George Stevens Was A Popular Bowler

Southland Times, Issue 24109, 24 April 1940, Page 11

George Stevens Was A Popular Bowler

By

JACK HIGH

The game of bowls in Southland is poorer by the loss of Mr George Stevens who died suddenly at his home on Monday. George Stevens was one of the best-

known personalities in bowling circles in Southland and Otago. His association with the game extended over a

long period, during which he took a prominent part in the administration of the sport. He was a former president of the Southland Bowling Centre, president of the Northend Club in 1918 and a former president of the Waihopai Club. His activities as a player covered a wide field. Right up to the season just ended he was an enthusiastic competitor in all of the Southland Centre matches and tournaments, and although one of the veterans of the game in the last few seasons he maintained a high standard of bowls.

Last season he was associated with Mr R. G. Morrison in winning the Waihopai Club’s Pairs championship and the Mayor’s Pairs. He was a regular supporter of the Southland, Dunedin, Central Otago and North Otago tournaments and on three occasions he took part in the Suva Bowling Carnival. It was at Suva in 1931 that he gained his most notable successes at the game. With Mr A. E. Broad he won the South Pacific Pairs championship against competitors from all over New Zealand, Australia and Fiji, and he was a member of the New Zealand team which won the South Pacific Pennant (rinks championship). Last year he organized and managed the Southland party of bowlers which visited Fiji, and once again he was a member of the New Zealand team w’hich won the South Pacific Pennant.

His local successes included wins in the New Zealand Rinks, the New Year Pairs and the Easter Pairs; he was runner-up in the New Year Rinks a few years ago, and- in

January skipped the Waihopai rink which was runner-up in the first tournament to be conducted by the James Macpherson Club. An authority on grasses and fertilizers Mr Stevens gave his advice freely to bowlers and bowling clubs. At the time of his death he was green supervisor for the Waihopai Club and last season he put in much time and work helping to restore the surface of the green to its former good condition. He was president of the Waihopai Sports Association from 1930 to 1934. George Stevens possessed a likeable personality; he was a rare fighter and a good sportsman and he was never happier than when skipping a young or “scratch” rink in a one-day tournament. He will be missed at Waihopai.