BOWLING NOTES

New Zealand Times, Volume L, Issue 11649, 13 October 1923, Page 10

BOWLING NOTES

The weather conditions last week-end were most disappointing for the bowlers who had been looking forward to "’earing their new “whites” and enjoying the pleasures of thv game on a fine afternoon. The position was not s»o disappointing, however, to those who were responsible for the preparation and maintenance of the greens. The extra week of rest which the grounds have secured by the postponement of the open'ings will do a considerable amount of good. Some clubs, it is true, carried out their opening ceremonies in spite of Iho wind and the ram; but it is hardly likely that much play will have taken place on their greens during the past week. Naturally, at this time of the year the greens present a very favourable sight to the eye, as the growth of grass is prolific s but this is not the .proper period ,gt which to test the quality of the greens. The condition that a green presents in January is the thing that really counts. TOO HEAVY HOLLERS. Those who have taken an interest in the preparation of bowling greens have for some, time been impressed with tho .fact that a amount of injury is done at time of year by extreme .and heavy rolling. The Wellington Club has at Iqpt recognised this, reduced the weight of the rollers used on greens. r It is surprising to find that weights of those which have been •used by this club for a number of yetfts >»€t have been more than half a ton each. One can imagine the effect of Using so heavy a roller at this time of rear, when the ground is soft, especially rhen the soil is of a clayey character. ?he result was seen when the Wellington Club began to dig up its middle .green. Tho soil resembled a concrete block more than tho sort of surface re* S aired to grow grass. The weight of tie club's rollers, it is stated, is tdill about Bewt apiece. If so, it is very questionable whether a sufficient reduction in weight Has been made to servo any good purpose. REST OF CLUBS OPEN TO-DAY. If the weather conditions are favourable, practically the whole of the remainder of the greens will be available for play at this week-end. Official openings will take place at Victoria, Seatoun, Kelburn, Newtown, and Thorndon. BOWL TESTING. Bowlers are extremely fond of a discussion, and they invariably have two questions which provide them with a night out at least at the beginning of svery season. ''The foot on the mat" is of these questions, but this problem saw appears to be reaching the final stages of settlement. Not so, however, :he question of bowl testing. The cistuasion on this matter looks if it will, Tennyson's brook, “go on for ever." Hie latest development seems to indicate that the standard bowls used for jesting purposes vary in each centre. Evidence to this effect was presented at he last meeting of the Wellington Cent© by Mr C. ,W. Martin, the centre's representative in bowl testing matters; md the oentre* decided to send tho evidence forward to the Dominion Council or investigation. Mr Martin made what Appears to be a very good recommendation, when he suggested that the standard bowls should v be assembled at least once a year in order that they can be compared with one another, and no enable uniformity to be maintained throughout the Dominion. ‘‘STRAIGHT BOWLS" AND “POKERS.This problem is not one peculiar > to New , Zealand alone, as the English Bowling Association has begun to take active Steps to eradicate what are known as “straight bowls," or “pokers." Bowlers who have been attending New Zealand tournaments for a number of years past have noticed that as far as this country is concerned there has been a general improvement in the bias of the bowls adopted by the majority of the competitors. Opinion generally amongst bowlers i$ in favour of a good drawing bowl; and any attempts made by the Dominion . Council to secure a good standard will be largely supported by the prominent players throughout the Dominiod. "SUDDEN DEATH" OR “TWO LIVES." The question of the method of postmettaaai play, as between “sudden jeath" and the “two lives” principle, is still a matter of controversy amongst bowlers; and it was discussed at some length at the meeting of the Wellington Centre this week. The merit of “sudden death” play is that it reaches finality quickly. But sometimes, in doing so, it produces disastrous results for those who have been successful in the sectional play. Instances are related where a team won all its names in sectional play, but has suffered one defeat in postsectional play, and has been thereby forced out of the running. Those who advocate the “two-life” method do so because under it such a state of affairs could not arise. The time occupied in reaching finality must necessarily be longer; but thsy claim that this should not be a matter of great consequence, aa no few teams are engaged in the postsectional play. The tournament might .be extended for an additional day; but, then, there would he not more than from fonr to six teams participating. The remainder of the competitors, it is argued, would long since have retired to the bank, and would be able to go about their usual occupations, and could not, therefore, legitimately complain of the prolongation of the tournament. The Wellington .Centro again decided to continue its system of sudden death, with byes to those who had won the greater number of games in the sectional play, till others of the competitors had won the some number of games. VETERANS' GALA. Thero is evidently a keen desire in tbo hearts of the members of the Wellington Centre to make a great success of the President's Gala to elderly bowlers. Zt is hoped that there will be a good turn-out of bowlers and of the general public on the day, and that it will he possible to secure also the presence of His Excellency the Governor-General. A similar gathering held annually in Dunedin has been most successful, and there is no doubt that the Wellington people will be guided to some extent by the experience of the Southern Centre in this matter. The placing of the old men together in rinks presents obvious difficulties; but a few examples of how the® thing has been managed in Dunedin will

show how they can be overcome. One rink, for instance, comprised H. Webb ifit. Hilda), W. Mills (Kaitunah A. Kilgour (Waikouaiti.), and C. linnimore (Otago), skip, of an aggregate age of 804 years. These four bowlers, belonging to different clubs, were placed together simply because they were boys together at the same school. They played as a team representing the Otago Boys xlvgU School*. Another team—J. Dewar (Alexandra, aged 87), J. Turnbull (Taien, 89), John White (Dunedin, 84), and it. M Marks (Dunedin, 85), skip—aggregate age 345, was known as “The Veterans. The members of this team were placed together on account of their ages to avoid their meeting a strong combination, another veteran team being naturally drawn to play against them. Cardow (Mornington), bmith (Dunedin), Andrew (Lawrence), McHutclunson (Kaituna), skip, played, ae a team of retired public servants, and their ages aggregated 310; while Brown (Milton), Jones (.Palmerston), Patrick (Clinton), and Edwards (Invercargill), skip, played as a team representing the natives oi Otago (aggregate age, 315). Jbe illustrations show how the various combinations were made up. Of course, thero would be no difficulty in tho formation of rinks if each of the clubs wore able to provide & sufficient number of members ogsd 70 and over to represent it; for then they would naturally play os thj representatives of their respective clubs. SUGGESTED EXCHANGE OF VISITS BY VETERANS. A suggestion hae been made that the Wellington Centre might send down a team of veterans to Dunedin to take part in the southern gala; and, on the other hand, an effort may be made to send a similar team up. from Dunedin to take part in the Wellington day, if dates do not clash. Both centres have fixed upon the* second week in February for their galas; but in Dunedin they play on tho Saturday and in Wellington on the Wednesday. These dates would just enable the proposed interchange Of visits to take place. The Phoenix Club (Oamaru) has sent two rinks to participate in the Dunedin gala for the past five or mx years. RETURN OF A VETERAN. MR G. E. PRINCE, NEWTOWN. Wellington bowlers were pleased to welcome back Mr Georg© E. Prince, the veteran Newtown player, who has been spending the winter in Sydney, but did not enjoy tho best of health there.. It may bo that in bowling there is a greater element of luck than in other outdoor games; but still it is astonishing to note what a consistently good player can accomplish. Mr Prince has been a bowler for 17 years past, and has won just 17 trophies in that period. Of these six represent wins of the highest class—champion rink matches. For three years running, Mr Prince won the** New Zealand Association's rink championship—namely, in 1904, 1905 and 1906. In 1906 ho also won the Northern Association's championship, and carried off the southern championship for the third time. In 1909 he won the Wellington Centre tournament, and in 1912 he won a consolation prize. CONDITIONS OF DOMINION . TOURNEY. Tho conditions of play for the Do minion tournament have been decided os follows by the Dominion Bowling Association : Singles.—To be played on the full two. life system; play to commence January 9th. Pairs.—Resolved that each player be guaranteed at least five games. Section ties to Y>e played off. Seotion winners }to play eff on “sudden death" principle. Play to commence on January 11th. Rinks.—Two games of 25 heads each to be played jer day for four days. After conclusion of section play, the full twolife aystem shall be applied to all teams (left in. Pbst-section play shall consist of three games of 21 heads per day. Play to commence on January 14th. Prizes. —It was decided that the prises should be the same as in former years—"namely, jBS to each winner of a competition, together with a certificate to each and one foe the club represented; and £2 2s to each runner-up.' Greens —ln view of the large number of greens that it is considered will be necessary for tbe carrying on of the tournament, it was decided to appoint a KTeen inspection committee, consisting of Messrs H. Button. and J. N. Du Fea; a icfport to be furnished by this committee at the meeting of the tournament committee. Disputes.—The Executive Council was appointed a disputes committee. PERSONAL AND CLUB NOTES. Mr J. Dillon is the new president of the Lyall Bay Club, in succession to Mr A. W. Moran, whose photograph now adorns the walls as a past president. Among the skips this season should be Messrs Reid, Dillon, Brijjhtling and Hazelwood. Mr Sherwood is at present in the country fulfilling -a building contract, and is not likely to be much on the green until the New Year. He will be a useful man when tlie centre tournac meets come along, for at one time he and his partner looked like winning the pairs competition, but struck trouble in the semi-final against Seatoun. The green is being opened to-day, but the* croquet opened on Monday, when a novice won the tournament against all comers. The lady was Mrs Sleightholmb, who was heartily congratulated upon her success.

Incidentally the bowling green, which a month age did not look too well, has, under tlie benign influence of gentle rain and warm sunshine, recuperated to such an extent that the members are very pleased at the prospects. Mrs Potter, wife of the president of the Wellington Bowling Club, Mr S. Potter, will have the honour of being the first lady to make use of the fine silver kitty donated by last year's president (Mr H. G. Smith) prior to his leaving for England. The green is to be opened on the 20th, at which the president will officiate.

Among the likely skips will be Messrs Porteous. E. J. Hill, Glendining, and tlie president, and some of these are already busy getting their rinks ready for the Dominion championships at Christchurch, in January. Messrs E. »J. Hill and Harry Mayer will pair off again for the champion of champion pairs in the centre competition, but they will need to take the mascot which walked over their rink when playing Hataitai last year, for, some solid players are out for their scalps this time. Who has the mascot by the way? The Wellington Club will be sending fiiNc or six rinks to the Dominion championships, but the club has a big membership to draw upon. There are more unlikely things than that Mr Tom Ballinger will skip a veteran rink in this event. If so, more power to his elbow. He has been a familiar figure at the championships for many years, and his old friends will give him a hearty welcome.

Mr E. J. Hill has had a good measure of success in his career as a bowler, for he has won the championship singles and pairs for Wellington, and has twice won the rinks, once for Te Hiwi, and once for Wellington. He has won the Wellington Club pairs six or seven times, twice in succession with Mr George Dixon as his partner. Mr F. J. White, secretary to Tworndon fTub, brought honour to his club last vpiir by winning the champion of champion singles, but one or two of his club nates are also going to have a shot at the event, which means that Mr White has got to battle for his club supremacy. And he's capable of it. Mr J. Kershaw, the new secretary of Hataitai, although a busy man, finds tho work very congenial, because the members are such a good lot of. fellows, and as a health officer he is working in a good c^use. Hataitai is introducing a new system, that ia,. new to Wellington, of running the club rinks. Instead of forming rinks at the beginning of the year they will play under the system known in Auckland as the percentage fours. Seatoun Club’s new pavilion will not be ready until towards the end of November, but it will accommodate the bowls, tennis and croquet sections comfortably. It was designed by Mr W. Fielding, and vdl the

second largest bowling pavilion in the centre.

Seatoun will be the poorer by the departure of Mr W. Smith, who has been transferred from Seatoun to take charge of a school at Waihi. He was last year's i selector, and the club will miss him. LYALL BAY CLUB. The official opening of the Lyall Bay Bowling Club will take place today. Tbe greens are reported to be in excellent order for play. The wet weather has prevented preparation work forth© opening, but should Saturday be fine, games will probably be played. NEWTOWN CLUB. Owing to the wet weather and the green being in a state unsuitable for play, the committee of the Newtown Bowling Club has decided to postpone the opening day until October 20th. THORNDON CLUB, 1 The official opening of the Thorndon green will take place this afternoon, when there is sure to be a large and representative gathering. Ladies and visitors are cordially invited. SEATOUN. The opening of Seatoun bowling green has now been definitely fixed for Saturday, October 20th. . OTAKI CLUB. ■ (Special to “N.Z. Times. A general meeting of members of the Otaki Bowling Club was held on 'Wednes day night, Mr Geo. Bramley (president) presiding. Correspondence was road from the Kelburn, Johnsonville, Petone, and Newtown Clubs inviting members *>f the club to bo present on opening to members to arrange. The question , of further ground for croquet was discussed, it being stated that the pyice for the additional ground Teqiirod was JBI6O/ As there was less than a quarter of an acre the price was considered high, and it was agreed that the matter he held In abeyance for a short time. The following new members were elected Messrs Twist. Baxter, Lee, firkell, Barlow, and Hoskin,