May 27, 1933
RECORD OPEN BOWLS ENTRY
575 PLAYERS FOR BIG WHITSUN EVENT
PSEUDONYMOUS PLAYER PROBLEM
A record entry of 575 for the WEastbourne Open Bowling Tournament at Whitsuntide, made up of 277 in the Singles and 298 in the Pairs, was announced at a meeting of the committee on Monday evening , when the draw was made. The previous best was 556 in 1930, when the tournament was held a little later in June.
At the suggestion of Mr. W. E. Coy, who took the chair in the absence of Alderman L. MacLachlan, the Mayor, the members sent a telegram to the nursing home where Alderman MacLachlan is recovering from his illness, expressing sympathy with him. The Chairman said how much the members regretted the recent death of Mr Frank Barton’s father.
On the advice of Mr. J. MacLachlan, of the Drive Hotel, it was decided to use only five of the Drive rinks for the tournament, the other not being in the best of condition.
Mr. Barton said he understood that in view of arrangements for women’s bowls in Sussexthis season it was not proposed to hold a women’s match in connection with the Tournament this year.
Mr. A. J. Carter asked whether the Ladies would be offering facilities for a gentlemen’s match at their tournament.
RECEPTION ON WEDNESDAY
The secretary, Mr. Walter Gardiner, said that the fact of the Borough Council meeting being fixed for the Wednesday had caused the reception of the visiting bowlers to be arranged for the Tuesday.
It was announced that subscriptions amounted to £55.14s., against £61 at the corresponding time last year and an ultimate total of £71.
There was a discussion on a point raised by Mr. Gardiner; whether a pseudonymous entry could be accepted for the singles. A Worcester entrant had sent a fee in respect of a friend who had not decided whether he would be able to make the visit to Eastbourne. He sent the name of a Masonic Lodge to be included in the draw.
“Perhaps he is thinking of the Irish Sweep” was one of the remarks, and is he a nationalised Englishman?” one of the questions. Mr. Gardiner recalled that in the past an entrant had used his Bardic name, and drew a distinction between that player and one who might call himself Geranium!
It was decided to obtain the promise of the pseudonymous entrant’s sponsor that the name stood for one player, and not for any friend of his who might be invited to “own” the entry: the suggestion being made that in future the entry form should state that none but the actual names of entrants would be accepted.
A preliminary round will be necessary and some players will have to take part in four rounds on the Tuesday.
June 3, 1933
BOWLS – Comments and Criticisms by “Third Man” (Excerpt)
All of the local bowlers will be agog with pleasurable excitement next week, and concentration will be entirely upon the Tournament, for which fine weather is alone needed to make it a great success.
The only fly in the ointment will be the enforced absence of the Mayor, but the Mayoress and the Deputy Mayor will be present at the opening ceremony and during the other social events that are such a feature of this bowling week.
At the meeting of the Tournament Committee there was an amusing discussion about the question of admitting an entry under the nom-de-plume of “Vigornian.” The only point, of course, is the necessity of the Committee being in possession of the real name of the competitor. Otherwise I do not see that it matters much whether a nom-de-plume is preferred as this is not a handicap match. Bowlers are not very shy people as a rule, and I have found that any row is about their name being spelt wrongly. A competitor was very wroth because in the draw his designation of “J.P.” was not added to his name in each case.
June 10, 1933
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. As 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, he4 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 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 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.
(Some round results are available for the 1933 competitions from Mike Taylor)
The finals will be played this morning to suit the convenience of competitors engaged in the International Trial games in London in the afternoon.
BOWLS – Comments and Criticisms by “Third Man” (Excerpt)
This has been the hectic week of the year for all those who have to do in any way with the game of bowls. Gentlemen in blue blazers emblazoned with badges galore have been met with all over the place, and it is very obvious that this annual Tournament brings a great deal of money into the town.
Seeing the success that has been achieved y this Whitsun week fixture it is a source of wonder to me that a little public spirit is not shown by some of the devotees of other sports like golf, hockey, etc.
Tournaments might be arranged in the same way as this bowling one, but one golfer confided in me that he didn’t see why he should lose a week’s play and they didn’t want a lot of strangers on their links! What an attitude3 of mind!
It is many years since the greens have been so fast at such an early time of the season. Some of the players were at sea with the conditions. And talking of greens reminds me that my paragraph a fortnight ago about the curious boycott of the Saffrons greens by the County authorities was cut out by certain local influential committeemen and dispatched to the gentleman who had something to do with the decision not to play on the Saffrons.
There is a lot of dissatisfaction locally about the way the County singles matches have been arranged. Fancy important contests such as these being fixed for Gildredge park. Surely it is common knowledge that the Tournament Committee have always avoided this particular green as not being up to the proper standard, yet the County Committee chose it in preference to the Saffrons!
Last Monday the Tournament opened if not in a blaze of glory certainly in a blaze of sunshine and the scorched up faces at the end of that day told a story. The ultra violet rays must have benefitted many of our bowlers.
There were as usual many surprises. The finalist for the last two years went out in the first round , for Scoular was beaten 21-20 by Plowman , of Luton. Pope, of Leicester, was defeated by Lancaster, a good bowler who has been in the semi-final a year or so ago. Archie Brown went down to J.E. Taylor, of Gildredge Park. Taylor is a very fine bowler indeed.
I was amused to hear one competitor say to A. Hare, of Luton: “Please treat me kindly Mr. Hare, I’m only a rabbit” In another column you will see the results up to yesterday (Friday) evening. (If interested please contact: Mike Taylor) It is all very interesting to those who play bowls, to know and see the peculiar happenings and results that take place in this fascinating game. The charm lies chiefly in the unexpected results and strange reversals of form that take place during these tournaments. Giants go down before mere pigmies and ordinary players go through two or three rounds amazing their club mates by some streaks of unlooked for brilliant play. Yet in the end it is generally some well known player who takes charge of the Gold Cup and the prize money.
June 17, 1933
LEWISHAM BOWLER WINS EASTBOURNE £100 GOLD CUP
EASTLEIGH PLAYER’S REMARKABLE RUN OF SUCCESS IN THE LAST FOUR OPEN TOURNAMENTS
LUNCHEON AND PRIZE=GIVING: SPEECHES BY MR. J. SLATER M.P., AND THE DEPUTY MAYOR
The semi-finals in the open bowls tournament were played at the Redoubt greens on Friday evening in last week and the finals on Saturday morning w3ith the following result:-
Singles:- Semi-final: T.C. Hills (Lewisham) 21, A.C. Shilston (Seaford) 12; W. Webber (North London) 21, T.J.R. Gardner (Mid-Surrey) 11. Final: Hills 21 Webber 17.
Pairs:- Semi-final: S.J. Tomlin and J. Hare (Luton Town) 20, J. Clark and A. Rawlinson (Essex County) 19: C.A. Jarvis (Worthing) and G.W.A. Wright (Southern Railway, Eastleigh) 26, H. Field (Frant) and T Fairhurst (East Grinstead) 8. Final: Jarvis and Wright 27, Tomlin and Hare 15.
With a different partner each time, Mr. Wright has won the pairs championship three times in four years, the other occasions being in 1930 and 1931: and last year he won the singles competition.
LUNCHEON TOPICS
The speech-making that followed the luncheon on Saturday involved many references to the beautiful weather that had prevailed throughout the week, the excellent arrangements, the competitors appreciation of all that had been done on their behalf and, of course, the regret felt by all that the Mayor (Alderman L. MacLachlan) founder of the tournament, had been unable through illness to take any part in the event. The Deputy Mayor (Alderman Lt-Col R.V. Gwynne) proposed the toast “The Tournament” and recalled that when attending that luncheon during the first year of his mayorality, he in the innocence of his heart, said he would try to get the bowlers new pavilions , new lavatories, new greens, and he did not know what. During his second year as Mayor he was not so hopeful; in his third he was definitely despondent; and on the present occasion he was going to say nothing at all on the subject (laughter)
ANTIQUATED BANDSTAND
Asking for the visitors’ good wishes for the Jubilee week Col. Gwynne said that “some people thought that Eastbourne had not improved enough and others not at all. One could never get the public to agree that the Town Council was anything else but completely rotten (laughter). His policy was that there should be quiet progression and that the unique character of the town should be maintained. Some people found it difficult to understand that Hastings should be allowed to spend £100,000 on a bathing pool, while Eastbourne was not allowed to alter the antiquated bandstand at a much lesser cost. In conclusion the speaker spoke of the excellent work done for the tournament by Mr. W.S. Gardiner (Hon. Secretary) and Mr. W.E. Coy (Vice-Chairman)
A HINT TO THE COUNCIL
Mr. W.E. Coy (who presided) replied and mentioned the valuable service rendered by Mr. G.A. Fox as honorary scorer, and by those who had lent cars to convey competitors from one green to another. The committee, he said, were quite satisfied with the number of competitors, because they realised that if there were more players it would be more difficult to run the tournament successfully, owing to the greens being situated in different parts of the town. The committee would be very much obliged if the Town Council could provide them with a nice pavilion before the next tournament. He thanked the competitors for the way they had supported the tournament and contributed to its success.
Mr. John Slater M.P. toasted “The Visitors” and made complimentary reference to two bowlers from South Africa and one from New Zealand, also to Mr. W. Brisley (Westcliff) and Mr.W.M. Grice (Horsham), who had come every year since the tournament started.
THE MEMBER’S SUGGESTIONS
Referring to Col. Gwynne’s remarks about the bandstandscheme not having received Government sanction, Mr. Slater said that during the past two years it had been the unpleasant duty of Members of Parliament to watch carefully all national and local expenditure that was not reproductive. Regarding a new bowls pavilion, he thought it should not be beyond the wit of local bowlers to devise some means of getting such a building without troubling the Corporation to do it. The Deputy Mayor: Hear, hear. Mr. Slater: All you need ask the Council to do is to give you the site. The Deputy Mayor (to the Press) : I hope you are reporting this. Mr. Slater added that he thought the committee ought not to be satisfied with the present size of the tournament but should try to make it a greater success every year. They should strive not only for another pavilion but for more bowling greens. The Deputy Mayor: Say the same things about getting the bowling greens as you did about the pavilion (laughter).
Mr. W.M. Grice, in reply, said the one fly in the ointment had been the absence of the Mayor, who was known to all bowlers as “Mac”. He had told him (the speaker), “I did not know I had so many friends in Eastbourne until I was taken ill”.
PRIZE DISTRIBUTION
The prizes were distributed by the Mayoress (Mrs. MacLachlan) at a social gathering on Saturday evening at the pavilion of the Cavendish Bowling and Lawn Tennis Club. Several prize winners made speeches. Mr. Hills, who had just returned from the International trial match at Paddington, said that everybody there had asked after the Mayor, whom they knew as “a white man”. Mr. Webber, runner-up, jokingly attributed his defeat in the final to his trainer, who, he said, got him up at five o’clock in the morning and made him go into the sea. Mr. F Dennis (Gildredge Park) was the only Eastbourne prize-winner. He took the “A.J. Owen” Cup and a voucher for two guineas for being the local competitor who went farthest in the singles competition and a prize value one and a half guineas for getting into the last sixteen. “I find myself in an unexpected position,” he said “I did not think I should get as far as this. I like a game of bowls and having an hour or two to spare I thought I would try my hand against some of the cracks. In fact, I managed to climb some of the Hills” (*Oh*) I got over one Over (Mr. E.T. Over scratched to him in the first round) – but I could not rise. I fell part of the way up the hill.”
SOUVENIR FOR MAYORESS
The special prize, value one and a half guineas, for the player (not otherwise a prize-winner) who made the highest score against the winner went to Mr. F. Parks of Hailsham. Mr. Coy, who took the chair, thanked the chief workers and mentioned that one of those who lent cars had travelled 132 miles during the week, going from one green to another. On behalf of the competitors, Mr. Coy presented the Mayoress with a silver inkwell and said it was a surprising but appropriate coincidence that it was shaped like a bell for he understood that Mrs MacLachlan was known to her intimate friends as “Bell”. The Mayoress, who was accorded musical honours, made a charming little response.
BOWLS – Comments and Criticisms by “Third Man” (Excerpt)
The Tournament, I think it will be generally agreed, was a great success. The weather has always been kind to this annual Whitsun event, but this year it surpassed all previous efforts and the competitors from far and wide will retain in their memories for a very long while the blazing five days of brilliant sunshine. It is nice to see such a consistent supporter of our Tournament as T.C. Hills win the Gold Cup. He is a fine player and was one of the representatives of English bowlers who won the Championship in Canada two years ago. In 1928 he, with Mr. A.H. Burt, another regular visitor, won the pairs championship. The most astonishing record, however, is that of G.W.A. Wright, of Eastleigh. He won the Pairs championship again, and also won the pairs in 1930 and 1931, and each time with a different partner. In 1932 he varied the proceedings by winning the singles championship. To be a first prize winner at the Eastbourne Tournament four years in succession is a record that will take a lot of beating. Once more, alas, no Eastbourne player succeeded in getting very far. But there are two I must mention. One is C. Wooler, who was a member of the Archery club and has this year joined the Redoubt. He astonished everyone with his extraordinary bowling. He beat H.G. Edney, of the Mid-Surrey Club, who is regarded as a first rank player, and then polished off W. Plowman, of Luton, very quickly. Plowman had beaten Scoaler who had been in the final for the previous two years.
I had visions of Wooler winning the Gold Cup for he was playing so well, but though he put up a good fight, he succumbed to T.J.E. Gardner in the fourth round. Gardner is a steady player, as I know, for he also put paid to my account and wiped up a Saffrons player – A. Moss – 21-0. When I walked over to where E Dennis, Gildredge Park, was playing A. Rawlinson, he informed me that he had only scored 10 and that his opponent wanted one point for game, being 20. I told him to cheer-up as sometimes that one point took a lot of getting. Apparently I brought him luck for he proceeded to score two fours, a two and a one and won 21-20. He got into the last sixteen and won the “A.J. Owen” Cup and prize and deserves every credit for the effort he made to uphold the reputation of local bowlers. After seeing a lot of players this year I am going to begin practicing playing left=handed. It is a mystery to me why left-handed bowlers should be so good.
Before I leave the Tournament I must refer to the rather unfortunate clashing of the E.B.A. Trial gamers with the day on which our finals are due to be played. This is not the first time it has happened. Once before, the final was postponed for a week, a course which I did not agree with. It was in the nature of an anti-climax. This year the finals were played off in the morning which, no doubt, caused a loss of chair receipts to the Corporation and disappointed a lot of working men bowlers who had been lokking forward to seeing the game in the afternoon.
The Tournament Committee will have to take this matter up with the E.B.A. Committee. The fixture is under their auspices and they should give it every help and encouragement as it fosters the interest in the game.
If no satisfaction or assurance for the future can be obtained from the E.B.A., then the local Tournament Committee must seriously consider the question of whether it is good policy to place the interest of a few players above that of the rest of the competitors and those who desire to watch the game.
I am of the opinion that a fixed time should be made for the final and strictly adhered to. Bowls is the only game where these flimsy things happen. In every other form of sport the rules are strictly enforced, and any competitor knows if he enters and then finds it inconvenient to play the only alternative he has is to quit or scratch in other words.
A.H. Bull was very annoyed when the final was postponed. He told me tat, and I know he agrees with the views I have just expressed. I shall endeavour to raise the matter at the annual general meeting of the Tournament.