easter tournament. All the above players were heartily congratulated by their fellowmembers.

Mr J. M. Brackenridge, who was runner-up in the singles championship last year, had won through this year. Messrs Hunt and J. Sexton (s) were the runners-up in the champion of champions pairs. The club's champion rink did not get very far in the rinks contest.

The club was drawn in Section "B" in the Pennant competition. Working on a new system or scoring wins, tho rivalry in this section had been very keen, and, as a result, the end of section play found Hataitai, Island Bay, Victoria and Newtown equal. Ultimately the club won the section and had to meet Wellington, the winners of the * r A" section, in the final. A club rink held the Edwin Feathers for a number of Saturdays, and another rink defended the Hill Pins for a very lengthy period, only losing the trophies at the end of the season. The junior rinks did fairly well in the Pennants and Stars games, but were not successful in <Joming out on top. The usual number of club competitions were played off during the season, but it was regretted that more members did not take part. The winners were as follow: —Rinks, W. Read, A. Priddle, J. Russell, W. Wylie (s); pairs, F. Hunt, J. Sexton (s); singles, J. M. Brackenridge; Underwood Memorial Cup, F. Levestam; Mrs Brackenrldge's trophy, J, U. Brackenridge; colts and juniors singles, E. Carman; New Year progressive pairs, F. Hunt (lead), S. Phillips (skip); Anniversary Day progressive pairs, C. Davis (lead), J. Laughton (skip). During the evening trophy certificates were presented. It was stated, amidst that Mr J. M. Brackenridge, in addition to winning the champion of champions prise, had also won the .Telford Memorial Cup. The green itself was not in the best of condition, but continued efforts were being made to improve it for the coming season. The green supports had been renewed, and a large amount of good work done in various directions. The chairman stated that the late Mr S. H. Underwood, one time secretary of the club, had prepared a report for the meeting, but since his death this unfortunately had been mislaid. The club was in a slightly better financial position this year than la6t. The annual report ana balance-sheet, the latter revealing a credit balance of £lO7l 19s 9d, were adopted unanimously. OFFICERS ELECTED. The following officers were elected President, Mr C. W. Barker: directors, Messrs J. Brackenridge 6en., A. J. Cobb, C. W. Davis, Elmsley, F. Hunt, and S. L. Roberts; hon. treasurer, Mr 8. C. Middlebrook: hon. secretary, Mr A. de Tourettes; delegate to Bowling Centre, Mr H. Hanson; match committee, Messrs J. Scott and H. Sexton; hon. auditors, Messrs W. J. Robbins and J. Sexton. VICTORIA CLUB ANNUAL MEETING. The twenty-fifth annual meeting of the Victoria Bowling Club was held last night, Mr C. J. B. Norwood presiding. Th© other members present were: —Messre W. Betty, E. Bolton, W. ±£. Chittey, H. B. Collett, A. G. Dixon, R. Dixon, J. F. Firth, J, Forrester, H. L. Fraser, E. Gallichan, G. E. Godber, E. C. Griffin, R. P. Hatch, R. S. Haughton, K. 8. Henry, R. E. Herron, S. C. Hunt, D. C. [lines, T. Jamieson, R. Johnston, J. S. Keith, F. A. Laws, 8. J* Luke, W. T. Mack, A. H. Mackay, J. 8. Maclaurin, J. McGill, N. McLean, W. H. Madeiey, A. W. Manning, F. P. Mameon, J. B. Martin, J. W. Martin, L. W. Orr, C. Pole, R. E. Kawnsley, H. J. Reid, W. Reid, R. F. Robinson, R. Scott, S. SigaU, VV. A. G. Skinner. F. B. amedley, J. A. StewaTt, W. R. Thompson, J. M. Thornley, R, Tingey, F. Townsend, W. C. Tucker, and J. Varcoe. . , _ After the reading of the minutes of the last meeting, the report and balancesheet, dealing with the last year’s operations, were moved and adopted, the president commenting with pleasure upon the fact that the past twelve months had been marked' by the greatest possible harmony and good feeling. ELECTION OF OFFICERS. The following officers were elected for the ensuing year: —President. Mr IV. T. Mack | honorary secretary, Mr A. W. Manning; honorary treasurer, Mr J. 8. Maclaurin; directors, Messrs A. G. Dixon, H. I. Fraser, D. C. Innes, C. J. B. Norwood, W. Reid, and F. Towheend; delegate to the Wellington Bowling Centre, Mr J. S. Keith. CHAMPION OF CHAMPIONS. Mr F. A. Laws moved th© following resolution, which was unanimously adopted :—“That, in regard to the champion of champions contest, it be recommended to the incoming directors that the delegate to the Wellington Bowling Centre be instructed to move that the present system of finding club representatives be abolished, and that clubs be allowed to find their representatives as they think fit." NEUTRAL GROUNDS. A motion was then made by Mr E. Gallichan, to the effect that in future the final games in cluampionehip matches should be played on neutral grounds, so as to obviate the (possibility of unfairness or uneven chances for all competitors. Ho threw out this suggestion for the benefit of the new delegate to the centre. To this the president replied that, while he thought it a good idea, there might be considerable difficulty where there was a large number of competing teams. He thought the matter should be given consideration at the next meeting of the centra*