Bowling Booming

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 788, 8 October 1929, Page 14

Bowling Booming

MANY YEARS OF PROGRESS Record Season Ahead By “'Jack High."'’ IT is amazing the wonderful growth of bowling from a mere “pot-liouse” game a century or so ago played by the frequenters of the numerous ale-houses scattered throughout the length and breadth of Englaud. Bowling first found its introduction into New Zealand through the Auckland Bowling Club some sixty-seven years, and since then it has made phenomenal progress.

Under favourable surroundings, it ; was carefully nurtured and made the j central pivot of many bright social j functions. But even then, it was only I regarded by kindred sports as a mere I pastime, where white-whiskered and i hoary-headed, men found solace after j they were physically past participation in other sports. However, gradually and surely, the pastime developed into a game and the organisation was remodelled so that it now spreads throughout the length and breadth of the Dominion, and clubs exceeding in size any others in the Empire have been formed. Many fine names have been associated with this amazing development. On the playing side they include Jack Ivilgour, of Carlton, Max Walker, of Auckland; H. C. Clarke, of Carlton; Norrie Bell, sen., and Xorrie Bell, jun.. of Hamilton; R. N. Pilkington, of Hamilton; E. Jury, of Ponsonby; C. B. Osmond, of Auckland; A. Parsons, of Ponsonby; W. Bremner. of West End; and A. R. Coltman, of Carlton; and a host of other Auckland bowlers have all assisted to place the game of bowls in the forefront of sports in the Dominion. On the administrative side of the game there are many bowlers equally outstanding. They include such fine names as the late Air. Maurice Casey, James Carlaw, W. Coltman, Archie Bryden, J. W. I-lardley, James Paecoe. Syd. Coldicutt, George Gladding, Arthur Yeoman; while the present executive embracing Tony Tonkin, W. Whitten, George Reid. Tom Procter, A. B. Barter, J. M. Thomson. an ’. again a host of other names who have done their bit in placing the sport in its proud position today. SOUND GOVERNMENT ! And while much praise can be rightly given to the aforementioned, the executives of the clubs, past and present, can be credited with much commendable foresight in the development of club life. Broadly, the. policy of the clubs might be summed up in one simple sentence: It has been to keep their respective members on the greens and out of the club houses. Undoubtedly the wisdom of this policy is reflected in the immense size of the playing areas—now exceeding those in all other parts of the Empire—the amazing growth of club competitions and the record number of one-day tournaments—l 24 in all —now scheduled to take place during the season just commencing, making a positive record again for any one bowling centre throughout the Empire. In the inauguration of the interclub pennant competition, again the.

Auckland Bowling Centre can be credited with a fine piece of organisation work. This competition involves the participation of no less than 32 clubs, and the huge army of 1,004 players. Time was, and frequently, too, when that body was sorely pressed to reconstruct the fixture on more aggressive lines and so make the event entirely competitive in character. Notably these suggestions included one for dividing the participants into two distinct grades of players, which would have meant a clean-cut,, into the existing ranks of the bowlers of the city. However, the wisdom of the centre executive prevailed and the competition is now wholeheartedly accepted in the light of a huge interclub fixture with a measure of competition so as to make the event interesting. The Helensville Club, with two teams, won the inter-club pennant last season, while the Carlton Club, with 20 teams, became the runner-up, showing that the competition is entirely democratic in construction, giving the smaller clubs an equal chance with the very largest entrant. TJie Helensville Club has volunteered to enter four teams this season, which are more than its quota of regular members, showing that the club is

more than anxious to retain the true spirit of the competition. The Auckland Bowling Centre has shown much strength in running its open competitions conducted on behalf of all the clubs under that body’s I jurisdiction. Mr. George Gladding, the secretary, and the tournament com- j mittees, from time to time have in- j sisted on the rules of the game being thoroughly enforced. There lias been J some irritation among the entrants in ! this respect, but it is now generally accepted that rules are not made io oppress any individual participant. but! to provide a starting place where all | entrants can conduct their play with equal opportunity. Probably most interest will centre on the open singles championship to be played for the first time in Auckland on December 9. Many players have been excluded from their possible participation in the champion of champion singles competition lieid 1 annually through their lack of oppor- | tunity to compete continuously in their respective club's champion singles. The opportunity presented in the new competition against other club members therefore should find the fullest favour among the bowlers of the Auckland Centre. The Hardley Shield, donated by Mr. J. W. Tlardley to cement the, friendship existing between the bowlers of the Auckland and South Auckland Centres, looks fair to be entered by no less than eight teams a side. The date fixed l'or the event is December 4. The Christmas tournament to decide the club which will hold the champion banner of Auckland is an event always entered by a large number of entrants. The banner now reposes at the St. Heliers Club. The. winning team was Crawshaw. Koefoed. White and Knight, while the runners-up were Hardie Neil, Macky, I-larvey and M. Walker. The champion link competition played for the second occasion last season was won by Ure, 1-1. Allan, Bailey and Muston, of Auckland. The pairs tournament was won by E. F. Jones and Parsons, of Ponsonby. The champion of champion singles competition, the blue ribbon event of singles competitions in Auckland, was won by Lew. Russell, of Remuera, with Jack Benson, of Dominion Road, as the runner-up. The Easter Fours competition was won by Hazard, Parsons, Richmond and R. Millen. of Epsom, after many brilliant expositions of the game. Ure, Duncan. Braekebush. Muston were the runners-up for this event. The clubs’ Executive Fours competition was won by Johnson, Mclnness, Somervell, Parsons, with Crawsliaw,

Twiname, Price, Koefoed, of St. Heliers, runners-up. The first-year players’ competition was won by Birrell, Saussey, Macauley, Prangley. of Mangere, with Dickie, Letham, Young, Lincoln, of Ponsonby. as the runners-up. DOMINION TOURNAMENT j The Dominion tournament will commence in Dunedin on January 13. Past Auckland winners include the followPairs.—l 927. Braekebush and M. Walker (Auckland). Singles.—l9l4, J. Kilgour (Carlton); 1913. M. Walker (Ponsonby); 1919. M. Walker (Ponsonby): 1923, M. Walker (Ponsonby); 1927, IT. C. Clarke (Rocky Nook); A. R. Coltman (Carlton), i Rink Championship.—l9l7. J. A. ! Ryrie, A. R. Coltman, W. Coltman, G. B. Osmond (Auckland): 1919, A. J. Andrew, W. Given, O. Gallagher. E. J. Jury (Karangahake); 1921, B. Hilton, A. Bell, O. Gallagher, E. Jury (Karangalialte); 1923, R. Somervell, J. Hosking, V. Casey, A. Parsons; 1924, 11. S. Hill. W. Ure. C. Maher, W. Bremner <West End); 1925, H. J. Wernham, F. T. Wilson. A. C. Mclntyre, It. N. Pilkington (Hamilton); 1925, C. Hardley, F. Needham, I. Clarke, W. Bremner (West End).