BOWLING.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2522, 8 June 1909, Page 2

BOWLING.

„ (By “Toucher.”)

Members of the Gisborne Club have been favored with the best of weather during the .past week, and they took advantage or the opportunity thus afforded of getting in a lot of play. Competitions seem to have their conclusions an sight, and the past week saw the final in the {Handicap Singles played off. This contest, as well as the semi-final, produced splendid games and victor and vanquished could well claim credit for tip-top play. As it turned out, victory rested with Mackintosh in the final. “Harry’s” victory was a most popular one, for, though he is a bowaer of high repute, it is his first win in the Gisborne Club. Last season ho was a member of a southern club. “Walter” Gaudin, who put up such a splendid fight, is an o.d hand in the club, and as he has a.number of “scalps” in his wigwam, former laurels of the game, members were naturally inclined to lend their sympathy to the genial “Harry.”' The contest between these two will doubtless be. posted on the green as the best singles game of the season. Mr S. Coldicutt, secretary of the Auckland Club, has received a communication from Mr Mentiplay, secretary of the. Northern Bowling Association, expressing pleasure that the Auckland Club had decided to reaffiliate with the Association as from the. end of the present year. The 'letter_ goes 041: “This is all the more gratifying to our Council, as your club’s association with our institution dates from its inception, and your secession was therefore the more keenly felt.”. A match that will certainly occupy a prominent .place in the bowling recorder’s curiosity store was that decided on the Parramatta green recently between a mixture of septuagenarians and octogenarians (one of the latter close to the nonagenarian mark) representing Strathfie'ld and Parramatta. The years that have passed over the heads of the members of the two rinks aggregated 624—Strathfield' contribiiting 318, as follows, to the total:—Bunting 74, Pierce 84, Cowdery 80, and T. J. Thompson SO. And Parramatta 310, tlmsly: Cal'an To. Alex. Johnstone 87, W. Board 75, and F. G. Cox 73. And the elder ones triumphed by 22 to 16, which fact the scoffer alleges goes far to prove, that bowls is really an old man’s pastime, despite the presence of such a big percentage of youngsters amongst its followers, and, he adds, there are old-young men, you know, as well as young-old men. It is rather a coincidence (says “Jack” in the “Otago Daily Times”) that two of the largest bowling associations in the bowling world should have had in the same year a president of the same name. Such was the case, however, Mr W. Waddell, of Oamaru, presiding over the New Zealand Bowling Association, and Air J. C. Waddell over the Western Ontario Bowling Association, Canada. The latter gentleman has a brother in Victoria, who forwarded to Canada'papers giving accounts of the tour of the Dominion team in Australia. Air W. Waddell was a member of that team, and his Canadian namesake, noticing the coincidence, has sent out a cpmmunication with Easter greetings, and at the same time, through the N.Z.8.A., extending a hearty invitation to New Zealand bowlers to take part in a tournament which has been arranged by the Canadian Association for the first week in July. As the New_ Zealand Mr Waddell is thinking of taking a trip to the Home Country, and may go by way of Vancouver, he is wondering if there is any possibility of a New Zealand team being got up to accept the Canadian invitation. Bain spoiled, a good deal, the final the North Sydney green recently. The players had to race to shelter twice, and remain there somewhere, in the neighborhood of half an hour each time, but there should be no two opinions regarding the result, for the better four (A. J. Whiteliouse, H. L. Ross, S. H. Aiarks, and H. 'Harris) notched, the opening points, but were never in front again, although the 20th head totals show them no more than 3 behind. Play did not quite reach the standard expected, because often the woods splashed through water. The first half of the game saw Whitehousc beat his opponent, but subsequently the heavy condition of the green reversed the. order of things, and Gartrell literally ran over the Association’s pen-pusher. Of the opposing seconds Ross proved the better, this despite that lie had not his best form with him that afternoon, albeit here and there he did some effective things when they were badly needed. Conditions taken into account, W. H. Gartell shaped well, and though the man against him (Aiarks) was not in a drawing mood, his firm and fast saved the side more than once. AToung played decidedly patchy. One. or two beauties were placed by tlie City captain, and all through he had the measure of the Chatswood chap. That the Champion of Champion Sm-o-les of the Dunedin. Centre should be won by Mr C. J. Payne, the Kaituna Club’s champion, came as a surprise to many who did not realise how well that player could play the drawing oame when ho steadied himself down to play it (says “Jack” in the. “Otago Witness”). It was no surprise to the writer, who predicted that if he survived his first game with Hocking lie was -.likely to give trouble in the finals. Ho survived , liis first round, and won the Championship. And his narrowest escapes from defeat were in the first and last games. The final game with the Taieri champion was a pleasant one to watch. Both champions played better from west to oast than in the contrary direction. Stevenson rather favored the backhand, while Payne,-who invariably scored at that end, was better on tlie forehand. Playing from east to west neither player appeared able to master the big draw on the backhand, and some of the heads were rather short.' The game was essentially one of drawing or resting on the shot bowl. Each champion indulged in one

i drive, and one only, and both failed to strike anything. Those who had watched the Taieri champion in his early games fully anticipated his win when he overhauled and passed his opponent. But the Kaituna champion was not to be shaken off, especially at his favorite end, and excitement ran high when 15 all, 16 all, and IS all were put up. Then Payne drew a beauty just behind the jack! Stevenson’s first • ball being about 2ft beyond.. Instead of taking the backhand, which he had been playing beautifu ly, and which appeared to have greater possibilities, Stevenson played his last two bowls on the forehand, and rolled past gently without touching anything. Payne meanwhile had sent down two -fine bowls, and on the string being applied these proved to be counters, and the Kaituna representative was champion of champions. Too much 1 credit cannot be given to Stevenson, the Taieri champion, for his play. In putting down Bentley and Alackie he -vanquished two players stronger than anything Payne had to meet, and these two strenuous games probab'y took a good deal out of him. Until the final head the Taieri man played exceedingly well. But on his general play, with a keen, true green and an open head, lie should have been able to save at least two of the shots which scored had ho been strung up to concert pitch. The London correspondent of “The Australasian” says: “The publication of the letter from Air A. J. Whitehouse, hon. secretary of the New South 1 Vos Bowling Association, on the team for the colonies question, is arousing widespread interest. That a fairly strong contingent, at least, can bo got together is evident; nor will it be subjected to the fate experienced by the eight players who last year volunteered to go out, when the . International Board would not recognise them. Air WhiteTiouso’s appeal is being laid lefore the genera! body of bowlers in England, nearly 100,000 in number, and not those only in affiliation to the English Association, some 15,000 in all. The Scottish, Irish, and Welsh players are, of course, being similarly appealed to.