ON THE GREEN

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 664, 16 May 1929, Page 7

ON THE GREEN

Bowls and Bowlers

By

JACK HIGH

It is the custom of the sport that champions are given full and fitting honours just as in other sport. He, who has gone out to battle for his club and has successfully brought home the coveted laurels against the efforts of all other clubs, is held in the highest regard by his fellow club mates, But the devotees of the game do r»at “chair the conquering hero,” nor do thev carry him shoulder high amid wild enthusiasm from the field of glory. Rather is it preferred to bring the traditional social side into the picture by gathering the rank and file together in a social function and there amid song and story and a wealth of characteristic speech-making that bowling is so famous for, do full justice to the champion whose prowess has been so conclusively proved on the green. That is the correct setting—the real atmosphere of the sport for the occasion.

Thus, Mr. L. Russell, the holder of the champion of champions singles title for the Auckland Centre, was feted by his club mates and a host of prominent visiting bowlers at the Remuera Club last week. Into the hands of Mr. F. McCallum, son of the popular veteran bowler, Mr. M. McCallum, was placed the arrangement of the programme, and if the former can make as good a showing at the game on the green when he joins up next season as he made of that programme of interesting and artistic items, then bowling will have annexed a very able recruit, for the presentation was one of the best that has been given in bowling circles for many a long day. Indeed, it was a brilliant background for the occasion, and Mr. T. R. Procter, president of the club, had no difficulty in rising to heights of eloquence in exhorting the members of his club to emulate; Mr. Russell’s fine example and simply fill the walls of the spacious club bouse with certificates of similar victories won on the bowling green. He specially stressed that, although tne Remuera Club was exceptionally strong on the maintenance of the social side of the sport, it could be equally strong on the matter of the exposition of the game of bowls. It had not been in the past, and it would be a fine effort to see the walls of the club adorned with similar honours of the game to that won by the splendid bowling of Mr. Russell.

Mr. Procter also took some pains to explain the remarkably even temperament that Mr. Russell was blessed with, which gave the latter great advantage in bowling. Certainly, Mr. Russell displayed this characteristic in the remarks of his reply, for he advanced the opinion that no bowler could take part in prolonged bridge parties and sundry rounds of enjoyments the night before important matches were played and do himself full justice. ITe contended that the game required a steady hand, eye and temperament, and that could only be acquired by a good night’s rest before an important match was contested. If he were asked the qualities that assisted to make a champion—and that was what was expected of him —then he would place this as the first essential. Congratulations were added bj' the members of the centre executive, including Mr. S. Coldicutt, who presented the duplicate certificate lor the club, and Messrs. J. M. Thomson, El. Whitten and J. W. Hardley. Mr. E. A. Craig, president of the Auckland Club, also added his congratulations on be - half of his club. Indeed, it was a red -

letter day for the Remuera Club and a great tribute to the bowling of Mr. L. Russell. All eyes are now turned to the. two winter competitions, including the Denison Pins and the Edwin Stars, which have gained such popularity in past seasons. The only weakness with these events is that they can only engage the attention of two teams each Saturday—the holders and the challengers. Seeing that winter bowling has increased bv leaps and bounds of recent years, the advent of quite a number more of similar competitions would ensure popular favour. Of course there is always the difficulty of getting off a list of fixtures on account of the uncertainty of the weather, but nevertheless rules to allow for this contingency could be readily framed to overcome this difficulty. Certainly it is time winter bowling competitions should be more widely catered for.

At the close of last season the Ponsonby Club was successful in annexing the trophies of the Edwin Stars and the Denison Pins competition, and according to the rules underlying the competition held them until this season, when the holders were again open to challenges. The teams were as follow: Allen, Richardson. Somervell. Parsons (Edwin Stars), and Oates, Best, Dick, Letham (Denison Pins). On Saturday last a team from Hillsboro under the capable Sheath was successful in defeating the holders of the pins, the game being contested vigorously and being in doubt right up to the last bowl, when Sheath raked the game out of the fire. The stars were successfully retained against the challenge of an Epsom team comprising Wallace, Jenkin, de Launay and Blakey.

Considerable interest is being shown at the Rawhiti Club in a number of competitions of a novel character played during the winter season. The winner of the first was found in the team that had the largest margin of points over the opposing team, while the winner of the second team was found in the team that had the least number of points over the opposing team. The latter competition was more difficult than the former to decide, for one team came out with one point margin and three teams tied. Naturally the winner was found from three teams in a further game. The next competition, which will be played on Saturday next, will take the form of a drawing competition. The competitions are open to all players and the ordinary method of draw for component parts of the teams is used. rt is expected that a large number of visitors wiW attend from the St. Heliers Chib, and it is hoped to arrange a full programme for future Saturdays and repeat the most successful of the competitions throughout the winter season.

PONSONBY CLUB’S TOURNEY CARLTON WINS FINAL The mid-week tournament conducted by the Ponsonby Bowling Club, was concluded yesterday afternoon. The final match was played between Carlton and Edendale. and resulted in a win for the former. Results .are as follow (Carlton names first): —Johnston, Bates, Elliott. Ritchie, - 24, v. Sake}’, Sterguss. Letham, Hill, 9-