THE OAMARU BOWLING TOURNAMENT.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XLIV, Issue 14038, 22 April 1920, Page 2

THE OAMARU BOWLING TOURNAMENT.

ITS GENESIS AM) Its DEVELOPMENT.

(By titi Did Fagfey;)

—No . 3. Ih iiiy last article I brought my running review of the earlier years of the Easter bowling tournament up to. the end of the ctfntury. The same old programme was adhered to in connection with the tournament of 1901. In the final for the pairs match, which started with an entry of forty-two, an Ashburton pair—Davidson and Howell —unexpectedly defeated T. Morris and W. M'Laren, of Dunedin, but the records available do not give the figures. The Ashburton bowlers, whose first appearance it was at an Oamaru tournament, proved' that this victory was no fluke, for players from there fought out the final in the rinks match- The figures in this are not giygiij aiid I read that Smith, Melrose, Campbell, and Mackie s (faieri) beat Hardie, Snodgrass, Craighead, and Coleman s (Ashburtott). The players from the Plains were clearly in great form. The entry for the tournament at Easter of the next year showed a slight falling off. Thirty-seven pairs took part in the Association Match. In the final A. J. Barth and M. Sinclair

(Dunedin) scdred 16 and won by a point from A. Bourne* and T. G. Rowley (Timaru). For the third prize Manning and Gillies (Dunedin) 21 beat H. Howe and J. Martin (Oamaru) 16. Mark Sinclair had another success in the rinks match, the final reading—Brawn, Fraser, Barth, and Sinclair s (Dunedin) 15 beat \V. V. Dawson, T. Watson, R. W. Monson, and H Meek s (Phoenix) 10. . Easter of 1903 savi' the OainarU tournament established oil a basis as a thoroughly popular gathering after ten years of varying fortunes and some disappointments. The troubles that beset infancy had all been surmounted, and the tournament entered upon a. vigorous career. The old programme was still adhered to. There was the doubles match still in pride of place, the rinks match on the ■ customary basis, and a consolation match for beaten rinks. The last-named event, however, never seemed to meet with much favor, but why does not appear clear. For the pairs competition there was an entry list of sixty-five, and a preliminary game was necessary to reduce the t-otal by one. The semi-final was fought out by two pairs from Dunedin Club and two from the Phoenix Cluli, the results being—T. Meek and Sinclair (Phoenix) 18 beat J. Gilmour and A. Gillies (Dunedin) 16; Barnes and J; .Thomson (Dunedin) 17 beat D&wsOii aml_Barlpw (Phoenix) 11. In the final tile Dunedin pair had a fairly eaKy Wili over the local men, scoring 21 to 14. For the third prize Gilmour and Gillies beat Dawson nnd Barlow. Thirty-two sets competed in the rinks match, and the Dunedin Club scored another win. T. Morris, J. Barnes, J. Thomson, and .T. Hunter s having beaten Lindsay, .T. P. Smith, C. Paterson, and G. B. JJiilll s, of Kllituntl, by 29 to 20. "The success scored in the • pluvious tournament and confidence as to the future having been established, the two local Clubs," as the promoters and conductors of the tournament, courageously ventured upon a more ambitions programme for the Easter gathering of 1904. The rinks games were raised to their rightful place as the first ill importance. Thus I find that the chief event was a Citizens' Prize competition, with the Meadowbank Prize Match as a first offspring for those defeated in the first round, with the Phoenix Prize Match for those beaten in the second round of the Citizens' Match and the first round of the Meadowbank Match. This arrangement reduced the number of "bankers" and increased the number of "depositors" by providing more play for all entrants, three games at least being assured to every rink. It also a new life and a further opportunity to good rinks that-had the misfortune to be defeated in the first game. As will be seen a little later, it was a popular move, and raised the Oamaru tournament to the position of one of the mostpopular bowling gatherings of the Dominion. Thirty-one rinks entered, and in the main event the final was fought out by two rinks from the Dunedin Club, with the result that A. .J. Barth, J. Johnson. A. Gillies, and M. Sinclair s 22 beat T. Morris, J. Barnes, F. Peake, and .7. Hunter 21. The Meadowbank Prize was won by Wright, F. Akhurst, C. Akhurst, and C. J. Goldstone » (Waimate) 27, beating J. P. Smith, W. Melville, H. Smeaton, and C. J. Paterson s (Kaituna) 24. For the Phoenix Prize Sutcliffe, Davies, F. Smith, and C. J. Payne s (Kaituna) 24 beat D. Patterson, A. Mackay, H. Howe, and J. Martin s (Oamaru) 16. There were thirty-six pairs engaged in the doubles contest, which was designated the Association Match, with an offspring called the Last Try for pairs beaten in the first round. The final result of the chief pairs match was —\V. Reid and Stokes (Kaituna) 29 beat L. Pope and J. H. Hancock (St. Clair) 15. The Last Try was won by Waimate, Wright and C. J. Goldstone with 26 beating J. Barnes and F. Peake (Dunedin) 20. The same programme was adopted for the tournament at Easter of 1905, when thirty-two rinks entered. In the final of th"e Citizens' Match J. Stone. S. R. Martin. J. Connell, and C. J. Paterson (Kaituna) 30 beat A. Begg, F. Black, G. Mollison, and J. Bent-ley s (Dunedin) 22; and in playing off for the third prize G. Crow, J. F. Marshall, W. Austin, and M. Sinclair ~s (Dunedin) 23 beat J. Barnes, W. Hogg, W. A. Scott, and J. Thomson s (Dunedin). The Meadowbank first prize was carried off by the Crown Mills quartette of the Phoenix Club, consisting of D. Dorward, J. Thorpe, H. Meek, and R. Hewat s witft a score of 26 against--15 made by J. Aitken, J. Rennie, A. Hillier. and J. Gray s (Port Chalmers). The final for the Phoenix Prize resulted —G. Gabites, R-. Orwin, P. Kebbie, and W. McHutchison s (Timaru) 20 beat D. Patcrson, Dr Don, T. Kennedy, and J. Martin s (Oamaru) IS. Sixty-three pairs started in the Association Match, which was won by S. R. Martin :uid C. .T. Paterson (Kaituna) with a score of 23 against 16 obtained by J. A. McKinnon and W. Christie (Taieri). The result of the final in the Last Try was a. win for G. Crowe and M. Sinclair (Dunedin) 20 against 16 scored by J. Heron and W. Worslev (Phoenix). In the interval jjetween Easter of 1905 and Easter of 1906 the enterprising Phoenix Club formed a new green alongside its original green. Not only had its own roll of members grown

greatly, but there was an expectation that the advance made 114 the programme in 1904, with its novelty, would induce an inllux of an increased number of bowlers for the tournament of 1906. The tree was duo to bear fruit, and bear it did, the crop far exceeding expectations. An entry of forty-eight rinks had been looked for, but the number actually received was sixty-four. Even with new Phoenix green available it was impossible to handle so large a battalion in Oamaru with any prospect of reaching a conclusion within the holiday t'ime of a great many of the players. It was therefore resolved to send sixteen rinks to \vaimate. Even with this aid the fourth day was broken into very considerably. It should be recalled that in order that none should be taken by surprise in being ordered 011 to Waimatc the draw took place early, and every rink to go go North was notified of the fact and given an opportunity to - withdraw if dissatisfied. But the players were not to be baulked of their pleasure, and readily accepted the arrangement, not a single withdrawal being made. Those who went to Waimate enjoyed the early morning and evening journeys, and found the Waimate green in good order. The play after two days was centred on the Phoenix greens,* where all met for the conclusion or all the events. The Citizens' Match was won by a Taieri rink-consisting of .1. Tait. J. Dryden, W. Dryden, and W C?rswell s, who scored 19 against- 18 obtained bv a Dunedui rink consisting of E. Harrawav, E. Manchester, J: Gifniour, and A. Gillies s: In the playoff for the third prize Maekie's TaieVi rink beat J. Thomson'S'jDunedin rinir by 28 to 21. s , The Meadowbank Match resulted— J. Scoular, Matthews, F. Laurenson, and G. Wedderspoon s fßoslyn) 21 beat Miller, Faulkner, Perry* and Rennie s (Invercarejll) 16. Two Kaituna rinks played the final game m the Phoenix- Match, in which D. Melville, Jv Melville, J*. Sanders, and,T. Sander!? 8 srorecL'26 Ooan^-,i

The Reports dre imperfect.'in connection with the pairs contest-,• inasmuch as: ■they only give names< of tfae skip's.- _ ,1 must therefore content myself with saying that in the final of the Association Pairs, for which there: were tiver 120 Bnbries. Ws Waddell (Phoenix) i with 31 easily defeated Mackie (Taieri) 13. The last Trv was wdii by M'Dttugall (Christchurcli) scoring 17 to the 13 of G. P. Mollison (St. Kilda). I have now fulfilled the task I set myself at the outset —to t-rslce in a running fashion the course of the Oamaru bowling tournament from its inception up to the time when the efforts of the promoters were crowned with complete success. , A few sentences more only remain to be written. The enlarged programme that I have sketched was continued in vogue until three years ago/ when a change was made to the system of sections in each of two events; This \brpught- the tournament into line with those of the larger cfeiitres. It abolishes the "suddert death" system and givfes t6 every ririk or pair the chance of securing the championship even after defeat through ill-luck in the first game, ensures plenty of play for all, and enhances the interest and preserves it to the end. A suggestion has lately been mooted in connection with the tournament that a Citizens' Challenge Cup, to' be held for the year . by the champion rink, should be instituted. Such' a trophy would unouestionably add zest to the contest, and it is worthy-of consideration. The only objection that can be urged is that clubs might be led to forhi special rinks in order to capture the trophy, but there is little to fear in that direction, for it is in conflict with the snirit of goodfellowship" and sport that animates devotees bf the alicient and honoredgame: ■' .