BOWLING.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19256, 21 August 1924, Page 5

BOWLING.

Bt Jack. The Dunedin Club’s now green is looking in fine condition at present, and promises to bo in excellent playing order this season. The old green, whion suffered severely at the end of last season through the prolonged spell of dry weather, has made a hue recovery, and judging by present appearances the gruelling effects of the drought will be quite obliterated by the opening of the new season. The Caledonian green, which suffered similarly to that of the Dunedin Club, has also recovered wonderfully, and at the present time there is not a bare patch to be seen—strong evidence of the remarkably mild weather experienced during the off season. I have not yet made a tour of the various city greens, but I understand that almost without exception they promise well for the approaching season. Anderson’s Bay green in particular presents a very pleasing appearance, and there are some who claim that it. will not be long before it is one of the finest playing areas in the Dunedin Centre. The funeral of the late Mr Duncan Trainor (president of the Caledonian Club), which took place on Saturday, was largely attended by members of the Caledonian Club and sister clubs and representatives of the Dunedin Centro.

The Balmacowcn bowlers appeared in a new role on tkuturday last, when they donned jerseys and shorts and challenged the officials of the Maori Hill Association Football Club to a game of “Soccer.” The argument was settled on the Clear, and victory, of course, rested with the bowlers. The battle waged fast and furious, and it was frequently a case of bellows to mend, but the “Baflymacs” finally did the trick by five goals to four. Perhaps the most prominent player for the bowlers—that is, from a playing point of view—was “Watty” Wright, who proved himself a veritable Will-o’-the-wisp. He was hero, there, and everywhere, and how he kept up the pace goodness only knows. He seemed to have an inexhaustible store of energy, and ho was certainly the big factor in his side’s victory. The recently formed Leith Valley Bowling Club is taking the necessary steps to affiliate with the Dunedin Centre. Operations on the new green at Woodhaugh have boon delayed to some extent bv the recent rains, but still the work is now well advanced. One strip has actually been brought to the exact level and finished on with the necessary top-dressing, and for the rest only an inch or two of levelling up and levelling down is required. In the meantime, until the soil is suuiciently dry to enable the work to be completed, the gang engaged there is making good progress with the preparation of the adjacent croquet lawn. The Dunedin Centre has decided to hold a pairs tournament at Christmas and a rink tournament at Easter. On the second day of the latter tournament a consolation knock-out competition will be held. The Dunedin Centro has decided to hold the champion rink competition on Elderly Bowlers’ Day. It has been left to the various clubs to decide on their method of selecting their rinks. On Monday evening a party consisting of 30 members of the Dunedin Bowling Club visited the R.S.A. Club and engaged in friendly games of billiards, snooker, and Chinaman with the ex-soldiers. At the supper adjournment Mr J. M’Crae (president of the R.S.A.) welcomed the visitors, Dr Henry returning thanks on behalf of the bowlers.

To keep wholly open the nerve path permanently is very tedious work, even to the veteran skilful bowler naturally of a specially eoncentrative tendency; to the average player it becomes an almost impossible proposition. The latter looks to his game of bowls more in the way of relaxation, and the thought of keeping his mind bent strictly on every shot put down during even one afternoon is almost terrifying; and he accordingly does not seriously attempt the task. Let us see what a successful singles player actually docs. He carries on a ceaseless special intelligent activity, and the result is a miracle of adaptability, functioning with absolute exactitude. Of course, luck, the state of the green, the weather, and other conditions play their part for and against; but the highly trained skilled player usually finds a way out, the right way, even over a rocky and dangerous path to the kitty, because ho has presence of mind and courage in distress.

The co-ordination of eye and brain and hand necessary to continued _ success in bowls spells not merely physical power, but physical power highly disciplined It embraces reeeptiveness and a controlled faculty that are remarkable. To reach that advanced stage every phase of the game must have been carefully thought out and long practised. The player, when in difficulty, must be able to recall instantaneously pictorial images of similar positions and how defeat was avoided in such circumstances. Ho must he closely observant, with a true eye for detail. Bowls, after all, means mechanics—that is. it means to do something in exactly the same way every time, according to the demands of the moment. But (ho average singles player is apt to get nervous, angry, or irritable, or emotional under the continued strain. Ho loses that precision of touch, that soreness of draw, that certainty of the proper green to be taken, and disaster comes upon him. He lacks the strategical mind; he knows not how to build up the head to coyer his opponent’s bowls. His bowl in his hand becomes a clumsy, unworkable, round piece of timber or composition instead of being a finely-turned, dolicately-poised, and skil-fully-aimed instrument responsive to his every disciplined impulse. William Hazlctt, that great English essayist, in ‘The Indian Jugglers” graphically depicts what takes places in the performance of a feat of muscular dexterity Ho says; “The muscles ply instinctively to the dictates of habit. Certain movements and impressions of the hand and eve having been repeated together an infinite number of times are unconsciously but unavoidably connected into closer and closer union; the limbs require little more than to be put in motion for them to follow a regular task with ease and certainty, s o that the more intention of the will acts mathematically, like touching the spring of a machine.”