BOWLING

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 247, 18 October 1937, Page 5

BOWLING

WANGANUI CENTRE OPENING OF SEASON IDEAL CONDITIONS SATURDAY’S RESULTS Gloriously tine weather and greens that were particularly keen favoured Wanganui Bowling Centre clubs who opened their season on Saturday. A large number of lady supporters and many male onlookers attended at all greens, which gave the various functions a gala aspect. Next Saturday will be a “visiting day,” when local clubs will entertain visiting rinks from other clubs. As the Victoria Bowling Club will open their green next Saturday they were represented at the various clubs’ greens on Saturday. ST. JOHN’S CLUB THE THIRTY-FIRST SEASON The St. John’s Bowling Club opened their 31st season on Saturday under ideal conditions with an attendance of approximately two hundred players and friends. The president, Mr. Lew Bassett, welcomed the visitors and new members and in referring to the splendid condition of the greens paid a warm tribute to the good work of the greenkeeper (Mr. F. Howard), the green committee, and those members who had rendered such excellent service since the close of the last season. Greetings were read from Messrs. Harry Harris and W. McTubbs (both of whom are holiday-making abroad) and W. Bell, a veteran member of the club. Mr. Bassett heartily thanked the ladies who were assisting with the arrangements and especially Mrs. Cunningham for valuable assistance in the past. A pleasing feature was the presentation of bouquets to Mrs. Bassett and Mrs. Cunningham. The function was concluded by Mrs. Bassett playing the first bowl and the players then settled down to an enjoyable afternoon’s play. The attractive appearance of the greens and surroundings called for much favourable comment and the afternoon tea provided by the ladies was fully appreciated. The usual president and vice-presi-dent games were played, Mr. Beswick deputising for Mr. H. S. Harris. Following are the results, the president’s team being mentioned first:— Carpenter, Ashworth, Mackay, Bassett 25, v. Mackie, Ansell, Rhodes, Beswick 22.

Howie, Fowler, Bromiley, Aiken (Waverley) 19, v. Cunningham, Gibson, W. Gordon, G. S. Gordon 27. Ghent, Thomson, Miller, Smithies (Victoria) 19, v. Newsome, Sampson, Bourne, Michie 16. W. A. Brown, Chesswas, R. Leigh, Moffatt 22, v. Hunger, F. Smith, R. Benefield, McKenzie 17. Lower, F. Pepper, Johnstone, Glover 20, v. Dearsley, Guy, T. V. Brown, Upton 22. Garner, Sedon, W. Harris, Benefield 25, v. B. Armstrong, Wilson, Wallace, Toop 25. Stanton, Mummery, Gillies, Ormsby 18, v. McPhail, Easton, Bilderdeck, R. Armstrong 19. Hay, Williams, Moss, B. B. Harris 20, v. Ashwell, Pidgeon, A. Pepper Stone 21.

R. Cathro, W. J. Browne, Condie, Falconer 16, v. Coltman, Collins, Lauchland, Wight 16. Anderson, Laws, Carrad, Puddle 19, v. Andrew, Engleman, Elliot, Delves Holland, Millar, Rowling, Clinkard 17, v. Rutherford, Crowley, Bird, Brass 16. W. Cathro, R. Gray, Harle, Green 23, v. Kendrick, Havill, W. Brown, Baxter 18. Downey, Henry, Threadgold, Murch 14, v. Murdoch, W. Pepper, Kidd, Bioadhead 18. C. Leigh, Colmer, Stringer, Herd 18, v. Barns, Lowrie, G. Harris, Parkes Richardson, P. Whitlock, Leggatt, Gilbertson 23, v. G. S. Simpson, Hermans, Caird, Hodson 18. Aggregates: President, 298; vicepresident, 290.

WANGANUI CLUB SILVER “KITTY” THROWN A silver “kitty” made its appearance on the Wanganui green and was thrown straight and true by Mrs. A. Crawford, wife of the president. If I a well-thrown “kitty,” and a silver one at that, is a good omen, then bowlers are certainly in for an auspicious season. Brightly hued in tribute to spring, the Wanganui Club’s grounds gave welcome to a large gathering of members and their lady friends. The greens themselves looked inviting and, in the words o£ one of the oldest members, have never played better on an opening day. The president of the club (Mr. A. Crawford), in his drily genial way, welcomed the gathering, making special mention of the ladies and Mr. Peter Doull, looking fit and well, who had travelled specially to be present. It had been fitting, Mr. Crawford said, that in the jubilee year (1936-37) the membership of the club should be greater than ever before. He here introduced a sad note, recalling the passing to the Great Beyond of Bowlers A. A. Flower, A. T. Cavell, C. W. Poynter and R. McSkimming. The assembled players stood a moment in silence.

“I also forgot to tell you, when mentioning the jubilee year, that the weather was the worst on record," Mr. Crawford proceeded. "I was blamed to a great extent for the weather last year, but to-day I find, when it is fine and sunny, every ini dividual member trying to take credit to himself. (Laughter.) You can take it from me that to-day is a forerunner of a really fine bowling season.” Some doubts on the point were raised by voices from the back, but Mr. Crawford had not completed his prophesy. "You will find," he said, "that we will have fine weather at intervals.” (Renewed laughter.) The speaker paid tribute to the work of the secretary (Mr. O. Hales), who had repainted the score boards during the "long winter vacation.” He also extended fraternal greetings to all the sister clubs and wished every bowler a successful and happy season. Mrs. Crawford then threw the first "kitty,” the silver flashing in the sunlight, and the little rolling shape seeming to carry with it, the full length of the green, a shining hope for a great bowling year. The play took the form of a match between rinks representing the president and vice-president, and after a keen contest the president's players ran out winners by a margin of 19 points. At the interval Mrs. Crawford and a band of helpers served a delightful afternoon tea, which was appreciated by members and visitors alike.

The games resulted as follow, the presidents representatives being mentioned first:—

Ryall, Masters, Low, Crawford 21, v. A. Tilley, Young, G. Brown, Allomes 15. Lowe, Stockwell, Haworth, Goodey 24, v. Salter, Peapell, Hoggetta, Wicks (Waverley) 19. Norfolk, Hole, Cooke, O’Meara 19, v. Hanson, Dick, Armstrong, McSkimming 17. Bretherion, Strachan, Blythe, Steel 22, v. Strouts, Lance, Hales, Stone 12. Hammond, Jeffs, Stewart, Quarteran 24, v. Doull, Fulton, Williamson, McFarlane 19. Buchan, J. Gilmour, Howie, Goldstone 24, v. Cade, W. Johnstone, A. Anderson, Aylmer 15. West, Dunlop, McLaren, C. N. Johnson 27, v. Swan, Bourne, Graham, Caldwell (Victoria) 14. Blennerhassett, Hill, Treloar 23, v. Sutherland, Roche, Wilkie 16. Collingwood, Kilgour, White, Bond 16, v. R. S. Brown, Addenbrooke, Hally, Price 23. Halligan, Glengarry, Wilson, Enge■bretsen 16, v. Sperring, Barton, Gordon, London 23. Boulton, Carruthers, Moir, Munro 12, v. Willis, Kirshaw, Newton, H. Tilley 29. Franklin, Featherstone, Jones, Capp 13, v. Crosby, Robson, Lewis, Kirk 20. Holland, Hayward, A. Gilmour, Patterson 21, v. Barclay, Uttley, Adams, G. Handley 21. Aggregate: President, 262; vicepresident, 243. GONVILLE CLUB Club games were continued at the Gonville green on Saturday under pleasant playing conditions. Following are the results ol the games played:— Linaker, Adamson, Guthrie, Wilson

27, v. Chisholm, Ferris, Banks, Thompson 19. Stark, Lee, Beard 20, v. Cox, Leslie, Sutton 25.

Grant, J. Smith, Edwards, Svenson 14, v. Carline, Mooney, Cornish, Corby 18. Hoar, Vincent, Tinney, Fyfe 32, v. Ogg, Higgins, Thurston, Webb-Jones 10. Reynolds, Durrant, North, Naumann 19, v. Davy, Purchase, Symonds, Mailman 23. Bateman, Hodson, Gowan, A. B. Christensen 12, v. Davies, Berryman, James, J. Healey 26. Members are reminded of an allday pairs tournament on Labour Da>, commencing at 9 a.m. WANGANUI EAST CLUB Favoured by beautiful weather, there was a very good attendance of players, including new members and lady visitors, for the official opening of the Wanganui East Bowling Club’s green on Saturday afternoon. The green was in fine order, and on the table stood an imposing array of trophies, including the majestic Nixon Cup and the Senior Shield, bearing witness to the club’s success in interclub competitions last season. In his opening speech, the president (Mr A. W. Jones) extended a hearty welcome to the ladies and to all old and new members, especially to those latter who were playing bowls for the first time. He trusted they would thoroughly enjoy the play and never regret that they had become members. He paid a well-merited tribute to that zealous and loyal body, the “working bee,” without whose ungrudging service the club could not carry on. He thanked all members for their co-operation and good play which had helped the club to win two inter-club trophies, the Senior Shield and the Nixon Cup, in the one season. The club had only just missed “scooping the pool” by winning the Willis Shield, also. He trusted all would have another enjoyable season. Trophies were then presented by Miss Jones to the various winners, as follows:

A Singles (Muir Cup and Atkinson Challenge Cup).—E. G. Hutchins. B Singles (Atkinson Challenge Cup) —J. Tippens. A Pairs.—H. S. Grant and W. Raine (skip). B Pairs.—D. Taylor and J. A. Ross (skip). i Handicap Singles (Hedges Challenge Cup).—H. Haworth. Full Rinks.—J. Tippens, R. H. Jenkins, J. H. Purnell, W. Burns (skip). The winner of the Turner Memorial Challenge Cup for the mid-week competition, Mr H. H. Rogerson, was unable to be present. , Miss Jones then threw the first jacn and played the first bowl and declared the green formally open, amid appause.

Friendly full rink games were played and at the usual interval a committee of ladies, presided over by Miss Jones, dispensed afternoon tea to visitors and players. Results of games played were as follow: Stanton, Willis, Muir, Burns 16, v. Lints, Boss, Purnell, Holloway 22. Jenkins, Ansley, Heinold, Fletcher 25, v. D. Taylor, Bain, Gaunt, Hutchins 14. Ellis, Connell, Clark, Baxter 20, v. Dawn, L. Taylor, Tippens, Raine 18. McKessar, Colman, Barrowman, Rush 22, H. Taylor, Begbie, Partridge, Bowling 22. Atkinson, Penn, Gillespie, Carvel! 16, v. Tate, Woods, Bamford, Stewart 25, Gray, Simpson, Ross, Haworth 24, v. Hart, Gillum, Meek, Denman 18. Marlow, Jones 28, v. Beauchamp, Hemingway 20