Personalities In N.Z. Sport

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 501, 2 November 1928, Page 6

Personalities In N.Z. Sport

Prominent Auckland Bowler was Onetime Crack Sprinter and Rugby Footballer

(By

“JACK HIGH”)

It is generally admitted that when a good apprenticeship has been served in the more vigorous sports, it acts also as an outstanding contribution for excellence in bowling. This contention is clearly borne out in the career of Mr. T. R. George, of the Epsom Club. Commencing away back in 1894, Mr. George showed marked ability as a runner, winning, on his first appearance, the 150yds. maiden race in the St. Patrick’s Day sports of that year, and afterwards the Miners’ Union Cup at Waihi, run over three distances—loo, 220 and 400 yards respectively. Notable runners were at that time W. G. Abbott, Opai Asher and L. McLaughlin. The ability to show a clean pair of heels on the track proved an equal contribution to success on the football field, it being on record that when this fine sportsman was playing for Ellerslie Suburbs against North Shore that he scored no fewer than seven tries during the progress of the game. Commencing bowling in 1906 at the Onehunga Club, he soon made a good showing, winning the championship twice, the position of runner-up for the same event three times, the presidents’ and vice-presidents’ fours on three occasions, as well as the handi-

cap singles. Retaining this form over a number of years he joined the Epsom Club and further added to his bowling honours. As a recognition to his excellent exposition of the art of bowling he was picked to skip against the combined teams of England, Scotland and Ireland at Carlton on December 22, 1925, when the visitors met Avith Avholesale defeat at jthe hands of the home teams. Always interested on the administrative, as Avell as the competitive side of the sport, he served a term on the Auckland Bowling Club Executive, while last season Mr. George was elected to the presidency of the Epsom Club. But his occupancy of that position and its long list of administrative duties, did not hinder his continuation of excellent playing ability; for he was runner-up in the championship singles event, skip for the runners-up in the championship singles event skip for the runners-up in the championship pairs competition, Avinner of the handicap singles, and skipped and won both the championship fours competitions contested for by the members of the Epsom Club—quite a creditable record out of many such years of bowling effort.