BOWLING.

Gisborne Times, Volume VIII, Issue 547, 17 October 1902, Page 3

BOWLING.

GISBORNE BOWLING CLUB.

OPENING OF THE SEASON.

Tho members of tho Gisborne Bowling Club were favored with fine weather for tho opening of the season, which took place yesterday afternoon under most favorablo auspices. Thero was a largo attendance of visitors and bowlers.

Tho coromony of formally declaring tho season open took place at three o'clock, when the President of the Club, Mr J. A. Harding, made a speech thoroughly appropriate to the occasion. Mr Harding said bo had great honor in declaring tho green open for play. He was suffering from an attack of influenza, and could not make a speech, but ho could not allow tho occasion to pass without extending tho hospitality of their club to tho ladies and gentlemen present. It was gratifying to every member to soe that so many had favored them with their presence. It was glorious weather, and everything favored a successful.opening. On looking round ho was pleaped to see so many ladies present, and ho hoped they would continuo to favor the club with their attendance. Any little friction that may have existed in tho past ho hoped to soe forgotten, and it was tho earnest wish of members of tho club that tho ladies would honor the greon with their attendance, and dispense afternoon tea as in tho past. (Applause.) He extended a welcome to tho large number of visitors. Tho club was always glad to have them there, so that Gisborno could return in a liko manner tho hospitality that they rocoived when thoy went abroad. (Applause.) Tbo hospitality received on the greens in New Zealand was such as could only bo given by real genuine bowlers. (Applause.) Members might

congratulate themselvos on tho prospects of a very successful season. There would bo sundry contests botween tho different clubs, and whon the timo arrived that they had to send a champion rink away to represent Povorty Bay he hoped that the quartette sont would uphold tho dignity and reputation of tho club as they had done in tho past. (Cheers.) Twelve months ago Mr Pettie said he was nervous in taking over tho duties of president, but ho (the spoakor) felt norvous becauso it was certain that overy member looked upon Mr Pettie as having carried out the duties of tho post better than any other gentleman who had over taken tho reins. (Applause.) A word of praise was duo to the Ground Committee for tho attention givon to the green, and also to tho carotakor, Mr Tansley, who has dono his best to improve tho ground since he had taken it over.

The President then deolared the green open in tho time-honored fashion of throwing the jack, and it was worthy of montion that Mr Harding, with his eyes shut, mado a " toucher,” which in the opinion of all good bowlers is a happy omen for a successful and prosperous season.

Tho match arranged for the afternoon was President v. Vice-President, and a keen contest' resulted in a victory for the vice-Presidont by thirteen points. Witty skipped against Simson, the Whataupoko champion skip, and until a late stage in the gamo it looked as though Witty was going to give his opponent a good drubbing, but Simson with his usual dash camo homo by a point, but had all tho best of tho luck. Massey, with a strong team, mot Dixon, and a diDg-dong battle ended in tho Secretary going down by five . points. On paper Hookey had none tho best of the selection, but good generalship | saw him homo over his opponents by 26 to 13, tho difference boing exactly tho number of points that the vice-Prosi-dent’s team won by. Tho match between Harding (President) and Ferris (vicePresident) was an eventful one. On the tenth head the popular host of tho Masonic had only 4 to Ferris’ 19, but at this stage of tho gamo Matthewson and McGowan got to work, and their opponents only scored another point, tho President coming with a rush and winning with 26 to 20. Gisborno’s champion skip fell a victim to the Times’ representative by one point, tho scoro being 20 to 19, To tho efforts of Morgan, O'Meara, and Skeot, all of whom played sterling games, was duo tho downfall ofPonsford's strong team. Sidebottom and Coleman fought out an interesting finish, the runnerup for last yoar’s championship, winning by a point. Tho Vice-President’s team scored 129 points against tho President’s 116, tho following being tho scores President v. Vice-President L. Maude J. T. Witty C. Adair W. J. Quigley B. Robertson J. Martin J. W. Witty (sk) 18 I. Simson (skip) 19 J. Rosie B. Colobrook H. Lewis F. W. Pettie 1 F. Harris T. Adair | C. H. Dixon (sk) 15 A. Massey (skip) 20 | E. Cussen C. Adair , D. Orr J- Cumming [ M. Nasmith H. Jackson J. Hennessy (sk) 13 A. Hookey (skip) 26 3 Nicholas A. S. Soymour f G. Matthewson F. Euro 1 J. McGowan J. W. Walls 3 J, Harding (skip) 26 C. Ferris (skip) 20 3 (President; (Vice-President) l Williams W. Morgan 0 Ambridgo W. A. O’Meara '' W. Pettie W. 0, Skeot

Ponsford (skip) 19 Gaudin (skip) 20 W. J. Cox Martin D. Barry O’Meara S.debottom (skp) 25 Coleman (skip) 2-1 116 129

Excellent arrangements wore made by the President for the catering. Afternoon tea was provided by Mr Harding, the tables being presided over by Mrs Forris, in the absence of Mrs Harding. Mrs Forris was ably assisted by Misses Harding, Ferris (2), Hyde (2), Cooper (2), Boyle, Simson, and O'Meara, and the young ladies mentioned worked hard to promote the success of tho afternoon. Great praise is due to tho Club’s Secretary, Mr C. H. W. Dixon, for the manner in which he worked in making the gathering a success, and it muss have"been very satisfactory to that gentleman and tho President, Mr Harding, to seo everything pass off so successfully. Tho opening was in every respect a most successful one, and we hope that the howlers will be most assiduous in their practice and do their utmost to retain the championship honors at present hold by the Club, The Champion

Fours tournament is to be held at Palmerston North in January next, and wo look to the Gisborne Club (the present holders of it) to give a good account of themselves.