Report from the 1932 Tournament
Tournament Progressing According to Schedule
After a night of rain there were fears that the start of the ninth Open Bowling Tournament on Monday would be delayed, but happily the weather improved and though the greens were wet play was possible. Since then progress has been according to programme.
The tournament was started by the Mayor, who was accompanied by the Mayoress. It is a happy coincidence that the Mayor is also President of the Tournament in the inauguration of which he took such an active part. There was a big gathering for the opening, and Mr W.S. Gardiner introduced the Mayor, remarking that this year his Mayoral duties would prevent him giving so much of his time to the tournament, but when he was unable to act Mr W.E. Coy, the Vice-Chairman, would deputise.
In opening the tournament, the Mayor extended a hearty welcome to the competitors.
The Mayoress threw the first jack and the Mayor and Mr W.E. Coy bowled the first end, the arrangement being that the loser should make a contribution to the Mayor’s Fund. The Mayor lost. The entries for the tournament were only a few less than the record number, a satisfactory feature considering that the event is being held at a particularly early date this year. Play is taking place on the Redoubt, Saffrons and Cavendish Club greens.
PLAY AND PLAYERS IN THE TOURNAMENT
Play in the ninth open tournament is now drawing rapidly to a close and by the time these notes are read only the finals will stand between us and the prize distribution which will be performed by the Mayor tonight at eight o’clock in the Cavendish Club’s spacious pavilion, when the cheery concert and general sing-song will atone in some measure for the general regret which must inevitably accompany the conclusion of so delightful an event. One or two previous tournaments have attracted a few more competitors, but I shall be voicing the opinion of all who have had any share in the 1932 event when I say that from every point of view it has easily outshone its predecessors.
Good Organisation
Just one word about the painstaking work of the officials. The machinery of the tournament has run with exceptional smoothness and it speaks well for the organisation that the problem of looking after simultaneous sets of games on four greens in widely separated parts of the town has been successfully solved. Let us be frank and admit that in some previous years knotty points have arisen, which have led to little misunderstandings and the spilling of a certain amount of printer’s ink. As far as I am aware, nothing of the kind has ruffled a single brow during the present event and that merits a tribute to the sporting spirit of the competitors.
Spirited Play
With regard to the actual games, I should say that the standard of play, having regard to the fact that the bowling season has only just begun has reached a high standard. Beyond a handful of heavy defeats – 21-1 was the record – the various rounds of the pairs have produced a surprisingly large number of close tussels in which victory has been secured by a margin of one or two points and only after every inch of the ground had been contested. I should be wanting in gratitude if I failed to refer, at this juncture to the admirable part played in the general scheme of things by the Clerk of the Weather, who once again favoured the event with glorious sunshine, but I am afraid the dampness and the fresh wind of the opening day was ill-suited to the style of some of the competitors accustomed to more sheltered greens than the Redoubt, and no doubt it was due to their inability to adapt themselves to these conditions which caused some favourites to drop out in the early rounds of the singles.
Some Surprises
Early dismissals were the fate of former finalists of the calibre of P.J. Forster and A.J. Bibb, who failed to survive their first games. H.H. Cowlishaw, who won the trophy in 1927, succumbed to A.E. Smith (Gildredge Park) in the third round, while W. Brisley, the following year’s Gold Cup holder, received his quietus in the same round at the hands of G.C. Pope. E.T. Over (Eastbourne) who won the cup in 1925 did not get beyond the second round, but A.H. Bull, the 1929 winner got into the fifth round. Such is the luck of the game, and thus it came about that on Thursday evening when the section finals were played, the competitors left in the contest were eight who had not previously won the trophy – G.M. Everett (Hove), R.W. Pickering (Watford), William C. Mann (Westcliff), T. Scoular (Ilford), G. Jackson (St. Leonards), G.W.A. Wright (Eastleigh), G.C. Pope (Leicester) and the Rev. C.J. Keeler (Rushden).
Elderly Player’s Fine Stand
The section finals on Thursday evening attracted a very large gallery of spectators, who had the pleasure of seeing some fine play. Perhaps the clash of outstanding interest was that between G.M. Everett and R.W. Pickering. Everett, who cheerfully admits to being over 70 years of age, did extraordinarily well to be only one shot behind his opponent at the end of the game which went to Pickering by 21 shots to 20. Everett was two shots down at the 10 th end (9-7) but went ahead to 13-10 at the 15th, 1-2-3 in succession, then took Pickering to 15-13, but scores were level – (16-16) at the 19th. It looked as though the game was won when Pickering pushed his account up to 20-16 two ends later, but Everett picked up a couple of 2’s on the next two ends, making level pegging again, and then the necessary single for victory was secured by Pickering.
More Close Contests
Equally close and exciting was the game between William C. Mann and T. Scoular, the latter winning by 21 shots to 20. The winner was six shots in arrear (9-3) at the 7th end, but recovered in good style to lead 13-9 at the 12th exchange. There was level pegging at the 20th end (17-17) and two ends later Scoular was two shots down (20-18), but at the next end secured a 3 which gave him the game. Wider margins separated winners and losers in the remaining section finals which went to G.W.A. Wright, who defeated G. Jackson 21-15, and G.C. Pope to whom the Rev. C.J. Keeler ‘gave best’ by 21 shots to 15. Jackson was in arrears throughout his game with Wright, who led 6-3 at the 5th end, 9-5 at the 10th and 13-8 at the 15th. In the other game scores were level at the 11th end (7-7) after which the Rev. Keeler took his tally to 13-8 in the next four ends and kept his lead until the 21st end (15-14) after which he failed to add to his total.
Last Man In
Eastbourne’s last representative in the singles, – A.E. Smith, the captain of the Gildredge Park Club – was knocked out in the fifth round by the redoubtable G.W.A. Wright of Eastleigh, but only after a splendid struggle in which Smith more than held his own until the last few ends. Smith made a very slow start and was five shots down without having opened his account at the fourth end, but four ends later he had recovered sufficiently to draw level (5-5). Then Wright scored a single, but a three and two singles gave the Eastbourne man a lead of 10-6 at the 12th end. Wright got a brace of 2’s and once again the scores were level, but Smith was not played out and another bout of scoring gave him a 15-10 advantage. On the next two exchanges Wright reduced arrears by three, but a couple of singles pushed Smith’s account up to 17-13, but just when it looked as though he had the game well in hand, the Eastbourne man failed, and three ends sufficed to finish the game; 3-2-3 taking Wright to victory by 21 shots to 17.
Singles
Section Semi-Finals
Section A
G.M. Everett (Hove) 21 – 18 C.C. Greener (Worcester)
R.W. Pickering (Watford) 21 – 5 W.G. Whatley (Swindon)
Section B
William C. Mann (Westcliff) 21 – 15 R Parson (Bristol)
T Scoular (Ilford) 21- 9 W.H. Nicholls (Leytonstone)
Section C
G. Jackson (St Leonards) 21 – 15 S Lloyd (Croydon)
G.W.A. Wright (Eastleigh) 21 – 17 A.E. Smith (Gildredge Park)
Section D
G.C. Pope (Leicester) 21 – 14 A.H. Bull (Wellingborough)
Rev. C.J. Keeler (Rushden) 21 – 14 E.J. Haynes (Wembley)
Section Finals
Section A
R.W. Pickering (Watford) 21 – 20 G.M. Everett (Hove)
Section B
T Scoular (Ilford) 21 – 20 William C. Mann (Westcliff)
Section C
G.W.A. Wright (Eastleigh) 21 – 15 G. Jackson (St Leonards)
Section D
G.C. Pope (Leicester) 21 – 15 Rev. C.J. Keeler (Rushden)
FINALS REPORT TO FOLLOW WHEN LOCATED