SPORTS BUDGET

Southland Times, 16 October 1942, Page 6

SPORTS BUDGET

No Saturday Teas For Bowlers Bowlers will have to go without their afternoon teas on Saturdays this season. At a meeting of the city clubs this week it was unanimously agreed that because of the difficulties in securing supplies of tea and sugar, tire afternoon tea for Saturday games be “cut out.” The afternoon tea habit with bowlers has been a custom attached to the game since its introduction to New Zealand more than 80 years ago. The Government’s rationing of the necessary commodities has caused bowling clubs and other sports clubs some concern, but since a decision has been made that no permits for tea and sugar rations for sports clubs be issued, there is nothing for it but to make the sacrifice. It is understood that arrangements will be made by clubs and the Southland Bowling Centre to cater for one-day and other tournaments. In other parts of New Zealand, particularly in the North Island, light refreshments other than tea are available to thirsty bowlers on warm Saturday afternoons. Tennis Entries Entries for the Southland Lawn Tennis Association’s inter-club competitions close tomorrow. Matches will be started on October 31. Stead Cup Tournament The annual Stead Cup golf tournament will be held at Queen's Park on Tuesday and Wednesday next. One round will be played each morning and the player with the best gross score will be the winner. In the afternoons handicap matches will be played. Swimming Championships The president of the Southland Swimming Centre (Mr J. C. Kirkland) reports that there is a definite possibility of the New Zealand junior and intermediate swimming championships being held this year They were, of course, abandoned because of the restrictions imposed on travel, but if held this year the venue will be Nelson, as arranged for last season. If New Zealand championships are not held a counter proposal to hold South Island championships has been made and swimmers should bear in mind that they have two chances in prospect. Southland is the present holder of the War Memorial Shield as the champion province and will be well represented again. Tomorrow’s Cycling The annual end-of-season cycling classic, the Invercargill-Drummond road race, will be conducted by the Invercargill Amateur Cycling Club tomorrow. About 20 riders are expected to take part. The trophies will be given by Mr W. M. Hookes, of Drummond. Bowler’s Good Record A lifetime service to bowling was recorded at New Plymouth when Mr A. K. Smart, one of Taranaki's most prominent and wellknown bowlers, with a New Zealand-wide reputation, was tendered a complimentary social evening by bowlers and presented with an appropriately illuminated address. Mr Smart has held office on the Taranaki centre executive for 37 consecutive years from 1905 to 1942 and is a past-president of the centre. He also represented Taranaki on the New Zealand Bowling Council for 12 years in succession from 1918 to 1930. and has been the official bowls tester of Taranaki for 25 years. As a player of note Mr Smart first came to prominence when he skipped the winning four in the Taranaki tournament in 1907. He again won the honours in 1910. 1913, 1922 and 1926, and was runner-up on six occasions. In 1920 Mr Smart was runner-up in the New Zealand pairs championship at Christchurch, and in 1923 he reached the final of the New Zealand fours championship at Auckland. Ho also annexed the North Island fours tournament at Wanganui in 1924. As a singles player he showed exceptional ability, winning his club championship on eight occasions and being eight times runner-up. Swimming Carnivals The programme for the Southland Swimming Centre’s first series of swimming meetings is now on the notice board at the baths. The first carnival is scheduled for Wednesday. October 21. and the card as usual caters for all sections of swimmers. So far a series of six carnival nights has been arranged and the dates and the proposed list of events are all included in the notice. Cups For Scrap The American tennis star, Helen Shockley, has contributed all her 100 loving cups, which she won in matches over a period of 18 years, for scrap. Wounded In Arm A paragraph in a northern newspaper says that J. L. Sullivan, the Taranaki All Black, who was reported wounded a few weeks ago. is understood to have received a severe shrapnel wound in one arm, and it is thought possible he may have to return tn New Zealand. Table Tennis Championships R. A. Algie recently won the Otago table tennis singles championship for the sixth time. He is also New Zealand title-holder, and specializes in the new tennis style. This is reminiscent of Fred Perry, who before becoming the world’s No. 1 amateur tennis player, was world champion at table tennis. Transfer to Dunedin Leo Connolly, the Southland representative footballer and a member of the Marist football and cricket clubs, has received notice of his transfer to Dunedin. He is, by the way, the sole remaining senior player of the Marist Cricket Club, which has been as heavily hit by the war as any other cricket club in the city. Cricket Competitions Entries for the competitions of the Southland Cricket Association close on Tuesday. Arrangements for the competitions will be made at a meeting of the management committee of the association on Tuesday evening. In spite of the depletion of the ranks of cricketers by the war it is hoped that there will be enough entries to permit of three grades. High School is prepared to enter a team in the senior grade if its entry is necessary to avoid a bye.