ELDERLY BOWLERS' DAY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21569, 15 February 1932, Page 4

ELDERLY BOWLERS' DAY

OLD FRIENDS FOREGATHER A HAPPY FUNCTION Gaily-coloured bunting and scenes of animation in bright sunshine made of Elderly Bowlers' Day held on the Dunedin green on Saturday afternoon a happy contrast with last year’s function, when the weather conditions made play impossible. This is the one day in the year for which, legend has it, certain veteran players live, and on Saturday it really did seem that the weight of years rested lightly on the shoulders of even the oldest veterans present once they were able to renew acquaintance with others of their generation, to recall the feats of past years, and to grip once again their bowls as, with discriminating and experienced eye, they made overtures to kitty. It is to Mr H. F. M. Mercer that credit is due to the inauguration of Elderly Bowlers’ Day 18 years ago, and now ail the other big centres in New Zealand and Australia have followed Dunedin’s example. Indeed, the day is now regarded as one of the most important bowling functions of the year, and, no doubt, those who play on this occasion will say that it is second to none in importance. Eighty players took part in Saturday a matches, the oldest being Mr T. Moodie, of Dunedin Club, whose age is 95 years. The average age of the players was 76.60 years, and the total age of the oldest rink, skipped by Mr John Ogg, was 347 years, the average age of this rink being 80.70 years. , „ , , After the players and others had spent some time in fraternising they were extended a welcome by Mr W. Anderson, president of the Dunedin Bowling Club. Mr Anderson said that he considered it a very great privilege and pleasure to welcome all who were'taking part in Elderly Bowlers’ Day. He thought that there was no greater day in the whole of the bowling calendar than that of Elderly Bowlers; Day. The event had originated in the mind of an old ana highly-respected member of the club, Mr H. F. M. Mercer, who, having conceived the idea, did not rest until it became an established fact, and who had worked year after year in the interests of Elderly Bowlers’ Day. To Mr Mercer the'work he had done was a labour of Now Mr Mercer - lived some distance out or the city, and he was not so closely identified with bowling, but they ail owed him their thanks. It was 18 years ago that Elderly Bowlers’ Day became an established fact, and in that time there had inevitably been many changes, and many who took part in former matches had gone their last long journey, while others who had been in their prime had now joined the ranks of elderly bowlers. Here they were all enabled to renew old friendships, and were able to show. that their right hands had not lost their cunning, and that they still possessed in a large measure the skill that had in days gone by made them formidable opponents. Among the older generation of bowlers were men who had lent the whole weight of their personality to uphold the very best traditions! of the grand old game. They would all agree that the outstanding feature of the game was the camaraderie that existed among all bowlers .the world over, and it was in that spirit that he welcomed them that day on behalf of the Dunedin Bowling Club. They were proud to act as hosts to such a notable gallery of veteran bowlers. , 1 After mentioning by name a few of the well-known elderly bowlers present, including visitors from Oamaru, Cromwell, i Mataura. Waitahuna, and Milton, Mr Anderson said that a visitor from Christ: church had claimed that the northern city possessed the oldest bowler in New Zealand in the person of Mr Manning, of the Christchurch Club. I was able to inform him that he was wrong,’’ Mr Anderson added,. “ and that we have the oldest bowler in New Zealand in Mr i-« Moodie,, a youth of 97 summers who is a member of the Dunedin Club, the oldest club in the South Island, and second oldest club in New Zealand.”—(Applause.) Mr Anderson made appreciative reterence to the work of the ladies, saying that without their assistance no function of that nature could be successful. He called for three cheers for the ladies—a request that was complied with enthusiastically. Mr D C Cameron conveyed the greet ings of the Dunedin Bowling Centre, and the Dominion Bowling Council. That day, he said, was unique in the annals of New Zealand bowling, and all through the years it had been an unqualified success. He congratulated Mr Anderson and the club, and hoped that they would all have a pleasant afternoon. Another speaker was Mr Mercer, who expressed his pleasure at seeing , so many familiar faces. He observed some who had always been present on this occasion, and was glad to see that the team from Milton had turned up once more and was skipped by his old friend Mr W. Moore. That day by a strange coincidence Mr John Ogg had met a shipmate he had not seen for over 60 years—which showed that when old people assembled together they met many old friends. RESULTS OF MATCHES. The following are the results of the matches, with the total age of each "lb’ Barnett, H. P. Mi Mercer. A Kilgour, A. Black (313) 20, J. Brown, J. D. Low, J. H. Fraser, F. Peake (302) 10. H. Adamson, J. Moroney, A. M Kechine, W. Moore (311) 8 T. Walker, H. Smeaton, C. Beeby. A. Glen (297) 6. J. Kay, R. Jack, J. Fairbaun, W. Briggs (301) 19, F, O. Bridgman, J. Callender, T. C., Harrison, L. Pope (313) 8. J. Mitchell, W. Ross, A. Cameron, W.' Grimsdale (294) 30, C. J. Thorn W. Orchard, C. Walmsley, C. Cardno> (314) 6. W Lunn, G. Simpson, E. Godfned, J. Watson (305) 17, R. Roe, W. Henderson, F W. Knight, W. Mills (310) 14. W J Croft, J. Rennie, J-. B. Frame, W. Smith (287) 30, Gardiner, W. Mayston, A. Orr, A. J. Gall (298) 10 A, J. Smith, J. Dawson, G. MTCay, J. Scott (300) 16, D. Mackay, A. Gilmour. W. Dryden, A Kane (294) 13. Campbell, Partridge, W. M. Mitchell, F. J. Simkin (308) 17 Hoddinott, Burgess, D. Smith, G. Anderson (299) 12. . J Waddell, R. Olds. E. Davis, J. Mitchell (312) 8, James Smith, T. Moodie, A. Murdoch, J. Ogg (347) 8. J P. Hardie, C. Notman, J. L. Bell, J Ford (306) 18, F. G. Gumming, J. Horn, A. MTntosh. R. Miller (289) 6,