BOWLING

Otago Witness, Issue 4066, 16 February 1932, Page 47

BOWLING

SOUTH OTAGO TOURNAMENT

WON BY STIRLING RINK.

The South Otago Centre’s annual tournament was played on Saturday in glorious weather. There was a record entry of 36 rinks, the Dunedin Centre being well represented. Three greens — Balelutha, Stirling, and Kaitangata—were utilised, and proved to be in excellent condition. On all three greens South Otago rinks were successful, the semifinals and the final being played on the Stirling green. A remarkable feature of the green final on the Balelutha green was the fact that Sharp (Kaitangata) failed to register a single point, Cuff wining by 14 —0, and Cuff was eliminated in the semi-final by Duncan, who scored 18 points to his opponent’s eight. At the Conclusion of the final, in which Duncan (Stirling) defeated Dobbie (Kaitangata) by 21 to 18, the president (Mr J. M'Namara) presented the trophies. Mr M'Namara expressed pleasure at the presence of so many Dunedin rinks, and hoped that they would return next year and bring their friends. The visitors Were loud in their praise of the splendid condition of the greens. Following are the details:— KAITANGATA GREEN. First Round. J. M'Pherson, R. Hanning, A. Mitchell, A. I«ove (Caversham) 18, Haig, R. M'Gillivray, M‘Ghee, W. Thomson (Kaitangata) 16. J. Wilkinson, J. Rodger, W. Easton, J. Bentley (Dunedin) 16, J. Johnston, P. Boulton, C. Rawlinson, J. Tait (Leith) 15.

J. Haigh, H. Millar, D. Stevenson, T. M'Lellan (Taieri) 13, J. Porter, Honeyinan, Seddon, W. Foster (Caledonian) 6. P. Low, J. Henderson, Esson, J. Plank (Stirling) 12, G. Clark, T. Clayton, A. Powley, A. Wethey (Milton) 10 .

C. Hansen, Gribben, T. Espie, A. Dobbie (Kaitangata) 12, R. Stewart, E. Gregory, H. Barnett. A. Thomson (Benhar) 9. „ J. Wilson. T. Kennard, A. Clery, P. Devanney (Milton) 14, L. Gardner, T. Thompson, W. Neill, A. Stanway (Kaitangata) 13. , ~ , J. Brooks, R. C. Moore, J. M Ara, A. Arthur (Lawrence) 16, Coombs. Austin, Johnson, Chapman (St. Clair) 14. Second Round. Wethey 15, M'Lellan 14. Dobbie 18, Love 11. W. Thomson 15, Plank 12. Tait 27, Devanney 8. A. Thomson 21, Arthur 16. Stanway 18, Foster 16. Chapman 11, Bentley 10. Third Round. Chapman 23, M'Lellan 15. Plank 20, Love 9. Dobbie 12, Wethey 11. Tait 18, A. Thomson 17. Devanney 14, Foster 13. W. Thomson 16, Bentley 15. Stanway 16, Arthur 15.

Green winner: A. Dobbie (Kaitangata) BALCLUTHA GREEN. First Round.

E. Mackie, J. Richardson, D. Anderson, T. Sharp (Kaitangata) 18, W. Robertson, W. Miles, J. Blackley, S. Hutchison (Logan Park) 10. A. Burk, E. O. Nees, J. Johnson, G. Nelson (Dunedin) 12, R. Wilson, W. Nicolson, D. Marshall, T. C. Coull (St. Clair) 10. Rutherford, Kerse, E. Ransome. J. Cuff (Milton) 16, Forster. Ballard, Will, A. Thomson (Caversham) 12. J. Barron, A. Middlemass, W. Harvey, T. Barron (Benhar) 16, C. O’Hara, J. Sinclair. J. Johnston, R. Culbert (Balclutha) 10. J. Tosh, J. G. Henderson, J. M'Namara, A. J. Botting (Stirling) 28, A. Currie, W. Lillicrap, H. M'Callum, P. Farrell .(Milton) 5.

P. Sounees, C. Bissett, E. M'Fadyen, D. P. Clements (Kaitangata) 13, S. White, M. Cree, T. Barr, R. Roger (Owaka) 12.

Second Round. Sharp 15, Thomson 11. Coull 21, Roger 12. Botting 18, Barron 15. Nelson 11. Farrell 9. Clements 14, Hutchison 11. Cuff 20, Culbert 18. Third Round. Sharp 18, Roger 12. Farrrell 24, Thomson 18. Coull 13, Clements 10. Hutchison 22, Barron 9. Cuff 22, Botting 13. Culbert 20, Nelson 6. Summary.

Green tie: Cuff 14, Sharp 0. Green winner: Cuff (Milton). STIRLING GREEN. First Round.

A. Edwards, D. C. Stark T. O’Sullivan, P. Edwards (St. Kilda) 17, Campbell, C. Pennell, Dunn, P. Prescott (Kantangata) 12. M'Connell, A. Summerill, J. Scott, W. Lloyd (Caledonian) 17, C. Gray, Graham, Hitchon, Smith (Milton) 15. A. Hayward, R. Buchanan, C. Lewis, J. H. Armstrong (Balelutha) 17, C. Barnett, H. Auld, H. Barnett, G. Barron (Benhar) 13. J. Smith, T. Duncan, H. Little, L. Duncan (Stirling) 20, W. Groundwater, A. Powlev, R. Grealish, J. Morris (Milton) 14.

R. Donaldson, J. Forbes, W. M'Robie, D. H. Thomson (Southland) 14, A. Morris, H. Connors, J. Melville, J. Fenton (Kaitangata) 10. Second Round. Lloyd 17, Fenton 5. Barron 23, Smith 15. Armstrong 21, Morris 9. Thomson 14, Edwards 13. Duncan 16, Prescott 13. Third Round. Armstrong 16, Fenton 6. Duncan 14, Edwards 11. Prescott 16, Lloyd 12. Barron 18, Morris 13. Smith 21, Thomson 11. Summary.

Green tie: Duncan 12, Armstrong 8. Green winner: L. Duncan (Stirling). Semi-final. J. Smith, T. Duncan, H. Little, L. Duncan (Stirling) 18, Rutherford, Kerse, Ransome, Cuff (Milton) 8. This game which had a time limit of an hour, was very one-sided, Duncan scoring 17 on the first seven ends, while Cuff failed to score a point. On the next two ends Cuff scored a single and a 2. on the tenth Duncan scored 1, and Cuff scored 5 on the last end. Final. Smith, T. Duncan, Little, L. Duncan (Stirling) 21, Hansen, Allan, Espie, Dobbie (Kaitangata) 18. ELDERLY BOWLERS’ DAY OLD FRIENDS FOREGATHER. 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 I 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 all 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’s 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 86.75 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 bad originated in the mind of an old and 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 love. Now Mr Mercer lived some distance out of the city, and he was not so closely identified with bowling, but they all 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 gatne. They would all agree that the outstanding feature of the game was the cameraderie 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. After mentioning by name a few of the well-known elderly bowlers present, including visitors from Oamaru, Cromwell, Mataura, Waitahuna, and Milton, Mr Anderson said that a visitor from Christchurch 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 T. 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 reference 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 greetings 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 t matches, with the total age of each s rink:—

T. Barnett, H. F. M. 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'Kechnie, W. Moore (311) 8. T. Walker, H. Smeaton, C. Beeby. A. Glen (297) 6. J. Kay, R. Jack, J. Fairbairn, 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. Godfried, 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. M'Kay, 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. Cumming, J. Horn, A. MTntosh. R. Miller (289) 6.

SUNDAY TOURNAMENTS CHRISTCHURCH REFUSES CHRISTCHURCH, February 9. By 26 votes to 7, the Bowling Centre expressed its disapproval of the following motion:—“ That permission in future be granted to all clubs making application to hold open tournaments on Sundays.” Several members stated that while not opposed to Sunday play among members, they disliked the idea of organised play under the centre’s jurisdiction.

-One-third of the adult male population of France, which is altogether 13,000,000, are bachelors.

Wins. Losses. Dobbie .. .. .. 3 — W. Thomson .. 2 1 Tait .. 2 1 Devanney .. .. .. 2 1 Plank -- •• •• , .. 2 1 .. 2 1 Chapman .. .. .. 2 1 .. 1 2 Bentley .. .. .. 1 2 . .. 1 2 Wethey . . .. 1 2 A. Thomson .. .. 1 2 Arthur . .. 1 2 Foster . - —— 3

Sharp Wins. . .. 3 Losses. 0 Cuff . .. 3 0 Nelson .. .. . 2 1 Coull ... 2 1 Botting .. ,. .. .. 2 1 Clements .. . . .. 2 1 Culbert .. .. .. .. 1 2 Hutchison .. < .. .. 1 2 Barron .. .. .. .. 1 2 Farrell .. .. .. .. 1 2 Thomson.. .. .. .. 0 3 Roger .. .. 0 3

Duncan Wins. .. 3 Losses. Armstrong .. 3 —. Lloyd 9 1 Barron ..2 1 Thomson .. .. 2 1 Edwards .. ..1 2 Prescott .. ..1 2 Fenton . ..1 2 Smith . ..1 2 Morris . .. — 3