BOWLING

Hokitika Guardian, 16 February 1929, Page 5

BOWLING

WEST COAST BOWLING TOURNAMENT. FRIDAY, EEHRUARY loth. S UCC ESS F U LI. Y CONCLUDED. The West C oast Howling Tournament was successfully concluded, the final proceedings taking place at 9 p.m. The final of the Rinks Competition was played in the afternoon, between the two Hokitika teams skipped respectively by Stevenson and Benjamin and resulted in a win for Stevenson's rink by ‘2l to'l7. The game was a very even one till the loth head when Stevenson got a five in and the lead was held to the. end. The play was hardly up to the standard of usual finals, perhaps the facts.that the tw« teams were Club mates affecting the play, which was not as keen as it might have been. It INK FINAL. The result was:— Hokitika—J. Breeze. G. Lakiii, W. Wilson, D. Stevenson (s) 21 defeated Hokitika—J. Conning, P. J. Howard, G. Anderson, A. E. Benjamin (s) 17. This makes the sixth time Hokitika has won the Rink Championship in 14 years, Westport Club, with four wins, is next. THE PAIRS FINAL. The Pairs Competition was concluded the second round not being concluded til! (i p.m., with the following results— Whibley 19 heat Leach 15. Southward 23 beat Delargey 19. FINAL.

The final olf the Pairs was started at 0.15 p.m. and was not concluded till 8.40 p.m., candles being utilised to enable the completion of the last three heads. This game, like its two forerunners, resulted in a splendid exhibition of the game and the large crowd of spectators thoroughly enjoyed the play, which was of the highest order. The last half hours play took place in semidarkness, but this did not affect the enthusiasm of players or onlookers. The result was Groymouth—E. Moss and F. D. Whibley (s) 19 defeated Runanga—l l '. Pope and W. Southward (s) 16. CONCLUDING SPEECHES.

'l’he assemblage then gathered in the pavilion where Mr James Ring (Chairman of the Centre) congratulated one and all on the success of the tournament. He regretted the necessity to play the finish of the pairs final in the dark, but that could not be helped. He congratulated the Hokitika team on its success in winning the Rink Championship and presented the Usher Cup to Mr D. Stevenson and his rink to hold for the year. Afr Stevenson accepted tlie Cup and thanked the Chairman for his remarks stating he was doubly pleased to accept it to enable the names of two olf his team to he inscribed on the cup for the first time.

Mr Ring then congratulated the winner of the Pairs Competition, Messrs Moss and Whibley on their success and handed over the silver cup. He also complimented the runners-up, Messrs Pope and Southward, on the excellence of their play. Mr Whibley in accepting the Cup expressed the keenst appreciation of the visitors at the splendid hospitality of the ladies, which tfar exceeded anything that he had experienced elsewhere. Mr Ring then handed to the President a presentation to the greenkeepei(Mr Alex. Krakosky) from the players in appreciation of the very fine condition he had presented the green for play. Mr H. Barnard (Lyttelton Club) expressed the appreciation of the visitors at the conduct of the tournament, the arrangements having been most complete. He specially tributed the wonderful hospitality of the ladies which had excelled all expectations and for which they were all deeply grateful. Mr J. L. Morgan (Edgeware Club), Mr J. H. Harkness (Westport Club), and Mr P. J. Mc'Comisli (Maitai Club, Nelson) also joined in congratulations at the excellence of the tournament arrangements, their congratulations to the winners and their highest thanks and appreciation to the ladies for their lavish hospitality. Mr Wm. Wilson (President of the Hokitika Club) in acknowledging the congratulatory references, said that most of the credit for the running of the Tournament was due to the Secretary. He thanked the speakers tor their references to the work of the ladies, which he was glad had met with their appreciation and he assured them that with the ladies it was a work of love.

Mr Benjamin (Secretary) briefly acknowledged the references to his work and assured the visitors that all were pleased at the success of the tournament. It was gratifying to know that the tournament had passed off so successfully and that all had passed an enjoyable time. Most of the credit Or that success was due to the generous response of the ladies to the request for their assistance which had been given with such a lavish hand and which was so deeply appreciated. He expressed a hope to see most of them again at next year’s tournament which would be held a-t Westport. At the call of the Chairman a verse oif the National Anthem was sung, and a highly successful five days’ tournament was concluded.

PREVIOUS WINNERS. The following are the winners of the Rink Championship, and holders of the Usher Cup, at the West Coast Tournaments of past years:— 1913-14—Hokitika (J. Maunder, A. B. King, J. N. Nalder, D. Stevenson (s) ).

1914- —Hokitika (H. A. Thompson, A. E. .Benjamin, A. B. King, J. H. AVilson (s) ). 1915- —Greymouth (W. Fletcher, Eenai, Reynolds, Buck (s) ). 191(5-17—Hokitika (G. Anderson, A. B. Boyd, J. N. Nalder, AY. AVilson (s) )•' 1917- Greymouth (AV; Blair, T. Baxter, T. Jones, Spiller (s) ). 1918- —United Christchurch (Hall, Brown, Lillington, J. Brown (s) ). 1919- —AVestjert (Ingleton,' J. -McLeod, P. Struthers, AV Panckhurst (s) )• 1920- —AVestport (Harkness, J. Rose, E. C. Cameron, F. Blaxall (s) ). 1921- Hokitika (H. A. Thompson, A. B. King, J. AATlson, A. E. Benjamin (s) ). 1922- Hokitika (G. H. Blank, A. B. King, H. A. Thompson, A. E. Benjamin (s) ). . . 1924-25—St. Albans (AV.- G. Rogers, F. C. -Malpas, E. A. Smith, H. B. Oakey (s) ). " 1926- —AVestport (Sara, Green, Levy, Blaxall (s) ). = , . 1927- —AA 7 estport (Curtis, Powell, -McKinley, Rose (s) ). AVINNERS OF TROPHY., The following are the winners' of the pairs championship since its inauguration : 1917- —AV. H. Bishop and L. Campbell (Greymouth). > , 1918- —A\ r . Braddon and D. Stevenson (Hokitika). 1919- —D. Sinclair and AV. Henderson (Christchurch). 1920- —E. Christie and AV. Blackwood (Greymouth). 1921- —J. Rose and J. McLeod (AVestport). 1923- —G. Horn and C. Queree (Christchurch). 1924- —J. Rose and H. HarHson (AVestport). 1925- —No pairs competition. 1926- —F. Blaxall and H. Levy AVestport). 1927- —D. Stevenson and A. E. Benjamin (Hokitika). 1929-30.—E. Moss and F. B. AVhibley (Greymouth), SINGLES CHAMPION. The Singles Champion of Champions competition is being played to-day. Play started at 9 o’clock under perfect conditions with an overcast sky and the green again in good order. FIRST ROUND. McKay (Greymouth) 21 beat Stevenson (Hokitika) 16. Harrison (AVestpbrt) 18 beat Southward (Runanga) 16. SECOND ROUND. Stevenson 20, beat Harrison 8. McKay 17, beat Southward 16.