ON THE GREEN

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 524, 29 November 1928, Page 7

ON THE GREEN

Bowls and Bowlers

By

JACK HIGH

Closely Interwoven in the history of the progress of that progressive club, Carlton, is the name of Mr. J. Kilgour. air. Kilgour was one of the principal foundation members, and it is largely by bis efforts that the Carlton Bowling Club has attained its proud position in the bowling world. The history of the success dates back a quarter of a century, when on tlio Manukau Road, on the city side of Newmarket, a club calling itself hy the latter name struggled painfully for a continued existence. On the opposite side of the road was another rlub, also in a hopelessly impecunious condition. Mr. Kilgour and the late

Mr. C. G. Laurie, conceiving that the interests of the two clubs were identical, sought successfully amalgamation, and formed what is now known as the Carlton Club. Shortly following, the club purchased the property that it now retains in Fairfax Avenue, nnd from that time it never looked back. The main factor in its ultimate success was the magnificent playing surfaces. which eventually attracted large numbers of players into the ranks of the club. The greens have become famous for their accuracy and smoothness. and that they have been so freely used for most of the important bowling tournaments of recent years is added testimony to their excellence. In bringing them up to this very high standard of perfection, Mr. Kilgour’s work is also in evidence, and as an expert in the attention to these surfaces he has earned for himself much rightly deserved praise. The same marked ability that he has shown in club formation and expert green attention is evidenced in his exposition of the game on the green. Indeed, hardly a tournament of note has been played for years in which he has not figured with some prominence, and his list of winnings is big. But his chief victory was that Vie was the first champion bowler of New Zealand.

On Saturday last, the second round of the inter-club pennant competition was played under ideal conditions, it being the first clash in the event, as the first round had been postponed until next March. The contestants found that the heads formed mostly on the open character, as the greens were running extremely fast. Hence it was that the style of play extended the full bowling ability of the players and some splendid games were fought out Three new clubs—Howick. Ua.llyburton Johnstone and Helensville—made their first appearance in the competition. The latter had the honour of coming out top scorers on the day, winning both their games, while the Ilallyburton Johnstone Club found a place, in contrast, at the other end of the honours list. But it was not alone in this respect. Tlowick kept it company at the zero end. However, despite this adversity, it is good to see the smaller clubs in the competition, and as the main object of the event is for all the clubs in the centre to join in a united inter-club event, and not in a scramble for the culminating honours, they should not be disheartened. Nevertheless, it is all the more satisfactory to win, so they must be wished better luck next time. * * * Helensville’s win was excellent. Their opponents from Edendale were no mean players, and the victory was therefore full of merit. It will be interesting to watch the 'result of the following round, when they meet Auckland next week. Carlton’s defeat of Auckland is worthy of note. The former almost repeated last season’s performance, when 12 rink teams won out of tlje J 4 who played. This year, nine teams won and Auckland increased its winnings to five games, which is still a very low average for a club with many strong players. Bonsonby’s wholesale defeat is certainly surprising, but the competition !s very young yet. The lighting spirit of the club was shown, clearly last season, and there arc still many surprises to come during the course of the many rounds. Mount Albert made an excellent showing, and may yet repeat the display of three years ago. It Is always expected that Rocky Nook will do well in this competition. Saturday’s exhibition boro this contention fully out. Stanley. St. Holiers, Mount Eden and many of the larger clubs are worth watching for the ultimate honours of the contest. A very pleasant function took place on Thursday last at Devonport. when Mr. James Puseoe, immediate past President of the Auckland Bowling Centre, entertained present and past members of the centre executive. Opportunity was taken by the members to present their retiring president with u suitable memento of his term of office: also Mrs. Pascoe with a presentation in appreciation of her assistance to the executive during her

husband’s term of office. Messrs. J. W. Hardley and J. M. Thomson were also in attendance, and gave a short review of the recent tour of the New Zealand bowlers. • * • The members of the Rocky Nook Club are mostly able during each successive season to win some outstanding event. demonstrating their marked ability to play the game on the green. Last Easter the team—G. Hunt A Farley, J. L. Wakerley, \V. H. Keutlev —was successful in winning the centre’s Easter four competition. On Saturday last the members of the club gave an evening in honour of the victors. The president of the club, Mr. L. C. Kent, gave a hearty welcome to the members of the centre executive who were In attendance. Mr. S. Coldicutt presented the Lambert Cup, which now goes to the winners of the Easter fours, together with a banner upon which the names of the victors are suitably inscribed. Other prize winners were:—W. 11. Keatley, singles champion; A. H. Roylance, runner-up for the same event; president’s fours, J. Kayes. Oughton, Baxter, Stone; pairs, Taylor and Beehre; first year championship, J. Lewis; president’s singles. A. Campbell: runner-up, Phil Smith; handicap singles, T. Jones. A musical programme contributed by the Rocky Nook quartet and Messrs. Stone and Leather concluded a very pleasant evening. * * * Tho delegates to the Auckland Bowling Centre are holding their annual match on the Auckland green this afternoon. The Auckland portion of the recent touring team is also the guests of the centre executive there. * * « Mr. A. Hutton, president of the Glen Tnnes Club, Beaufort, New South Wales, is in Auckland. He had some games on the Auckland greens. He will return by the Ulimaroa to Sydney to-morrow. * * * The annual competition between the Auckland and South Auckland centres for the Hardley Shield will take place on the Epsom green next Wednesday. * « * During the past week, Mr. J. C. Blair, who is to play number three for the Victorian team in the coming test between Australia and New Zealand, had a roll-up on the Auckland green. Though not yet In form after the trip from Australia, opportunity was given

see his style in play. Ho plays with a set of Taylor’s bowls, 31b 7£oz, which are a very high crowned model. His delivery is startling for its smoothness, and the extremely wide sweep of his splendidly delivered bowls makes his play picturesque and graceful. His stance is easy and free, while the handling of his woods is from the side of the bowl in contrast to the methad almost universally adopted here of gripping in line with the run of the bowl. Briefly, he may be described as a drawing player. But as such he can be classed as one of the best exponents that we have ever seen in this country. Indeed, he plays four bowls almost with the exactitude of an automatic testing chute. It will therefore be an extreme pleasure to watch him in actual contest. If Mr. Blair is a sample of Australian bowlers coming to New Zealand, our players will meet real worthy opponents, who will contest every inch of the games played in January. * * * A good story is told of the impression made by the New Zealand bowlers’ blazer upon the mind of the coloured folk in America. When in Los Angeles, having taken particular stock that the price for a haircut and shave was sixty cents, Mr. J. M. Thomson, attired in his blazer, went into a saloon opposite his hotel. The hirsute trimming completed, he asked the price, by way of being amiable. "Five dollars," replied the coloured attendant. It was pointed out that the price was clearly marked upon the window at sixty cents. "Three dollars,’’ said the coloured man. It was only after Mr. Thomson had threatened to call a policeman that the sixty cents

was accepted. "That comes,” concluded Mr. Thomson, "of walking about promiscuously with a blazer on in America. Prices are fixed according to vividness of colour.”