Bowling

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16572, 3 November 1921, Page 3

Bowling

NEWS FROM THE C REE NS. NOTES BY “ OBSEI;TEK,*> A few years ago, an untidy rubbish tip in. 'Western. Teraee, Beekenho ni, wns one of the eyesores of the district, but to-day that same spot is a place of beauty, having been converted into the grounds of the Bcckeulinm Bowling Club. To Mr E. C. Chogwin is due the credit tor forming ibis club. .Being an eiitbusiastie bowler. and Jiving, next door to the untidy flump, he conceived the nioa of forming a new bowling club and utilising the vacant section. With the as»istance of otb.m bowlers resident in the district be sot to work and the Beckenham Bowling Club came into existence. The untidy section w«:,s levelled off and cleaned, up and after much hard work the green v. as laid out and the grounds beautified. Later a handsome pavilion was erected, and to-day Beckenham possesses one or the prettiest greens in Christchurch. \t the close of last season the club had a membership of thirty-four and it has prospects of obtaining a bout twent y new members this season. As showing the enthusiasm of the members, it should be mentioned that the club has entered no fewer than nine rinks in the A pennant competition. The gi’een is in excellent order. haring been improved considerably since last year. During the recess Mr Chegwin made a steriliser for tlve green and also, with assistance, had it topdressed. Taking a!! things into consideration. the prospects of this young club appear to he particularly bright. The Paparua Club, which was formed at Islington a couple of years ago. is making rapid progress. This season it has entered two rinks in the B pennant competition. Already the club has made considerable improvements to its green on the- Islington Domain, and has provided itself with an attractive pavilion now absolutely free of debt. The green, which is the full size, with accommodation for eight rinks, is reported to he in excellent order this season, and many Christchurch howlers who are entered for the B pennant will have an opportunity of playing on it during the. competition?. At the close of last' season the club had twenty-four playing members and another twelve members are reported to have joined this season .

The practice of playing bowls on Sundays, which is fairly common in certain of the North Island towns, docs not appear to be mdul ged in to any extent in the South Island. The writer remembers the caso of a certain North Island club where Sunday playing was a regular thing in spite of the fact that a strong minority disapproved of the practice. For a while the minority fought against the majority unsuccessfully, but later n. split developed, and the minority broke away aad formed a new club in the town. Now everything is going along smoothly. The members of the old club still carry on their Sunday play and quench their thirst with, liquid refreshment as opportunity occurs, while the members of the new club confine their play to week days and drink nothing stronger than tea. .And this is exactly as it, should be. The members of the old club have their green in a secluded spot and do not offend anyone with their Sunday play, and the members of the new club are not called upon to endorse any actions of which they do not approve.

Sunday play is not necessarily offensive. it just depends upon, the point of view. To play bowls on a green within full view oi' the public would offend many people, but there is no great harm in playing on a. secluded* green, on Sundays. One of the chief reasons why there is no Sunday play in Christchurch., is because there are no suitable greens. Hut even it there were greens in Christchurch sufficiently secluded to enable bowls to be played on them on Sundays, it is quite possible that bowlers would still confine themselves to week-end play. The opinion is pretty general that bowlers can get in. sufficient play dining the week without desiring to continue their games on Sundays. It is not necessarily a question of what is right and what is wrong; it is merely that bowlers*' in Christchurch are quite

satisfied to have a spell from their favourite pastimes on Sundays, this, m spite, of the fact that golf and tennis are played preily generally in Christchurch on that ciav.

I lie W «-•! lin "ton Centre lias derided this season to alter the method of determining which side has the win in pennant matches. Previously the side " hich had the highest aggregate score was the winner. On several occasions it. was I mind that one big win by one rink changed defeat into victory for its side. notwithstanding that the other three or five rinks on that side lost their games. This season the side that has the larger number of rink wins, counting one point lor a win and halt a point for a draw, ivill be the winner, and counts one point for the results of the day’s pla-v. A draw on rinks points gives a half-point for each side, for the day. Wellington’s decision in this respect brings it into line with the procedure adopted bv the Christchurch Centre in determining the scores in the A pennant matches. Entries for the Christchurch Club’s competitions are coming in freely, and judging by the appearance of the notice hoard there will be a big list of competitors in all competitions. The rink from the Christchurch (.'lub consisting of A. Dickson, <l. ’Lewis, W. 11. MaeDougall and J. Kemiic (s) which scored second place at the Dominion tournament in Wellington last January, will probably be playing together again this season. They have entered for the champion rink competition of the Christchurch Club and may also compete at the Dominion tournament to be held in Dunedin next January. A warm civic reception awaited the touring New Zealand bowlers, at. Tunbridge. Wells. The mayor and members of the Kent representative team entertained them nt luncheon at the Spa Hotel. Here an amusing incident occurred. In replying to the toast of the visitors. Air -J. T>. Sievwright said that the name of the town reminded him that in No''- Zealand they at one time bad. a popular -»oJj.ce commissioner of (he Mine name. Much to the surprise and amusement of all, Commissioner

Tunbridge Irmself called out : <c Yes. I'm hero. ’ \lr Tunbridge is at present living on the South Coast, anrl bad come up that day to witness the match. One of .Mr W. Nicholson's remarks at the Dunedin Club’s jubilee smoke concert was that there were but three gentlemen who could boast of a triple honour of having held office as president of their club, president of their centre, and president of the Dominion Association -viz.. Messrs M. F, Barnett (Christchurch). C 11. Smith and himself. He inadvertently omitted Air J. -I. Marlow, who also has held the three offices mentioned.— Measurer r ' in the Dunedin “ Star.’’ The programme for the. next Association tournament at Dunedin is now out. Tbo dates are : —Singles, Wednesday and Thursday. January 11 and 12; pairs. Friday and Saturday. January 13 and 14 ; rinks. Jan Mary I<>, 17. IS and 10. Entry fees: Pairs, 20s per pair; rinks. £2 10s per rink; single*. 7p 6d per plaver. Entries close on December 10. It is non stated definitely that New South Wales bowlers will not organise a team io take part in the Dominion tournament or tour New Zealand nextseason. Nominations are being called for an Australian team for England next May in response to an invitation received. The beautiful spell of fine weather gave the Sumner Club. Inst Saturday, the first real opportunity of the season to try the green. In spite of the heavy rain of the night previously the green was very last, and the visiting links from United ans Opawa, playing in tlic A pennant competition, expressed themselves as very pleased with the play. Sumner won both sections, afll tin* hut two being very close. There was n large attendance for tbo opening of Hie Otago Bowling Club's season on Saturday. The sixtieth year of Ihe Auckland Bowling Club was declared open ou Saturdav afternoon by the president, Mr William Oulpan. who has been a subscribing member for the last fifty years. Air Culpau said 1 lie diamond jubilee of the club would be celebrated later in the season. Air Af. F. Bennett, of the Canterbury Club, who was president of the Now Zealand bowling team which toured the British Isles, returned to Auckland by tiic U.M.S. Alakura oil Friday Inst. It will ho several days before he return's to Christchurch. The results of fast Saturday’s pennant matches which were sent it* to the Centre secretary wore found to he very unsatisfactory in many casts. The skips of the winning teams are responsible for sending in the results, and some of the cards received by the secretary were m a shocking condition, several having no names of players at all upon them. The Match Committee wish to impress upon all skips the absolute necessity of sending in complete cards, giving names of clubs, members ol rinks, and totals. This is very important, this season, because the cards are the only means by which the corn mittee can ascertain if the clubs are -observing the rules imposed owing to the introduction of the B pennant. Unless all results are forwarded promptly and in satisfactory condition

to the secretary, the Match Committee will consider ft necessary to take some drastic action against the offending The weather was almost ideal far the commencement of the Centre’s A and B pennant competitions last Saturday, and. even though there had been more rain over night, the condition nr the 2.l'eens. in most cases, was very good. Some greens were inclined to he heavy, but this did not militate to any extent against, the enjoyment of the players. The two Saturdays which occur in carnival week are bowlers’ holidays as far ns earn petitions are concerned, and consequently there will be no more pennant matches until Saturday, November in. Meanwhile players will be able to get in n little quiet practice, which has been impossible- before owing to the rain. The Christchurch indoor bowling rink, which was opened in July last, has had a most successful season, which officially closed last night with the second tournament between West’s and Blackwell’s rinks. So successful has been the season that a third rink was put into play ton aids the end of the season. Recently a match was played with the members of the Christchurch Centi*. and the Centre has decided to give a return match.