BOWLING.

Press, Volume LV, Issue 16428, 23 January 1919, Page 8

BOWLING.

I | NOTES BY "SKIP." 1 Last Saturdnv several of the city • clubs indulged in friendly matches and | although the day was not all that ! could have been wished for, still some I verv interesting and close finishes took place. The Sumner Ciub entertained the Lytteiton and Leeston Clubs, and in both instances proved victorious. It is quite pleasing to see young players coming on to sucii an extent that the v are able to take the position of skip in an emergency, and J. S. -Neville rose to the occasion last Saturday when he meted out a seven-point defeat to Sinclair of Lvttolton. Although Iseville has only b,'on playing a feu* seasons he has a good sound knowledge of toe game, and should develop into a firstC^fhe^ various club competitions are proceeding very satisfactorily,. and this season they will finished in plenty of time beiore the Champion of Champions games are plavod. The majoiity of tho rink games have practically reached the final stage, and good progress is being made in the doubles and f'n«4s This is good, as-some clubs list rear never found their champions until" only a day or two before the championship was P«jy e^; T cujniH The first game in the A\ atson Shield competition was played on Saturday, •when a rink from Opawa visited the Edcewar© green to play the holders. The Edge ware players proved their superiority, and Opawa had to retire badly beaten. The nest challenging rink comes from ltangiora and the game will probably be played nest baturday afternoon. . The Bowling Carnival, which takes place in Sydney at Easter time, promisee totea noteworthy event. Ihe local secretary, Mr D. Wood received a communication last week asking that an v. local bowlers who intend malting the trip should at" once reserve their accommodation, as mtiny of the note's are already booked tip, Mr Wood will be pleased to have the names of any play ere who wish to spend Easter in Sydney, and he will at onco advise tho Sydney secretary. , ~ At a meeting of members of the Opawa dub, on Monday evening, Mr George H. Bonnington was elected green superintendent in place of Mr H. A. Bruce, vho has resigned; owing to taking-up his residence in Sumner. At the samo meeting it was decided _to close the competition inthe Champion Singles on February 2oth, and the Champion Doubles and Rinks on February 22nd. , Professor Maxwell "Walker, who won tlio Champion Singles fit the recent Dominion Tournament, in Auckland, lis probably one of the best known bowlers in the Dominion. For years now he has been a prominent figure at nearly all-the tournaments, and seldom or ever during the past five or six years lias ho been out of a place. He has been a most consistent singles' player, and last year was runner-up to Foster, of the 'Caledonian Club, Dunedin. His performance this year is a most creditable one, for after winning the singles he played off in the final for the Champion Pairs, being only beaten by Hueston, of Gisborne, ,by two points. Professor Walker is one of the most forcible and dashing players in the Dominion, and I congratulate him on the fine performance he has put up at this tournament. Hueston, who skipped the winning pair in the recent tournament, is also a well-known bowler. For many years he was a prominent member of the Victoria Club, Wellington, and.one year won the Wellington Centre tournament. During the past few years ho has been resident in Gisborne, and has been very prominent in club and inter-club competitions. . This is .the second time in. three years that this championship has gone to Gisborne, the previous winning skip being J. J. Martin. . .Not tho least interesting featuro of the bowling carnival to be neld in Sydney at Easter will be the presence of a representative ;Now Zealand; team (writes "Jack High" in Sydney "Sun"). Mr A. J. Whitehouse, local manager of the carnival, is now .in communication with Mr Victor Casey and other New Zcalanders, and it is-understood that a powerful sixteen is being collected to cross the Tasman. The New Zealanders will not be able toiparticipate in the main A.B.C. events, which are to be restricted to members of affiliated associations, but the presence of the topnotchers of each of the Australian States in Sydney would enable a strbng Australian team to be pitted against the visitors in a .series of test matches. A suggestion comes from a southern bowler regarding the annual tournament, which is held here at Easter. For several years now it has been customary only to play rinks, but a hint has been thrown out that the tourney would become more popular if pairs were also included. The Centre Executive will no doubt, seriously consider this matter, and, if practicable, meet the wishes of those interested. A good deal of comment has been made lately- by players from different clubs regarding the condition in which some of the greens are in at present. Bowlers must not forgot that the Dominion Tournament lias to be played at Christchurch next year, and the greens must be as perfect as possible for this event; therefore, green superintendents should bestir themselves,' and see that their instructions are carried out, and that the'greens are in a fit and proper condition for tournament play. ' Now that the war is over, no doubt a record entry will be received, therefore let Canterbury put up a record regarding first-class greens, so that there will be no comment from our visitors regarding bad turfing or untrue rinks.