BOWLING.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXIV, Issue 18823, 11 March 1931, Page 13

BOWLING.

SOUTH CANTERBURY CENTRE. A meeting of the South Canterbury Bowling Centre was held last evening. Present —Messrs J. Moyes (chairman), J. E. Gray, R. Nicol, R. G. Sampson, W. Callender, T. Currie. F. B. Hawkey, R. Kebby arid R. Shillito. The chairman said that he had quite a number of congratulations to offer. In the first place there was the Redpath Shield. Four names only had been received. Messrs Healey, Currie, Howie and Blackham, and this rink had gone to Christchurch and h#d represented South Canterbury in the Shield contest. The rink had performed very well, having won its game by 11 points. The chairman went on to say that he had been speaking tothe Canterbury selector, who had said: “You have sent up a good rink at last.” Mr Sampson: “What would have happened if we had sent up a good rink?” (Laughter.) The chairman then extended congratulations to the Park Club on having won the Bristol Cup. He said that Park had done what no other Club in Timaru had been able to do, and that was to send a team to Waimate and return with the cup. He also congratulated the West End Club on having won the champion of champion rinks. West End could still claim to be the champion club in Timaru. Mr Sampson, a member of the Centre, had succeeded in winning the champion singles, and he also was deserving of congratulations, for he had played consistently throughout the day. Congratulations were also extended to Temuka on having won the championship doubles for the second year in succession. The chairman went on to say that the champion rinks had been prolonged through four Clubs winning an equal number of matches, and it was just a question whether they should play the competition on two days, everybody meeting everybody, for they would then get a straight-out winner. Again referring to this year’s competition, Mr Moyes paid tribute to the fine play of the Fairlie rink, stating that they were unlucky in being defeated by West End in the semi-final. All knew the kind of shots Mr L. Dewar had had to play to win, and he probably would never play the same shots again. The chairman next made reference to Elderly Bowlers’ Day, stating that it had been an outstanding success. Mr R. Orwin had really been responsible for the Centre initiating the fixture, he having brought the matter forward at the annual meeting of the Timaru Club. All who had taken part had thoroughly enjoyed themselves, and were hoping that the fixture would be an annual one.

Saturday Championship. Referring to the Saturday four rink championship, the chairman said he did not know what they were going to do in the matter. They knew that difficulty would be experienced if a wet Saturday came along, and this was what had happened. Park had to meet Ashbury and Waimate for the Bristol Cup. Next Saturday there were races in Timaru, and then several Clubs had fixtures to decide. Mr Kebby said that he had been asked by his Club to make a request that the Bristol Cup match be played on Saturday, March 21, instead of March 28. The secretary said that a letter had been received from Waimate asking that their' challenge for the Bristol Cup be played on Thursday, March 26th. Mr Hawkey said that he did not think the Park Club could get a team to play Waimate until after Easter. Mr Callender said that the game could be played if a start was made at 4 o’clock in the afternoon. The chairman said that this would not be possible after Sunday, when the half-hour summer-time came off, for it would be dark at 6.30. Mr Sampson: "It is not fair to ask players to play in the failing light.” On the motion of Mr Hawkey, seconded by Mr Kebby, it was decided to play the Park-Ashbury Bristol Cup match on March 21st. Discussion then reverted to the fourrink championship, and it eventually was decided that the games which were unfinished last week be played on Saturday next. Inter-Provincial Championship. The chairman brought up the question of an annual eight-rink championship between the Otago, North Otago, South Canterbury and Canterbury Centres. He said that he had mentioned the matter a few years ago, but nothing had come of it. His suggestion was that eight rinks from the centres named should meet alternately in Timaru and Oamaru. This would centralise the fixture, and would mean a big saving in expense. It would also mean an extra day for local fixtures, for the North Otago match would be cut out. At the present time Otago travelled to Christchurch, or Canterbury went south, and it cost each Centre a big sum for one game only. Further than that, it would give South Canterbury an opportunity of meeting Otago, which was not possible at the present time. Mr Currie said that Canterbury had the matter under discussion. The chairman said that he had discussed the matter with Christchurch players quite recently. A great deal of interest was going out of the OtagoCanterbury fixture because of the long distance that had to be travelled to play one game. Mr Currie: “What about Southland?”

The chairman: “I don’t think they would travel so far. If they came in you would have to bring in Marlborough or one of the other centres to avoid a bye.” Mr Callender: “I think it should be confined to the four centres.” The chairman: “We do not get a chance to play Otago, and under this we would.” Mr Kebby: “It is one of the best suggestions I have heard for a long time.” Mr Shillito: “It would knock out the Steans Cup.” The chairman: “I don’t think there would be any difficulty in regard to such trophies.” Mr Callender said it would save a great deal of expense. At present it cost Otago £2OO to send a team to Christchurch to play one game. The chairman said that two matches could be played similar to the High Schools’ tournament, and then the final. The fact of there being two matches and a final in one day would be an inducement to the other Centres. If necessary, the tournament could be held in each of the four centres. He was only suggesting Oamaru and Timaru to save expense to Otago and Canterbury. On the motion of Mr Hawkey, seconded by Mr Shillito, it was decided to write to each of the other three Centres suggesting an inter-provincial eight-rink championship.