A UNIQUE RECORD

Waikato Independent, Volume XXX, Issue 2312, 18 March 1930, Page 5

A UNIQUE RECORD

MR WILLIAM M. McFARLANE.

HERO OF MANY TOURNEYS

(By “Lead.”)

Although in actual number of years

•of active play Mr William M. McFarlanc, of Cambridge,.cannot lay claim to as lengthy a record as a number of

other bowlers in the Auckland Province, he is justified in boasting a record of successes that must go down as outstanding in the bowling history of

the Northern districts. Truly a unique record has Mr McFarlane, or ‘ ‘ Rotorua Mac.” as he was more familiarly known to Provincial bowlers in earlier years; and noiv as “Old Mac,” as he spends the autumn of his life among the bowling fraternity of Cambridge and South Auckland.

It requires no sea’ clung to ascertain the country of Mr McFarlane’s birth,

•which occurred 78 years ago. It will, no doubt, be quite sufficient, if one just mentions that it is noted for its good spiijts. * * Old Mac.” is a typical son of the race; possessed of the fighting, canny nature, yet generous to those few fortunate ones who can lay claim to be his friend. When quite a young man he left the land of his birth to try

his luck in New Zealand, and by his ♦ industry ho has got together “sufficient for the day,” while at the same time taking unto himself a good wife and. bringing up a reasonably large family. '“Old Mac.” was industrious in earlier days, keeping faith with his personal responsibilities, and it was not until he was 50 years of age that he thought about taking up bowls. However, with ““Mac” and bowls it was the same as a duck takes to water, as the following records will illustrate. Joins Rotorua Club. It was twenty-eight years ago that Mr McFarlane joined the Rotorua Club, his trade as a master carpenter taking him to that centre. Right from his introduction to the good old game he showed himself an apt pupil, and in the season 1902 and 1903 he won *the Rotorua silver cup from scratch, with the wonderful record of 19 games to niL From then on his association with the sport was just one long scries of successes, and he became the terror of all his opponents.

A Great Record. I am afraid it would take me far too long to describe in detail the many contests in which Mr McFarlane was successful, and I doubt very much whether I should be allowed half the space necessary, but some idea will be gained from the following list of records: — 1904-5: Ro|orua Bowling Club’s •champion singles (silver kettle); also pairs and fours. 1902-3: R.B.C. singles and tournament pairs (gold medals); and Te Aroha Club’s pairs (gold medals): 1906: R.B.C. tournament fours (gold medal). 1907: R.B.C. tournament fours (gold medal); also tournament pairs. 1908: R.B.C. champion singles (gold medal). 1909: R.B.C. tournament pairs (gold medal); Cambridge B.C. tournament pairs (gold medal); also won Auckland B.A. pairs, II games to nil (gold medal). 1910: R.B.C. tournament fours (gold medal). 1911: Cambridge tournament fours (gold medal); also pairs and fours at Rotorua. 1912: Cambridge B.C. singles •champion. 1913: Cambridge B.C. sin gles champion; also C.B.C. tournament pairs (gold medal). 1914: Cambridge B.C. singles and fours. . It will be seen from the foregoing

-that Mr McFarlane has good reason to proud of his bowling career; and *it might be mentioned that since 1914 he has won a number of minor fixtures in his own Cambridge Club, which he joined about 1910. Cupboard Full of Trophies.

.“Old Mac's” proudest possession today is his cupboard full of trophies, scalps of by-gone bowling days, and as he proudly displays them to anyone fortunate enough to enter the portals of his comfortable home in Cambridge, the 'visitor must appreciate the host of memories they * conjure up for this ■grand old bowler. Mr McFarlane’s -trophies include no less than 19 gold medals, and affixed to an ornamental collar they have a prominent place among his great collection. This veteran bowler has, ,in addition, won a number of one-day tournaments and other less important fixtures. Added to the aforementioned lists, they make a unique record. It is even more pronounced when it is mentioned that Mr McFarlane averaged three prizes each year for 20 years. A Player, not a Talker. Although Mr McFarlane. was a member of the Rotorua Club for many years ■and has been a member of the Cam-

bridge Club for a lengthy period, he has

never aspired to official positions, preto remain among the rank and file of bowlers. In the course of conversation with “Old Mac.” a few days ago, he mentioned to mo that while he was a failband at bowls in years gone by there

was one thing lie could never do and that was make a speech. “I’ve often got out of a hole when wc were down in the last head,” said the old man, “but many’s the time I’ve had to get old Dave Heard, of Rotorua, to get me out of making a speech after winning a tournament.” It might be mentioned that the same Dave is well-known to bowlers throughout the Province, and in the palmy days he invariably was to be-found playing lead or three for Mr McFarlane. The chat the writer had with the veteran about bowls and bowlers in years gone by was the most interesting ho had experienced for many a day. A score of names mentioned by him were of bowlers whose prowess was a by-word, in bowling circles a decade or so ago, and many were mentioned who are still “rolling up” with the best of them to-day. Warming up to his subject the old gentleman said: “I mind the time when I told George Baildon, who is Mayor of Auckland now, that he had as much chance of beating me in a semi-final at Auckland as a stone, and I wasn’t wrong either.” The incident was recalled with one of “Old Mac.’s” characteristic chuckles, rnd he went on to interestingly refer to his associations wdth such prominent players in the past as David Dingwall, J. J. Holland, M. N. Gill, R. Rankin, .Tames Hardic, H. N. Garland, E. Hoyte and others that at the moment I cannot recall to mind. In his many interesting references to the Rotorua Club Mr McFarlane paid tribute to the men who helped him in the winning of many of his earlier full rink successes. They w r cre Percy . Hoyes (3), Dave Heard (2), and the late Mr Crowhurst, of Auckland (lead). “Yes, and Billy Christie was another old lead of mine,” said the. old gentleman, who went on to express- the opinion that R. Rankin, a skip of the Mt. Eden Club in those days was the best “draw” lie ever saw. “The Game To-day.” When Mr McFarlane was asked what l.c thought of the game as played today, he replied that it was much the same as in earlier years. With a few exceptions he did not think that skips had the of shots of the oldtime skips. There was far too much driving by players who had not learnt the art of driving. “Old Mac.” can speak with authority on driving, for he was looked upon as a master of this art in years gone by. It is recalled that in one important game played by Mr McFarlane years ago he had no loss than 14 dead heads, and that he killed seven heads in succession to finally come out a winner. Bowlers who read this will admit that that was some performance. “Driving wants a lot of practice,” said the old gentleman in dismissing the subject, and going on to tell the writer.other memorable battles. Interest Keen as Ever. Mr McFarlane’s interest in the grand old game is still as keen, as ever, and he is frequently upon the Cambridge greens, while he seldom fails to le present when any important match is being staged. It fvas a happy idea last season that prompted the Cambridge Club executive to inaugurate matches for veteran teams in interclub games. “Old Mac.” has led the Cambridge veterans —who include Cambridge’s grand old man, Mr Geo. E. Clark—on several occasions, and that he is not a spent light yet may be gauged from the successes that the Cambridge rink has had. A memorable match took place recently on the Claudelands greens, references to which have tely been made. I can only add that Mr McFarlane ably led his team and showed that if he cannot roll quite so truly and smoothly as in earlier days he is. still able to employ the strategy that w-on him many of his former battles.

In concluding this brief bowling biography I feel sure that every bowler in the Province will join with their Cambridge brethren in wishing that “Old Rotorua Mac.” will be yet spared for many years to “roll his bowl upon the green.”