BOWLING.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXIII, 8 April 1927, Page 10

BOWLING.

MEETING OF CENTRE.

A meeting of the South Canterbury Bowling Centre was held last li'ight. .Present —Messrs B. Manning (in the chair), 1. J. Bradley, A. Leslie, F. B. Hawkey, M. McLeod, W. Watson, It. Nicol and the secretary (A. Thoreau). The chairman nnule sympathetic reference to the illness of the president, (Mr It. Shillito), and the hope was expressed that lie would soon bo restored to health. Accounts amounting to £1 6s 5d were passed for payment. A letter was received lrom the Dunedin Bowling Centre, expressing the opinion that the 8-rink championship was too big a thing to carry out properly. It would be difficult to get players to give the time necessary, especially say, from Invercargill. The alternative proposal - alternate matches between South Canterbury and Dunedin Centres —appealed more to them. Thci matter would bo dtseu.sscd again at their next meeting. 1 It was reported that Temuka would > be unable to play the Bristol Cup { match on Saturday next. | Mr McLeod said that hadt the match i been lixed for the Thursday after ■ Caster, Temuka might hare bcor» able ! to play them, but they could not very ; well get away on a Saturday, when , Temuka has the half-holiday.

Tho chairman said it was to be hoped that soon they would have a universal Saturday half-holiday.

Mr Bradley expressed a similar view, and suggested that it might be worth while to consider the suggestion made Jast year, by West End—that the Bristol Cup should be played in two .sections, one for the country and the other for the town clubs.

Mr Nicol explained the West End proposal in detail, and strongly advocated the playing of the Bristol Cup competition in this way. If it were adopted, the whole thing could be completed in four Saturdays. Mr Hawkey said that if the suggested change were made, they would be acting in conflict with the conditions under which the late Mr S. A. Bristol had given the Cup. He gave details in proof of this, and said bey should go carefully into the matter before they departed from Mr Bristol’s conditions.

Mr Bradley said that the trustee of the Cup had expressed the wish that the conditions should as elastic as possible, so that they would best meet the desires of bowlers. Mr Watson thought they should not depart from the conditions laid down by the late Mr Bristol, whose desire it was that the contest should be _ a straight-out challenge one. Mr Watson said he was satisfied that if Mr Bristol were here to-day he would object to the proposed change. Mr Nicol said that he was of the opposite opinion. Conditions had changed greatly since Mr Bristol had given the Cup, and the, rules should be changed to suit the altered circumstances. Mr Bradley and the chairman spoke in support of Mr Nicol’s remarks. The latter also said he thought the competition should be confined to clubs between the Ilungitata and the Waitaki rivers. Mr Hawkey said that was impossible, as it would eliminate Ashburton, and that could not ba done. Mr Bradley said that something should be done, otherwise interest in the Bristol Cup competition would wane. After further discussion, the chairman said he hoped the matter would be discussed at, the annual meeting. Mr Bradley suggested that tho clubs should be asked to discuss the matter at their respective annual meetings, and make suggestions for improvements in the conditions governing play for the cup. , Mr Hawkey thought it would bo better if they appointed a sub-com-mittee to ascertain liow far they could go in altering the conditions, and to make concrete proposals for the clubs to discuss. The sub-committee he proposed, was tho president, Mr Mojes and' tho mover. This was seconded by Mr Nicol and carried unanimously. Mr Watson said it would be useless to ask the clubs to consider the matter, unless some concrete proposals were put forward for their consideration. A discussion took place concerning the playing of tho shield championship—whether it should be with 4, 6 or 8 rinks. Tho chairman advocated a 6-rmk championship. Mr Leslie thought it might bo advisable to cut out the shield competition, and thus give more time for friendly games. Mr Nicol favoured the 6-rink championship, and Mr Bradley also said that 6-fiuks would bo better than 8rinks, though ho thought, it would he still better if they were to cut out the shield championship, and have more friendly play. Mr Watson said that in Christchurch they run a 3-rink championship,, and ho suggested giving this a trial in Tiniaru. He was strongly m favour or doing away with the sbield games, but they should not in any castf exceed 4rink championship. Finally, on the suggestion of the chairman, it was decided that tho discussion on this matter should be held over until next meeting, the Centre delegates to consult their respective clubs, in the meantime, on the matter. Mr Leslie said that if they cut out the shield and pennant games, they should still cater for the country clubs.

The chairman offered hearty congratulations to the Park Club on their victory in the Bristol Cup competitions. ‘They had shown themselves Rood bowlers and true sports. (Applause). Mr McLeod endorsed the chairman s remarks, and Mr Hawkey made suitable acknowledgment of the Centre’s congratulations.