BOWLING

Otago Witness, Issue 3523, 20 September 1921, Page 43

BOWLING

NEW ZEALANDERS’ TOUR. (From Our Own Correspondent.) LONDON, July 15. “Our trip has been more in the nature of a royal procession,” is the opinion of many of the members of the team, who are now disbanding and going on their respective ways. SCOTTISH TOUR. On arrival at Glasgow a public reception was given by the bowling authorities, and on the same afternoon the Glasgow Bowling Club was beaten by 108 points to 105. Previous to the match against the Associated Corporation next day, which was lost by 121 to 107, a lunch was given by the municipal authorities in the City Chambers. On the Saturday the'players had to moot a Glasgow team at White vale Green, which proved too good for them. During the stay in Glasgow Mr T. M. Stewart was taken seriously ill on one of the green, and had to be carried back to the hotel, and sebsequently to a nursing home, but fortunately he recovered before the party left Glasgow. A motor trip to Dumbarton, where a match was won by 118 to 89. was made interesting by visits to Ralloeh Park and to Montrose Castle, where the visitors were made most welcome by the mistress of the house. On the journey, too, the partyskirted the shores of Loc-h Lomond, and finally lunched at the premises of the gro;:r shipyards belonging to Messrs Denny Bros. Next day misty rain fell, and the team had their usual defeat, the Ayr bowlers bettering them by 113 points to 84. At Hamilton the match was again lost, by 117 to 123. Stirling provided a civic reception, and part of the day was spent at Sliding Castle, which is now occupied by the military. During the match, which resulted in a win of 126 to 112, the ladies of the party were taken for a drive through the country. A motor drive up the Tav Valley and a game against Perth, which was won by 120 to 112, completed the week’s programme, and the party spent a quiet day* at Glasgowon the Sunday. On the evening of their arrival at Inverness there was a civic reception and a concert provided by a Gaelic choir, and the following day Culloden Battlefields were visited. The matches at Inverness and at Elgin were both victories —the former being won by 125 to 113, and the latter by 122 to 117. At Aberdeen, too. the players were successful in defeating their opponents by 136 to 100. Against the Associated Clubs at Edinburgh the bowlers suffered a defeat, of 138 to 94 on a very heavy and rough green. At Dunbar they lost by 131 to 103. Against, four rinks of the Brand Club and two rinks of the Corporation Club in Edinburgh, the

New Zealanders lost by a total of 112 to 126, though in the two-rink contest they won by 47 to 34. The day at Galashields included a drive to Melrose Abbey and Dry burgh Abbey, both famous ruins, and a visit to the homo of Sir V. alter Scott. A time limit was put on the bowling match, wh'ch resulted in a win by 93 to 92. Next day* the drive to Kirkcaldy, where a victory was gained of 136 to 132, included a view of the beautiful Loch T.oven, and on the Sunday the members of the team attended a. service at St. Giles Cathedral. At Hawick, where a, civic reception was given them, the match resulted in a win by 123 to 105, and during the game Mrs Peter Scott entertained the ladies at her residence at Norwood. The final game in Scotland was played on the Trinity Green, at Leith, and resulted in a win by 129 to 85. A very jovial dinner, enlivened by bagpipc-s, was a fittting conclusion to the Scottish tour, and the party came up to London on the following day by the “Flying Scotsman.” BRIGHTON BOWLING TOURNAMENT. (From Ouk Own Correspondent.) LONDON. July 26. Some of the New Zealand bowlers who entered for the Brighton Bowling Tournament spent a very pleasant time there last week, and what is more managed to carry away the Championship Cup tor the Kinks’ Competition. iwo New Zealand rinks were in the semi-finals for tills competition and met one another, the result being:—J. Hayden, J. Johnson, F. Hill, and 11. J. Bray, 23; R. Knights, VV. Warriner, T. Driver, and M. Orchard, 14. In the final Air Bray’s link met one from Croydon and defeated it by a narrow margin. At the close of the tournament last Saturday the prizes were distributed. The Mayor cf Brighton, in his opening address, said that the success of the tournament had been considerably enhanced by the presence of the New Zealanders. lie hoped they might have the pleasure of meeting them again in Brighton and Hove. The Mayor ot llove presented the llove challenge trophy and the first prizes for (be links’ competition to the New Zealand team. First prize was valued at £lO 10s, and the winners also received a gold pendant each as a memento. Acknowledging an enthusiastic reception, Air Bray, on behalf of the team, said they had worked very hard for the cup and he thought it a very good wind-up lor the New Zealand tour. lie also announced that with the permission cf the committee, his team proposed to leave the cup in the custody cf the High Commissioner for New Zealand. On the call of the AJayor of Brighton three rousing cheers were given for the visitors. A special prize was presented to another New Zealand team consisting of 11. Walton, W. Brown, E. S. Fegler, and W. A. Dee for the highest win, that being 42 to 8. Air Dee said the prizes won by the New Zealand bowlers would keep in sweet remembrance the happy week spent at Brighton. They were much obliged for the invitation to come down, and the friendships made would last for many years. NEW ZEALAND BOWLERS AT BLAIRGOWRIE. The visit to Strathmore, Scotland, of the touring team of New Zealand bowlers was evidently regarded as an event of the highest importance, and the Blairgowrie Advertiser of July 9 devoted no fewer than six columns (each a little longer than a column of the Witness) to chronicling tlio events connected with the visit. On arriving at Coupar Angus the New Zealanders were met by the Strathmore League officials and players. At the Town Hall a fleet cf 25 motor cars were waiting to take the visitors around some of the best farms in tiie district, including Air James Duncan’s Beaudoc-hy and Coupar Grange Farms, where the cattle, horses, and equipment were greatly admired. By way of Mayriggs, Monks’ Myre Loch, and Aloorfield they were motored to Blairgowrie, where they partook of luncheon in the public hall. Afterwards the New Zealanders were motored through some of the prettiest scenery in Scotland to Dunkeld, and back by way of Birnam, short halts being made to view the 'layside scenery and at Kinclaven bridge. On returning, a match was played on the Blairgowrie and Rattray Club’s green against players from the six clubs in the district. There was a large attendance of t'lo pid 'i". who ’v«t*e greatly pleased with the rendering of the New Zealanders’ war cry. Ai an adiouniment afternoon tea, provided by the ladies, was much enjoyed. The New Zealanders won the match by 158 to 94 —a majority of 64 points. A little speeclimaking and votes of thanks followed. In the evening the visitors were entertained at a complimentary dinner, to which a company of ’<o ladies and gentlemen sat down, with Provost Tasker presiding. Scotch haggis, Tav salmon, and hndies figured on the menu. Some excellent speeches were delivered in honouring the toast list. Air J. A. Doherty said they* had visited about 40 municipalities, but nowhere had they been so cordially received and entertained with so much hospitality as at Blairgowrie. The toast of “The New Zealand Rowjers” was proposed by Air J. AI. Hodge in a vow amusing and vet instructive speech d'splaving a familiarity with events in New Zealand lie mentioned that the New Zealanders ha<l introduced an innovation by having ladies join the men at a public dinner. “The nearest approach to that.” said Air Hodge, “with us v.as at a dinner we gave 20 years or move ago to Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman. We allowed them to I sit in the gallery and look down on their 1 bn bands feeding. . . . Henceforth they shall take part in a’l fun-tic.ns of this kind. 1 ... Tll the far future we will be put in ! the gallerv to look down on our wives I feeding below.” The toast, was replied to 1 hv Mr G. Gordon. The toast of “The | Farming Interests” was entrusted to Air W. B. Anderson, of Dunedin In connection with the visit; to B’nirgowrie we have received from Air John Oeilry, a constant reader of the Otago Witness, a, copy of a handsomelv-got-up illustrated brochure in which the menu and toast list are printed. It also contains reproductions in colour of views in Blairgowrie. Coupar Angus. Moikleour, etc. The brochure will to prized by the touring | howlers as a memento of a really good time.