BOWLING.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19250, 14 August 1924, Page 5

BOWLING.

By Jacx. The greens in tho Dunedin Centre are in a remarkably forward condition for so early in the season. This, of course, is due to a particularly mild winter in which growth to a certain extent has been almost continuous. One of tho most improved greens last season was that at Mornington, and, judging by present appearances, tho player who is' dissatisfied with the state of the green in the coming season will, indeed, bo hard to please. A good green makes good players, and I confidently expect Mornington to figure prominently in the interolub games. General regret will be felt among bowlers at the news of the death of Mr Duncan Trainor, which occurred on Monday. Mr Traiuor appeared to be in his usual state of health on Saturday, and went to the League football match. While watching tho game he was suddenly taken ill with a seizure and was removed to hospital, but he never regained consciousness. Mr Trainor had been a member of the Caledonian Club for many years, and at the annual meeting last month was elected president. The final contest for possession of the Henaghan Banner was played on Monday night between the representatives of the Roslyn and Kaikorai Clubs—eight men a-side, and some fine games were witnessed. The keenest contest was that between A. Lindsay (Kaikorai) and C. Anderson (Roslyn), victory resting with the former by 8 points— 141 to 133. F. Anderson was much below his true form, and failed to get properly going, with the result that B. Stewart had an easy win of 158 to 58. The following are the detailed scores, Roslyn names being mentioned first:—-P. Anderson 58, B. Stewart 158; W. Best 88. H. Morrison 89; J. S. Ross 116, G. Armstrong 90; C. Heycock 85, C. Campbell 102; C. Anderson 133, A. Lindsay 141; G. Wedderspoon 82, W. Lindsay 57; H. Mayall 74, H. Rankin 92, W. M'Kay 79, C. Keilar 89. Totals: Roslyn, 715; Kaikorai, 818.

The following is the draw for the champion of champions contest; first round to be played on or before August 26:—NorthEast Valley plays G. Adess (St. Kllda), at Roslyn; C. Anderson (Roslyn) plays, L. Coombs (St. Clair), at Kaikorai; W. Henaghan (Cale.) and E. Stewart (Kaikorai) a bye. The games will be 300 up and the final game 500 up, to be played strictly under the British Association Rules. To start a bowling club naturally is a costly matter. In order to augment tho funds of the recently formed Leith Bowling and Croquet Club a concert was given in the George Street School Hall on Tuesday night. Judging by the large attendance the funds of that club should be materially augmented, and on the other hand the audience was given good measure for its money in the quality of the entertainment provided. The programme was as follows:—Orchestral selections, Dunedin Orphans’ Club Orchestra; songs— Messrs T. W. Dobbie, T. Bachop, H. T. Tonkin, ■ and E. Webber; recitations — Messrs J. B. M‘Conneli, J. B. Flynn, S. H. Osborn, and C. H. Russell; humorous items—Messrs Wilson Brown, A. N. Watson," J. A. Haggitt; trombone solo, Mr D. Boyd; tenor horn solo, Mr D. Whelan; legerdemain, Mr D. Edwin Booth. Mr Robert Taylor, who was one of the victims of the Ripple tragedy, was at.one time a resident of Dunedin, and was on enthusiastic bowler. He was a member of the St. Kilda Club, and as a skip was a worthy opponent for tho most 1 ' skilful exponent of the game. His genial disposition made him a favourite with all local bowlers. Mr Taylor was subsequently a member of a Wellington club.

LADIES AND BOWLS. The engrossing game of bowls has been generally recognised as a pastime favoured only by men. At least, that has been the case in Oarnaru, and apart from sending down the first bowl on the opening day a lady is never seen gracing the local greens. However it was stated at the Phoenix Bowling Club’s annual meeting on Saturday night that in other centres quite a number of the fair sex were ardent devotees, and according to one member were no mean exponents of the game. Of coarse, no howling green would be complete without (he welcome presence of the ladies, whose efforts in connection with the dispensing of afternoon tea, and giving detailed attention to the social activities of the club never fail to arouse a spirit of admiration and appreciation in all true bowlers; but when a proposal that the ladies be allowed to btworne active participants m the club games comes before a meeting of bowlers —well, a different aspect is assumed. Such a proposal, however, came before the Phoenix Club’s meeting, and while a few bowlers championed the cause, the majority of those present remained in abject and stolid silence. It is well known that a good bowling green is regarded as somewhat of a fetish with the more enthusiastic members, and in fact all good members. The splendid Phoenix greens are regarded in a similar light, and one member’s statement that the greens were out up quite enough led one to suppose (hat he was painting mental pictures of what would happen should some ardent lady bowler, her feet shod with shoes mounted on the fashionable “Louis” heels, forget the golden rule regarding standing on the “mat,” and in a moment of excitement, during the progress of a game, execute a few steps on the turf, to the material detriment of its bowling surfa.ee. Such a proposal in his opinion should not for a moment bo entertained. The proposal emanated from Mr J. Robertson, who, after the meeting had decided to support the project to acquire a ladies’ croquet green near the club s grounds, asked if in the event of the project not materialising, woulo th© club consider ailowing ladies to become active members. Ho thought that the matter should be considered. The ladies oould be allowed to use the sow green. Ladies wore allowed to play in other centres by various clubs, and there were members of the Phoenix Club who, although they stated they were against the proposal, would be only too pleased to play with the ladies. _ He cited the case of an angry bowler in another o’rub who had fought against such an idea being the first to lend a lady member his howls. Should the ladies not succeed m acquiring a croquet green, he thought they should be allowed to become members of tne Phcenix Club. At present the ladies had only two days a week on which to play croquet in the Gardens. A Member: Quite enough, too! (Laughter.) , . , ~ Mr Alex. Murdoch seconded the motion. Ho was sure that the ladies would make most enthusiastic bowlers. The President said that should such a proposal eventuate (ho club would need to enlarge the pavilion, which was quite a matter to consider. Mr Grant: This lady-bowling business has been brought up before. It is not a suitable thing. After a lengthv discussion as to the bowls the ladies would use, etc., the president called for a show of hands, and cut of the total of about 30 members, only eight signified their willingness to allow ladies to become active members of the Phoenix Bowling Club.