Bowls Tournament Reports 1933
RECORD ENTRY FOR THE BOWLING TOURNAMENT
Bowlers From Abroad


It was announced at the meeting of the Bowling Tournament Committee on Monday that the entry, 575, was a record, the previous best being 556 in 1930. Mr W.E. Coy (Vice-Chairman) was in the chair, and referred to the illness of the Mayor, their Chairman, and it was decided to send him a telegram of good wishes. It was mentioned that that was the first meeting in connection with the tournament that the Mayor had not attended. It was reported that the subscriptions amounted to £55.14s., which was less than at the same time last year. The large entry would necessitate a preliminary round in each section. There were 277 entries in the Singles and 298 in the Pairs. Among the entries were one from South Africa and another from New Zealand. The tournament will commence on Whit-Monday. After the meeting the draw was made.
BOWLS NOTES
OUR HAPPY VISITORS by ‘The Skip’
The tenth Eastbourne Bowling Tournament will go down in history as the one which began in a heat wave. I cannot remember a tournament which opened in weather as hot as Monday’s. But there must be no grumbling about that, otherwise next year we may find ourselves starting in the pouring rain (if such a thing is possible for the Eastbourne tournament).
Deputy-Mayor’s Tribute
Colonel Gwynne, in his opening speech, paid a happy tribute to bowlers as a class of men who always make you feel that you are welcome. I heartily endorse his remarks, particularly in regard to Eastbourne bowlers. That trait is noticed more than ever the way in which they are making the visiting competitors feel at home. For every new arrival there is a hearty handshake awaiting him from Mr W.E. Coy, or others of the committee. Old friendships are revived by the score during this week at Whitsuntide in Eastbourne, and many new friendships are formed.
Appreciated Invitation
A gesture, that from conversation with the visiting competitors I know was greatly appreciated, was the invitation extended by the Eastbourne and Cavendish clubs.
There must have been close on a hundred people at the Saffrons on Saturday afternoon, for many of the players had brought their wives with them to sit and watch. Five rinks were in play at the Cavendish club.
Those Opening Shots
The woods that are bowled by the openers of tournaments seem to have a mischievous spirit inside them – for they nearly always go astray. Both the woods that Colonel Gwynne bowled stopped far short of the jack. The Mayoress, determined not to be in the same boat as the Deputy-Mayor, put more pep into her shot, with the result that she bowled a ‘ditcher.’ Alderman Miss Hudson’s wood went the closest of the four.
Each shot was greeted with cheers from the spectators – and no one laughed more heartily when their shots went astray than the three bowlers themselves.
Busy Officials
Frank Barton has unfortunately been obliged to allow business to interfere with pleasure during this week, with the result that he will not be playing in the tournament. This was even more a matter of regret since W.J. Jones, hi formidable opponent in the first round had scratched his entry, and Frank would have had a free passage into the second round.
No one worked harder on Whit-Monday than Frank, unless perhaps Councillor Watling, who was working out problems of high finance in connection with the sale of badges, or green fees – I am not quite sure which. Mr G. A. Fox, who is the soul of patience and courtesy, is having a tremendously busy week with all the duties that devolve upon the official scorer. When one comes to think of it, it is difficult to point to any of the tournament officials and find them having a slack time. Whit-week must be one of the busiest periods in the life of every one of them.
OPEN BOWLING TOURNAMENT
BRILLIANT WEATHER AFFORDS UNINTERRUPTED WEEK’S PLAY
SPORT MAINTAINS A HIGH STANDARD
Eastbourne’s tenth open bowling tournament opened on Whit-Monday and ends today.
Since its inception in 1924 this annual event has always been favoured by favourable weather, and this week’s competition has been equally fortunate. A usual, too, the arrangements have given every satisfaction, everything working smoothly, thanks to the zealous efforts of the general committee and numerous willing helpers. In this connection, special thanks are due to Mr W.E. Coy (vice-chairman), Mr W.S. Gardiner, (hon. secretary), Mr W. Llewellyn and Mr C. Matthews (assistant hon secretaries) and Mr G.A. Fox (hon scorer). Six Cumberland turf greens have been used – two each at the Redoubt and the Saffrons, and one each at the Cavendish Club, Ringwood Road, and the Drive Hotel, Victoria Drive. All the rinks have been in excellent condition, a fact upon which the following greenkeepers deserve hearty congratulations – Harry Smith (Redoubt), Ben Freer (Saffrons), Jack Gander (Cavendish) and Sam Pattenden (Victoria-drive).
KIND AND FRIENDLY
Everyone was sorry that the Mayor (Alderman L. MacLachlan) was unable, through illness, to take any part in the tournament, for as its director, chairman and treasurer, he has taken the keenest interest in its welfare and progress from the start. In his absence the tournament was opened on Monday morning by the Deputy-Mayor (Alderman Lt. Col. Roland Gwynne), who mentioned that it was the fourth time that he had had the pleasure of doing so, the other occasions being when he was Mayor. Bowlers, he said , were a very kind and friendly people, and always made one feel so happy to be among them. On behalf of the Corporation he wished the tournament every possible success. He hoped that competitors who were making their first visit to Eastbourne would come again and again; and as their families increased, as he hoped and was sure they would (laughter), he trusted they would agree there was no place like Eastbourne for their children to spend a holiday.
NEARLY A TOUCHER
Colonel Gwynne then bowled a couple of woods and declared the tournament open. The Mayoress (Mrs MacLachlan) and Alderman Miss Alice Hudson also sent down one wood each. Unlike the Deputy Mayor, whose woods fell short, the Mayoress found the rink very fast and her bowl went into the ditch, though it only missed being a toucher by a fraction of an inch. Miss Hudson’s was a very praiseworthy effort, her wood coming to rest only about a yard from the jack. The Deputy Mayor, the Mayoress and Miss Hudson were cordially thanked for their presence by Mr W.E. Coy. There was a civic reception and dance at the Town Hall on Tuesday. The usual luncheon (for which Mr J.E. Chilvers is the caterer) will be held in the refreshment marquee at the Redoubt at one o’clock today, and will be followed by a short toast list. The prizes will be distributed at a concert in the pavilion of the Cavendish Bowling Club, at 8 o’clock.
NEW BOWLING TOURNAMENT RECORD
G.W.A. WRIGHT IN WINNING PAIR FOR THE THIRD TIME
FAREWELL LUNCHEON AND CONCERT
A new record was set up in the finals of the Eastbourne Bowling Tournamnet on Saturday, when G.W.A. Wright of Eastleigh, was one of the winners of the pairs for the third time. Each time Wright has won the pairs, he has played with a different partner. In this year’s tournament his partner was C. Jarvis, of Worthing, and they beat their opponents, S.J. Tomlin and A. Hare, of Luton, by 27 shots to 15. Wright’s previous wins were in 1931 (with E. Brand, of Twickenham), and in 1930 (with P.J. Foster, of the Preston Club, Brighton). The winner of the singles was T.C. Hills (Lewisham) who beat V. Webber (Highgate, North London) by 21 shots to 17. The finals of the singles and pairs were played simultaneously on adjoining rinks at the Redoubt greens on Saturday morning. The limited seating accommodation around the green was filled with an enthusiastic crowdamong them being the Mayoress (Mrs MacLachlan) who watched the games intently. The issue of both the singles and the pairs was never seriously in doubt, although Webber put up a gallant fight against Hills and prevented him snatching a runaway victory.
KEPT THE LEAD
Hills took the lead with two shots at the first end, and maintained that lead of two or three shots right through the game. At the third end Hills added a four, making the score 6-2. At the next end Webber added two. By the eighth end Hills was leading 11-6, but for the next four ends he failed to increase his score, while Webber crept up to 10 – only one point behind his opponent. At the 14th end he was still one behind, 13-12, and it was during the next five ends that the result of the game was decided. Webber had struck a bad patch in his play, and kept at 12 points while Hills was going ahead steadily, until at the 18th end Hills was five points ahead, 17-12. Webber made a gallant effort to stave off defeat, and by the 21st end had, in fact, increased score to 16, but Hills was too far ahead for him to catch up, and when at the 25th end Hills had reached 21, Webber’s score still stood at 17.
BETTER PLAY
Jarvis and Wright carried off the pairs title through sheer superiority in play. At the 12th end, Jarvis and Wright were leading by 15 shots to 13, and for no less than six ends Tomlin and Hare could not increase their score. At the 18th end they pulled their score up to 14, but it was too late to save the game for them, Jarvis and Wright now having reached 25. At the 20th end, when the score stood at 27-15, Tomlin and Hare were hopelessly beaten.
The two finals concluded the tournament proper but, in the afternoon, a competitors’ spoon drive was held. The winners were Messrs. C.S. Marston, D.R. Rattray, S. Jones and J.S. Dalton. Messrs. A.W. Bowditch, H. Holehouse, W.J. Darby and G.S. Pickover were second.
THE LUNCHEON
The farewell festivities for the competitors were a luncheon held in the marquee at the Redoubt, and a concert in the evening at the Cavendish Bowling Club pavilion. At the luncheon, the chair was taken by Mr W.E. Coy. The guests included the Mayoress, the Deputy-Mayor (Alderman Lt. Col. R.V. Gwynne), Mr John Slater, M.P., Mr Walter Gardiner (hon secretary for the tournament), Mr G.A. Fox (official scorer), Councillor H.R.R. Watling, Mr C.H. Taylor, Mr A.E.V. Dennis, and a large number of the competitors and their wives. The toast of ‘The Eastbourne Open Bowling Tournament’ was proposed by the Deputy-Mayor. Colonel Gwynne explained that his lateness at the luncheon had been due to a visit he had paid to the Mayor, who looked very much better for all the news that had been sent to him during the morning about the finals. ‘On behalf of the town, I want to say how much we welcome this tournament. It brings a lot of people to the town, and the very type of people we like.’ ‘Five years ago in my first year as Mayor,’ Col. Gwynne went on, ‘I spoke about all sorts of things that were wanted – new pavilions, new bowling green and so on. In my second year, I was less hopeful. In my third year I was definitely despondent, and now, I am just going to say nothing about it at all’.
Did They Want It?
He did not see why they really wanted a new pavilion, since the luncheon in the tent could hardly be improved upon. (Cries of ‘Yes, we do’) ‘It is a very real grief to the Mayor not to be here,’ declared Col. Gwynne. ‘I believe he is even more disappointed to miss the bowling tournament week than he is to miss Jubilee Week.’ That, Col. Gwynne hastened to add, was merely his own opinion. He had not got it from the Mayor himself. (Laughter.) The jubilee was a very great week in the annals of the town, the Deputy-Mayor continued. Some people might think Eastbourne had not improved at all during the last 50 years. Others might think it had not improved enough. ‘ There it is! You can never get a large town to agree that the Town Council is anything but rotten,’ said the Colonel. ‘My policy is quiet progression – to try to keep the character of the town just what it is, and which is unique.’
The Antiquated Bandstand
It might be rather trying for some people to hear that Hastings had just been allowed to spend £100,000 on a bathing pool, while Eastbourne was not allowed even to improve its somewhat antiquated bandstand at a much lower cost. Perhaps it was just as well that the bandstand had not been removed before Jubilee Week. It would show people that although Eastbourne was supposed to be a modern town, it still possessed a few antiques! (Laughter.) Responding, Mr W.E. Coy said that this had been a record year. ‘This tournament is run more as a social function,’ said Mr Coy. ‘We are not out for large numbers. We are quite satisfied with the numbers we have had this year. The larger the tournament is , the more difficult it is for one competitor to get to know another.’ The committee would be very much obliged if between now and next year the Council would provide them with a pavilion. The toast of ‘The Visitors’ was proposed by Mr John Slater, M.P. He regretted that he had been unable to witness any of the games. ‘Deputy-Mayors and Members of Parliament get very little chance for recreation,’ he explained. ‘In fact Colonel Gwynne and I have been planning a trade union. We are going to strike unless we can get an eight-hour day!’ (Laughter.)
Overseas Visitors
Mr Slater extended a particular welcome to the visitors from overseas, to Mr and Mrs W. Brisley and to Mr W.M. Grice. Mr Brisley and Mr Grice had been present at every one of the tournaments. Referring to the Deputy-Mayor’s remarks about the Government’s refusal of a loan for parade improvement, Mr Slater said that the Government had to be very sure that the expenditure was going to be productive before they made loans. On the question of a pavilion, Mr Slater said the committee ought not to be content with the tournament entry as it stood at present. They should aim for so many entries that the pavilion would become a vital necessity. He advised them to get a site from the Corporation and build the pavilion themselves, by means of a contributory scheme. Mr W.M. Grice, responding, said that the one fly in the ointment had been the illness of the Mayor. He had known ‘Mac’ personally for 25 years, and believed they would have him bowling with them again at the next tournament. (Applause.)
Farewell Gathering
At last, on Saturday evening, the time had come to say ‘good-bye’ to the visiting competitors. The farewell took the form of a gathering at the Cavendish Bowls Club. Mr W.E. Coy again presided, and was accompanied on the platform by the Mayoress, Mr Walter Gardiner, Councillor H.R.R. Watling, Mr and Mrs Bygrave, Mr G.A. Fox and others. The following telegram was sent from the gathering to the Mayor: ‘Hearty good wishes for your speedy recovery. – From the tournament bowlers assembled at the prize distribution to-night.’ The prizes were presented by the Mayoress. Mr J.C. Hills (winner of the singles), who had just returned from an international trial match in London, said that the bowlers there were all enquiring after ‘Mac’. He thanked the committee for the splendid way they had looked after the competitors, and the citizens of Eastbourne for subscribing to the prizes. Mr V. Webber (runner-up in the singles) said it was his first visit here. He attributed his defeat to the wrong advice given by his trainer, who made him go into the sea at five o’clock on Saturday morning. Mr E. Dennis (the Eastbourne player who went furthest in the singles) said he attempted one of the ‘Hills’ and got over one ‘Over.’
Burning the Midnight Oil
Mr W. E. Coy thanked the Mayoress for her presence, and all those who had assisted in making the tournament a success, especially Mr G.A. Fox, who had worked for three or four nights until midnight. Mr Coy then presented the Mayoress with a silver ink well. Expressing her thanks, Mrs MacLachlan said, ‘My husband loved this tournament very much, and looked forward to meeting all his old bowling friends and making new ones every year.’ The Mayoress was greeted with the singing of ‘For she’s a jolly good fellow,’ and three hearty cheers. Mr Walter Gardiner paid a tribute to the subscribers. The expenses he said, were not covered by the entry fees, which were all distributed in prizes. They ran the tournament from the point of view of the good of the town, and not for profit. The concert was contributed to by Miss Evelyne Cook (songs), Messrs. Smith and Tugwell, accompanied by Mrs Lodge (duets) and Mr John Mills in his amusing ‘Sam’ monologues, Mr Walter Gardiner led community singing. Refreshments were provided by the Cavendish Club and Mr C.H. Taylor. A draw for a gold watch was won by Mrs Dawes of Firle-road.
The Prize List.
The prize list was as follows:
Singles: 1. (Gold Cup Replica, £15 voucher, Set of Taylor-Rolph woods), T.C. Hills (Lewisham); 2. (£10.10s voucher, W.T. James Bowl), V. Webber (Highgate, North London); 3 and 4 (£5.5s voucher each) A.C. Shilston (Seaford) and T.J.E. Gardner (East Sheen, Mid-Surrey); four prizes of £3.3s each value, R. Pickering (Warford), W.M. Grice (Redhill), W.Y. Calder (Orpington) and G. Bernard (Thornton Heath); eight prizes of 1 ½ guineas each value, E. Williams (Maida Hill West), E.J. Haynes (Wembley), J.C. Trigg (Walton on Thames), C.J. Keeler (Rushden), E. Dennis (Eastbourne), H. Field (Frant), W. Dray (Upper Norwood) and F.G. Tull (Wallington); local player who went farthest, (£2.2s voucher, A.J. Owen Cup), E. Dennis (Gildredge Park); highest score against the winner (1 ½ guineas value), F. Parks (Eastbourne).
Pairs: 1. (J.C. Towner Vases, Angles Cup, vouchers £6.6s each), C.A. Jarvis (Worthing) and G.W.A. Wright (Eastleigh); 2. (Licensed Victuallers’ Bowl, Goddard Cup, vouchers £3.3s each), S.J. Tomlin and A. Hare (Luton); 3 and 4 (1 ½ guinea vouchers each), A. Rawlinson (Westcliff) and J. Clark (Westcliff), H. Field (Frant) and S. Fairhurst (East Grinstead); club pair going farthest, (£1.11s.6d, each player), S.J. Tomlin and A. Hare.