BOWLS without BIAS

New Zealand Times, Volume LIII, Issue 12614, 26 November 1926, Page 9

BOWLS without BIAS

Mr James Brnckenridge, whose experiences in Canada and Scotland were related earlier in tho week, had the best holiday in his life, and bowlers generally will appreciate the extreme kindness and courtesy extended to him. Yet, after all, it is not unusual for bowlers to extend hospitality to visitors everywhere. The writer, speaking with a knowledge of many other sports, thinks howlers are out on their own in this respect.

Mr Brackenridge returned via Denver and San Francisco, breaking his .iourney at Denver to meet three old chums, Mr W. Harvey. Mr John Clarke, and Mrs John Clarke, whom he had not seen for 52 years. They were all chums together, parted at 21 years of age and met for the next time at 73. It was a remarkable meeting, and as there were doubts as to whether they would recognise ecah other, an arrangement was made that when the train arrived they should all wear handkerchiefs on their left arms. The barrier was a long way from the train, but the meeting was a great one for Mr Harvey let forth a most unholy yell when he spotted his old pal “Jim.” Mr Brackenridge spent a few very happy days with them, and when they parted once more it was 52 years to the very day from their first parting. During his stay there he was taken for a motor trip about GO miles out and visited the grave of Bill Cody, the famous Buffalo Bill. He also visited Salt Lake City, which he says is a marvellous place. The trip all over was a glorious one, and memories of it will remain with him for manv a long day to come. Prior to leaving Assiniboine, Mr Brackenridge received the following letter from the secretary of the club: “On the eve of vour return home we, the members of the Assiniboine Lawn Bowling Club, desire to express to you our appreciation of your componHonship, and we believe your friendship during the past months We accepted vou at first through our love for the Fisher family—your relatives — and have learned to respect and esteem you for yourself. We hold in deep respect your ability as a bowler, and appreciate greatly your true sportsmanlike demonstration of this fine game. “May we ask you to convey, to tne New Zealand bowlers our kind regards, and may we also assure them through you that we should greatly appreciate a call from any of them who may in future years visit'our city we shall make them very welcome! “We all trust that you will have safe journeyings on your homeward wav, and that tho dangers ‘to those that go down to the sea in ships’ may be only words written in the d.ust, and that sunny skies and fair winds may he your portion. We say goodbye with regret, and will always have a kindly remembrance of the months you spent with ns.” Karori have*made a good start for for the season by notching 4 wins in the senior pennants against Thorndon. 0 * • * In the junior pennants the same club accounted for the Seatoun team by 40 to 5 in their opening game. Karori are now practically a full club, and will, in all probability, be well represented at the centre s Christmas tournament, although the only rmk definitely arranged so far ped by T. Adams, with F. Christensen (lead); A. E. Nelson (2). and D. Leggat (3) —a young team out m search of experience. # * • * Mr E. Newson, of the Newtown Bowling Club, has generously presented a challenge cup for competition between the Newtown Club and other clubs that the^ week-end. The fallowing notice board was observed some time ago by a Wellington bowler during a visit to Yoronga Bowling Club, Brisbane, Queensland, V 'Do* not spit, nor throw matches on the green. , ... Do not spit in the ditches either. Show some consideration for your fellow howler. Be clean. • * * • The honour of being the oldest bowler in the Commonwealth of Australia belongs to Mr George Wilkins, of Launceston, Tasmania. Lately this hale and hearty old gentleman celebrated his 96th birthday anmversary, and if physical fitness and mental alertness offer true indications there is no reason to fear he will not complete his tenth deoade. r « • • * Mr Wilkins visits the Launceston creen regularly in the season, and thoroughly enjoys his roll up m afternoon, and a quiet game of chess with his bosom tviend, Mr G. T. Mo Kinlay, late president of the lasmanian Bowling Association, and siich is the mental vigour ot Mr Wilkins that his opponenthas often to acknowledge checkmate. His son, Mr George Wilkins, is one of tho most experienced bowling skips in Western Australia. • • • * A Wellington Bowling Club member relates that some years ago he slopped in a three-arsid© game on the Launceston green against Mr Wilkins, ms grandson, and his son, and it took the Wellington man’s team all its time to win. • • * • A novel bowling match was started on Thurso green Hie other night at 10 o’clock and finished fit 12.30, says tho Glasgow “Herald.” A big crowd were entertained to a wireless programme by Provost Anderson, and in good light the six rinks of employers and employees bowled. The men of capital won by 10 shots. At Kirkwall, Orkney Islands, they have an annual bowling match that starts at midnight and is played out by daylight. In Canada, says Mr James Brackenridge, the daylight is much too valuable to play bowls, and matches are regularly played under the electric light, for they do not begin until 7 p.m., and often go on playing until 11 o’clock, and even beyond that bewitching hour. Night play is no novelty there. • • • *

Lyall Bay B pennant team won against Thorndon on Saturday, getting three out of four rinks in their favour. Reid, Leahy, and Raven won, and Dustin went down. « * * •

The Lyall Bay president’s rink lost to Naylor (Hutt) by a single point, after a great game, in which Naylor did wonders for his side. • *

Noad and Hows© have played four of the five games in the pairs toairnev, and have won the lot. If they win the next game they win the section, but ha*e got a hard row to hoe.

V'nvc Dustin boat Arthur Raven in tho club singles aL tho week-end. No

end of a “Dustin,” but he didn’t croak about it. m * * * Another round of the club champion rinks is the programme for Lyall Bay to-morrow. O’Gorman, who last year played No. 2 for Jack Keid, is skipping a rink himself this year, and in the last- round beat his old skip. Lyall Bay has won both shield games, and on the whole the play in the pennant and shield games reflects wall balanced judgment on the part of the selector. Well done, Mo! • # * * Under the heading of “Victoria versus New Zealand,’’ the editor of “Bowls’’ (Melbourne) writes a very interesting article, which mav rightly be regarded as a fine example of the big brotherly spirit in bowling relations which exists between New Zealand and Australia, and as showing a keener desire for closer kinship and for a better understanding. Such contributions are of great value in strengthening the bonds of union between the great Commonwealth and tho Dominion. The editor of “Bowls” has been a true friend to New Zealand, and has given splendid publicity to tho Dominion tournament by allowing several special articles thereon to be inserted in his paper. * « « « “For months past,” says the writer, “more than ordinary interest and activity of mind has been displayed by our New Zealand friends, in an endeavour to bring about a closer reationship with the several Australian States, and are making an extraordinary effort to prevail on Commonwealth players to compete in the Dominion tournament to be held in Auckland in January, 1927. “The respective State Associations have received invitations to be represented at the gathering, and Press propaganda has been utilised with the object of stirring up interest and discussion, not alone as applied to the probable result of the competitive side of such visit, but also the invaluable benefits likely to accrue from a free and full discussion of tliS varied conditions governing the game in the two countries. So anxious are the Dominion authorities to secure large representation at the tournament in January next, that the direct method of approaching players through the columns of the Press has been adopted, in fact, it is something in the nature of a challenge to ‘come and see how we run our great tournament,' and you will go home so enamoured of the system that you will demand the abolition of fihe out-of-date Australian methods.' “New Zealanders have not laid themselves open to the charge of an excess of modesty in the advancement of their opinions", and the immediate question before us is, what are We going to do about it? Shorn of all aggressiveness, Victoria should certainly rise to the occasion and endeavour to organise at least four rinks of our most capable players, to visit Auckland and play them on their own .conditions. Victoria has no fear of the result, and we venture to say a team of our leadihg players would return with prestige undimmed.

“Victoria has such a host of bowlers so equal in merit, that no difficulty should he experienced in sending to New Zealand 16 of our doughty champions who would prove worthy rivals of New Zealanders, and thus compel the latter to reciprocate, by visiting Melbourne for the carnival at Christmas, 1927. No one can possibly foresee what may eventuate from a really serious contest between tho two countries. “In the past the games have been more in the nature of incidents in pleasure trips, but if such meeting can be arranged as the one under review, it may prove the way to closer union in the future. What is the use of debating international agreement on rules, bowls, etc., when as a matter of fact uniformity does not exist in countries so closely allied as New Zealand and Australia. The effort is worth making to respond to what is virtually a New Zealand challenge. Are we Victorians going to accetSt it?” a • • •

We hope so, and the question of visiting the Melbourne carnival at Christmas, 1927, will be put forward by the Dominion Bowling Council with a view to sending over a strong and fully representative team, and we believe such a New Zealand team would also return “with its prestige undimmed.” • • • * Mr R. T. Harrison, better known as “Boomerang” of fhe “Referee, has also given New Zealand a big place in the sun in Australia, and the services he has rendered m this connection are calculated to bring the two countries closer together. He is coming to New Zealand shortly, and will probably see something of the Dominion tournament and the conditions under which it is played. No doubt, upon his return, we shall learn what ho thinks of the two-life system as compared with sudden deathBrisbane and Sydney papers have done a great deal towards endeavouring to create interest in the forthcoming visit Zealand. the missing link “Who’s the stranger, mother dear? Look, he knows us— ain’t he queer!” “Hush, my own, don’t talk so wild; He’s your father, dearest child.” “He’s my father I No such thing, , Father passed away last spring.” “Father didn’t die, you dub, Father joined a bowling club. But tliey’vo closed the green, bo ho Has no place to go, you see: No place left for him to roam, That is why he’s coming home. “Kiss him—he won’t bite you^cliild!” Under the new or revised Dominion rules, playors numbers 1,2 and 3 are required to clear all bowls to a position behind the niat prior to tho jack being thrown. Hitherto No. 2 has usually been allotted the task, but it now devolves upon three on each side instead of being left to ■one mun. , * * • It is also interesting to note that a bowl can now be challenged without the necessity of paying a protest fee. * « • *

A bowl played from the next rink may be stopped if it is likely to disturb tho head. This is the old rule, but lliorc is an important addition which says: “And if stopped shall lie replayed.'” Previously it was a matter of doubt whether such a bowl should bo replayed. In Australia such a bowl would be declared dead, therefore the addition to the rule clears up an important point. • * * «

Wo understand that copies of the rovi'od rules have been sent to the Australian bowling authorities, and

no doubt they will be conned over very carefully. Uniformity In the two countries is still a long way ott, and anything which will bring the time nearer is going to help matters. Uniformity in control and rules is much to be desired, as much in bowls as in other forms of sport. * • • • Six rinks from the Wellington Bowling Club leave on January sth to play at Carlton Club in the Thompson Sliield match. Several of them will then go on to the Dominion tournament. It is believed that the six rinks will lie very strong ones, and that this time they will return with the honours in the shield game. • • • • There is quite a formidable list of tournaments out now: December 27th, 28th, and 29th, Wellington; December 31st, January Ist and 3rd, Hutt Valley; December 28th and following days, W’anganui (twolife system); January Ist, 3rd, and 4th, Manawatu; January Ist and 3rd, Wairarapa fat Masterton); January Ist, 3rd, and 4th, Nelson (four games of 16 heads each day); January Ist and 3rd, • Gisborno (Peace Shield tournament) ; February 7th and February 21st, Rotorua. The Dominion tournament ojions on January 10th with the singles; the rink tournament begins on January 12th, nnd the pairs on January 17th.