BOWLS

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 9, 6 October 1919, Page 7

BOWLS

OPENING OF THE SEASON

Several clubs selected Saturday afternoon to.open their greens for the season, and as it was the firafSaturday in October no departure from, tradition was made, foris.it not written— •■ ■ '• ' .'/' For with October's sunny days . > "The flannelled howler blitliMomo; plays." • ■Unfortunately the fitful sunshine of Saturday afternoon'-.was negatived by a chill iontherly breeze, .witli a mid-winter nip ... in it, which; caused' many a player to'wear a warm coat, which in real bowling weather he would: certainly discard in favour of lighter raiment. So it was no'.fc- howling weather at all—yet the . greens of . those. clubs- which did open were fairly'well populated, and no rink lacked its double-quartet of players, as eager as ever to test,their skill and judgment in pace, and green on the new spring-time carpet.. ,-.,' ; ; -'./ <\;;.VICTORIA CLUB. •', , "'';-. The Victoria Club's green' looked well' and-played well, ..thanks'to the care and attention given it Ky Mr.- Holmes during the winter,'-,and those who were privileged' to,have a roll up'declared that the lnountairi-sido green was never : in bettor condition. ; There was a numerous attendance of members and friends, In-. eluding a very-large number of ladies. Tho season was opened'by tho president (Mr. E; S. Haughtoii), 'who compared | tho "world-conditions prevailing when, the ! last season was opened (in- October, 1018) '('•'''. and no.w. Then all was war and anxious, .uncertainty, now peaco had regained her sway.'and they/weve all ;; 'vefy glad and .thankful for it,' "The' returned soldiers deserved all-thanks arid consideration'for. ' the way in,'wliich they had'helped ; to bring about the glorious result. The sons, of'many'.of their, members had ■' played .'their part gallantly, and on behalf of the directors.he extended to returned men who were tho 'sons of..members the freedom! ami hospitality of. tho. green". (Applause.) A' tribute was-also - paid to the .praiseworthy, work the.: women had the, war" period.. It, had become so, strenuous that the club . had.at length torelieve, thenv of the: re-- ' spomjibility 'entailed in providing ■ t'hp : refreshments for/opening day.-. ;On .this . occasion the ladies had insisted .upon resuming their work, tind'all present would see how well they had. done'it: 'Ho''had ; much pleasure; in-declaring' the green open for. the season. ■ •••'.•'.- : '■:■••■;■■ ■_• • ' "-■ :.Ari ample afternoon tea' was.provided, and-the social hall,-so lavishly .decorated: 'with dowel's and..flags,' "was a pleasant sixht. ; : ;; , ;'..-•.„ .'"••"•/■':-\' : ». •'.':" '';•;■'■ : , NEWTOWN• CLUB. ' ';•:, In the prc'sseiico of .'a lai'ge assemblage, of; ladies, club members, and visiting bowl-:,c-rs., Mr. H. Ranson, presfdent' of the -Newtown Club;.opened the bowling .sea-': , son on Saturday a'ftornoon. -. Tho green was in really excellent order, surroundings and exterior of .the'pavilion were nicely decorated for'.the occaision.. In tho course of his remarks Mr. Ran-, son expressed his 'pleasure at having the privilege'of being the first.'club prcsi-. dent for five years who had been able'to 1 address mem )>ep on opening day, without ha 'ing' to refer to the Great War as a' horror of the present. He touched feel-' ingly oil tho debt of gratitude that we all owed to the sailors and soldiers of our oivn Empire and; our allies for the great victory. that .had crowned their nni ted-efforts after so loiig'a period of unforgettable trails, and as a tribute-,to , the fallen he asked>all present to stand . in silence for a .space, . Mr. Ranson then , congratulated tli'o members on'the club's 6iice«3, during the previous season, and ' expressed tho hope that with.the improved green surface .and a favourable season from the weather point of~-view, the club would bo oven more suftc'ssful in tho game during the ensuing bowling 'l year. He congratulated., the. .caretaker ■- ' on the-very-fine results; he had. obtained with the; preparation, of the.playing area, and on tho way he maintained_the -club's propertv generally;.-.,'.-■':'.- „■:. : After Mr.' S.H.,Underwood, wife- of the club's, secretary, had, in thennavoidablo absenceof Mrs. Ranson, thrown.the iack—a silver one lent for the.occasion , by' Mr. 'James .'Brackenridge;: senr.'—and ' ,Mfs: v J. ; Langht6ii;.'"wife bf' : th'e-'.--- vice- ■ 'presid'eiit.had broken the'club's flag, Mr. .„ .Ranson declared.'.the. season. 1919-20 duly opened,- amidst the hearty cheering of the. waiting playeis. , - ' ;■ : Teams representing the president and vice-president then took part in a, six--1 teen-head game,' resulting in ; a r.v'ictory foi-the latter by'a small margin'.'. '■' " . . Several new members;were.elected d«r- ---'. ing the afternoon; ■ -. ■ The.social Voom of the club, which had been most effectively decorated for the occasion, was iii charge of Mrs.,'J. Laughton, who was ably' assisted by tho wives of the directors in the dispensing of "afternoon, tea.- : If. was decided that-play Would no,t be permitted on the green till.next Satur4av. . ■. , ' ; ■ ' THORNDON CLUB.' ;: ■ A' very-'suob'pssful' ■'opening of' the 1 Thorndon Bowling Club, which is in its twenty-fifth year, took place, on Saturday, when, after a short speech'by the president (Mr. D. Munro), the-first bowl, was played by .Mrs. Munro, and the green-was declared opened for play. Owing/to the sheltered position of the ■ green,. the' southerly wind was not' felt ••■■ and an excellent afternoon's play' Was ■ -.enjoyed by the seven Tinks engaged. 'Tho ;, green' was in first-class;ij'rder, and the. caretaker was complimented' on -its' fine playing condition. Tea was provided by Mrs. Munro, assisted by a 'number or. ■ friends. ~'''.- ( ~>,, , ' •.,,.,.-;. TE -HIW.I CLUB. ■ The;opening of the season Of.the Te'! Hiwi-C'lub was most successful; The i visitors included members of other clubs and a niimber of ladies.'. The green was opened by Mr. E., J; Hill, who remarked that this was the.first season in the history of the cltib at which his father. had been unable to' be. present, ' Al-.' 'though "Dad" was not, well "enough'to perform tho opening'■ ceremony,- he had asked him (the 'speaker) to express,tho .wish .that'everyone should enjoy-them-' selves to the utmost; After referring to the effect, of the war Mr. Hill said that now that the conflict was successfully concluded members could " enter into tlicir games with unrestricted freedom i and enthusiasm. .' • ' . ._ ! Two .daughters of Mr. C. Hill, senr.,' . ' each threw a-jack, arid received hearty cheers from'those present. The green ' was in excellent playing order, and \ a number of friendly games were got off. Afternoon, tea was provided by members.