ON THE GREEN

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 796, 17 October 1929, Page 14

ON THE GREEN

Bowls and Bowlers

By

JACK NIGU.)

Bowlers had another busy day welcoming in the coming season on Saturday. Following the precedent established by the Auckland Centre, during the presidency of Mr. William Coltman and afterwards so capably followed during the presidencies of Mr. J. W. Hardley and Mr. James Pascoe, the members of that body also had another busy day covering all the openings of the respective clubs scheduled fcr the afternoon. Messrs. S. Coldicutt, A. PI. Yeoman and T. ft. Procter visited the Epsom, Onehunga, Plillsboro, and Mangere openings. Messrs. J. W. Hardley and H. C. Clarke went to Howick and Papakura; Messrs. T. C. Tonkin and A. E. Whitten were present at the opening of the Buckland club, while Mr. J. M. Thomson, vice-president, covered the Waiuku opening. At all the clubs visited, the members of the centre were warmly welcomed, clearly showing the popularity of the governing body of bowling in Auckland.

All the available space at the clubs taxed to the utmost with visiting bowlers, club members and their wives. At the Epsom club an extremely large concourse of people assembled. Mr. C. J. Blakey, the president there, warmly welcomed the visitors in true bowling style. Mr. Coldicutt traced the growth of the club since 1906, when all it possessed was a handful of members and a three-quarter of an acre section, to the present day, with its large and spacious grounds and handsome, roomy pavilion and evident prosperity, making the club one of the foremost in the Dominion—a fine tribute to the got>d government exercised by the officers who had steered the club from that time. Among them, he could nominate such fine bowlers as Mr. E. A. Craig, who was in attendance as the president of the Auckland club; also Mr. T. R. George, who took a keen interest in the advancement of the sport, being a member of the Auckland Centre for many years. A tribute was paid to the late members pf the Epsom club, Messrs. J. Buttle, J. Lock, F. Richmond and G. Townsend, who had passed away during the past few months.

And while the Epsom club can be credited with having a very large attendance, the Onehunga club’s grounds were also crowded. And all the three greens were open for play, accommodating all bowlers present. It was estimated that 500 people were there. Mr. R. Buchanan* the president, welcomed the visitors, and Mrs. Buchanan threw the first jack. Mr. A. B. Barter, the country member of the Auckland Centre, officially represented that body and complimented the croquet division of the club on its outstanding success in winning the senior banner nine times in succession.

Word is heard of Mr. James Pascoe, vice-president of the Dominion Bowling Association, who is on a trip abroad. On Friday night last, Mr. S. Coldicutt received a cablegram from the wanderer, who is now in Genoa. The contents embodying good wishes to the bowlers in Auckland for the coming season were read to the assembly a# Hie Epsom opening.

Among the visitors to the Epsom club on Saturday was Mr. J. Middleton, a member of the Whangarei club. After being in business in the northern town for over 20 years, he is taking up his residence in Auckland and will link himself up with the sport here. Among the clubs to open on October 26 is the Auckland Club. But that opening will not be the official opening. The official opening is being reserved for a more important occasion on December 14, when the club’s new property and recently-constructed green will be opened for play. While new playing areas are somewhat of a frequent occurrence in a sport that is positively booming in the Queen City of the North, the parent club’s contribution is worthy of special mention, for it has a special significance. The dearth of greens within easy reach of the heart of the city is most marked and the new green is certainly a handsome contribution to the evident want. The possibility of important bowling finals being staged within easy .reach of the city will certainly be an acquisition to the progress of the sport, while a series of concrete steps on one side of the green are sufficient in themselves to accommodate some hundreds of spectators, giving a commanding and uninterrupted view of the games in progress. The surface of the green is all that can be desired. Much time and money has been spent on making it second to none, while the appearance of the sward, extra closely sown, makes everything possible for an ideal surface. The supervision of the work has been in the very able hands of Mr. G. B. Osmond and he is to be warmly complimented on the excellent results. * * * The Denison Pins, around which so much fine bowling has centred during the past winter season, are, during the summer season, to be worn in the blazers of four members of the home ciub of tlie donor, Mr. Walter Denison:

ror a team from the Dominion Road club, including Clark. Norgrove, Roberts, Ramsay, wrested the coveted trophies in good style from the holders —Cave, Spence, Oatridge and R. Robertson, of Mount Eden, on Saturday. This is not the first occasion that the trophies have been won by the Dominion Road club, and the longest series of challenges that the trophies have been retained there were seven in all. During those fine contests, the donor was a member of the team and Dr. P. Moir, now of the Auckland club, skipped the quartette. However, Irving Clarke, of West End, skipped the team that holds the record for the largest number of victories in the competition. His team was successful in warding off 11 challenges in succession. Something smart in the way of fixture cards has been issued to the members of the Carlton club. All the events so informative to the individual members of the club are bound up in a handsome little folder about four inches long by an inch and a-half wide, and covered in an imitation leather. The container can be easily placed in the waistcoat pocket for convenience. The president, Mr. A. Coutts, is responsible for the innovation. He was impressed with a similar production which he saw when on the recent trip abroad with the New Zealand bowlers last year, and introduced it to his club as an outcome of his observation.

By the 26th of the current month, all the clubs in the Auckland Centre will be open for the summer season, and Labour Day will see a long list of fixtures staged, bowling being in full swing on that day. Those scheduled to open next Saturday are Dominion Road, Edendale, Ellerslie, Glen Eden. Helensville, New Lynn, Otahuhu, Rawhiti, Remuera, Stanley Bay, Takapuna, Te Papapa, Tuakau and Wraitemata. The following Saturday will see Avondale, Clevedon, Devonport, Grey Lynn, Hallyburnton Johnstone, •Henderson, Ponsonby, Rocky Nook, West End, Carlton and Auckland. On Labour Day, the 28tli inst., the following clubs will hold one-day rink tournaments: —Dominion Road, Carlton, Ellerslie, Epsom, Glen Eden, Grey Lynn, Helensville, Mount Albert, Onehunga. Ponsonby and Rawhiti.

On Sunday, summei - time came in with the mere placing the hand of the clock back half an hour, and also with feelings of pleasures on behalf of the bowlers of Auckland, for there will be the extra time to play the semi-final games of the 124 one-day tournaments to be staged this season, the long list of club fixtures and centre tournaments. Indeed, bowlers are having everything their own way for the record season they are facing in the Queen City of the North.

The final of the Mount Eden tournament proved a game worthy of such a successful fixture. The opposing teams were well matched. The winners made a great recovery in the latter stages, running out victors on a comfortable margin of points. The teams were:.—Tyndall, May, White. Knight (St. Heliers), 21, and J. Harlock, C. R. Sutherland, W. Flowerday, C. A. Lindberg (Onehunga), 29. With the exception of Sutherland in the Onehunga team, the players formed the body of Robertson’s team which terminated the famous Ponsonby team under Parsons in the Edwin Stars Competition. They again displayed form on this occasion that proves their ability in the game on the green.

The pavilion was gaily decorated at Epsom on Tuesday when the Nomads held their social evening. Some 150 bowlers and their wives were present. Mr. C. J. Blakey, president, was in the chair and welcomed the visitors. Mr. J. J. Donnell, organiser of the Nomads, Mr. J. W. Hardley and Mr. Blakey gave short addresses. A musical programme was arranged by Mr. J. McDougall and Mr. J. Whitehouse. Items were given by the Warema Orchestra, Mrs. Bilton, Miss Donnell, Mrs. Platt, Mrs. Leather, Misses E. and M. Kendell, Miss Carr (the Australian bowler), Miss Woolford, Miss Higham, Miss Roseveare, Mr. Mackie, Mr. W. Leather, Rev. T. H. Roseveare, and the Royal Oak Quartette, comprising Messrs. McDougall, Tilfer, Wilkinson and Dr. Kirkwood. PONSONBY TOURNEY The Ponsonby Bowling Club’s midweek tournament yesterday resulted: Third Round: Miller won by default from Millen; Dick 21, v. Sturgess, 19; Me-' Ivor, 15, v. Parsons, 12; Alley, 26, v. Gatland, 10. Fourth Round: Gatland won by default from Millen; Allely, 16, v. Miller, 11; Parsons, 14, v. Dick, 12; Sturgess, 19, v. Mclvor, 9. Summary. Dick, Allely, Parsons, 3 wins, 1 loss; Mclvor, Gatland, Sturgess, 2 wins, 2 losses; Miller, 1 win, 3 losses; Millen, 0 wins, 4 losses. Draw for Ties. —Dick (5) v. Allely (2); Parsons, a bye. Final: Parsons 6, v. Dick 5.