ON THE GREEN

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 494, 25 October 1928, Page 11

ON THE GREEN

Bowls and Bowlers

Last Saturday proved a real gala i day for the game on the greens in Auckland and again demonstrated clearly the ever-growing popularity for bowling here. Some 18 clubs opened their greens for the summer season and were crowded with visitors and bowlers from the numerous sister clubs. Fine weather, which is the necessary contribution to the success of such functions, made the day most enjoyable, enabling a very full programme of social events and games to be carried- out. There are still another 18 clubs to be opened to complete the 44 in the Auckland Centre. Of the city clubs, Auckland and West End are due to open their 1928-29 season next Saturday. Following on Saturday with social events, tournaments catering for the large demand in competitive bowling commenced on Monday—Labour Day. Twelve clubs staged one-day tournaments, among which the Carlton Club’s fixture easily claimed the largest number of entrants. Indeed, it is safe to say that this event was the largest one day, open tournament yet held in Auckland up to the present time. The fine grounds were a pretty picture of bowling activity, and the three greens accommodating the ICO players presented a pleasant array of enthusiasts, which was striking to behold. The result of the .play was a clear victory for the home teams over the visitors, again demonstrating the superior quality of the Carlton players. For out of the four sections no less than three teams came out victorious over their visitors. They include Messrs. Wright, ’ Mackay, Stevens, Ritchie; Isaacs, Elliott. Kilgour, Sneddon; Wickstead, Brittain, Rowe, Fookes, while a very fine team from Epsom, comprising Messrs. Lamb, Bruce, George, de Launay won the other section. Sneddon’s team, in the inter-section play easily disposed of RitShie’s combination, while Fookes had a remarkable victory over the Epsom presentation of excellent players, extricating his team out of some very awkward positions when the pressure of the contest was at its height. * * * The greens were cloggy and heavy from the showery weather in the morning, but the semi-finals in the afternoon were played on surfaces right up to ideal conditions, and those players who stayed on to see these games were well rewarded with viewing some excellent bowling land head building. Sneddon’s team gave a very fine exhibition of the game on the green, while the Fookes’ combination was exceptionally strong—all players demonstrating a clear superiority in play. The final of this tournament to be played next Saturday afternoon on the Carlton green should be well worth watching. * * * A mead of praise is due to Mr. W. Ball and his committee for the smooth running of the tournament. It could be safely advanced as an indisputable contention that no previous tournament has been better conducted in Auckland. The 160 contestants were handled from nine o’clock in the morning until the completion of their play without a single hitch, which was indeed very able without the assistance of a printed programme. One very fine contributing factor to this success was the handing to every contesting skip, as he entered the pavilion, of a card, upon which was set down in full detail the green and rink on which he and his team were designated to play each game. This arrangement completely avoided the usual crowding around the progress board at the conclusion of every game. The idea is so effective that it might be universally adopted by all clubs at all one-day tournaments. Every other detail for the successful and smooth running of the tournament was equally well attended to, giving the entrants the opportunity for whole-hearted enjoyment, whether they won or lost. A very fine innovation was noticeable at Carlton in a new style of boundary pegs and distance marks on the green. In place of the usual white, wooden pegs, which are in almost universal use in most clubs, the club has a new triangular iron plate, securely fastened into the bank with a sharp iron spear, which has a loop in turn above the plate. From the loop and down the centre surface of the plate, a black line is clearly painted, thus enabling the boundary card to be easily fastened to the loop, stretched down the surface of the plate and thus on to the surface of the green, giving a much more accurate method of lining the boundary of the rink when a dispute arises as to whether a bowl is in play. Also at the minimum head marks, the number “66 feet” is clearly lettered on similar plates. Messrs. G. Dear© and W. Bates are responsible for the pleasing and effective innovation. * * * An extension of this able principle of giving out information to players could readily be extended to advantage, thus giving necessary assistance to contestants, who are unfamiliar with lengths of greens and widths of rinks upon which they are required to play from time to time. It has often been the experience of young players on foreign greens that they are at a loss to realise what is amiss with their play, only to find out halfway through an important game, and perhaps not then, that they are playing on a rink 16ft wide by 125 ft long, instead of the usual 12ft by 110 ft. Clubs might easily be induced to mark this information in plain figures upon plates fixed in at least two corners of each green. The Mount Albert and Avondale greens are 125 ft in length, while the Auckland Club’s new green, in the course of construction, is 120 ft. This information relative to .areas of rinks played upon is. of paramount importance to contestants. The centre executive might also be induced to print this information in the programmes when the greens are engaged for their respective tournaments. The perpetuation of the memory of the late Mr. H. Horspool in a bowling trophy to be played for by the members of the Edendale Club is a fitting tribute to that well-respected bowler. The late Mr. Horspool was a most popular member of that young cl Lib and worked hard and long to bring ultimate prosperity to Edendale. The trophy will be a lasting memorial <to a bowler who played the game

in all ways. Mr. Horspool was widely respected throughout the whole of the bowling fraternity in Auckland. From time to time bowling clubs have provided many bowlers not only with opportunity to play the game on the green, but also with the opening to display fertility of . expression in speech. Indeed, bowling has produced some noticeably able spokesmen. The well-known Mr. J. W. Tlardley is a striking example, while the most recent “find” to this important side of the life of bowling is Carlton’s new president, Mr. A. B. Barter. During the recent Press and Printers’ match, Mr. Barter made some aptly, witty and well-thought-out references to the value of the Press in the life of the community and the industry of the printers. Again, on Saturday last, he further displayed a happy vein in speech, and in well-chosen words cleverly likened the bowling club green to the stage and the actors taking part thereon. Surely there is ample scope for any man in the bowling world! It offers many chances for ability? A very fine tournament was played at Ponsonby on Monday. The winners of the sections—Smith, Goodacre, Colebrook, Bryant and Buckle, Crowe, Torrance, McGregor deserve every credit for their victories. Bryant is a player who has been gaining in playing strength for some time, while McGregor is a player who can be credited with being a fine exponent of the game. The final game should prove of more than passing interest. The following teams will play on Saturday:— RINKS FOR SATURDAY Grey Lynn v. Carlton.—At Grey Lynn: Thomas, Newell, D. Young, Whittle; Street, Egginton, Davidson, J. Lye; Cox, Bin ns, G. Little, Baildon; McDonald, Lang, F. Moran. Liversidge; Emirali, Jno. Preston, Jos. Preston, Mincham; B. Leyclon, Hawke, Cronin, Tonge. At Carlton: Emmerson, Teague, Walker, Buckley; Lockie, Burrell, J. Reed, Caddy; Armstrong, Snell, Gibbons, Curtis; Puddle, Wild, F. Preston, Fletcher; S. Smith, E. Leydon, H. Reed, C. Little; Christey, A. Lye, J. C. Preston, Mclvor.