Bowling Memories from 1914

Memories

Just three months before England declared war on Germany everything in England was typically English with the bowling season just starting as reported in the Huddersfield Daily Examiner on Friday 1 May 1914.

Memories from 1914 are in the article reproduced today covering:

• The Yorkshire Cup

• The Binns Cup

• The Yorkshire Merit Includes a report on Huddersfield defying the County by arranging fixtures for the Subscription and Drayton Cups for the same day as the Yorkshire Merit.

• Lignum Chippings Various reports including the formation of a new League in Huddersfield; plans for the draws of the County Cup competitions; reports on the 'strike' craze reaching bowling in Leeds; player shortages for Paddock C&BC; selection of new bowlers for County teams;

THE YORKSHIRE CUP

So far as is known at the time of writing the whole of the sixty-four clubs drawn against each other to contest the first round of tbe premier tournament in tbe county will be thus engaged battle arrayed, and some ' turn-ups may expected. Several keen struggles arc also anticipated, local rivalry being conspicuously represented in promised hard tussles between Almondbury Liberal and Lockwood Conservative, Dalton Liberal and Paddock C. and 8.C., and Waterloo and Linthwaite C. and B.C.

The pity it that in the subsequent rounds three of these strong teams can take no further part in this competition after Saturday.' On the other hand the inclusion of the losers in the Consolation Cup-ties will no doubt have tendency to instil greater enthusiasm in this secondary warfare.

In like manner, other districts are affected, though scarcely to such extent. Rastrick have Bnghouse Albion a« opponents, and the two Mirfeld combinations. King's Head and Constitutional, will try conclusion.

THE “BINNS” CUP Fewer than eight games have to be decided this week in the preliminary for possession of the popular “Little Jim,” and among the contestants are several past holders and runners-up, vix., Waterloo, Golcar, Linthwaite, Marsh United, and Dalton Liberal. Matches in this competition are always interesting, and the results more often contrary to expectations than in the classier exhibitions.

THE YORKSHIRE MERIT The first three or four rounds of the Yorkshire Merit are down take place in six different centres on May 23rd, three weeks hence, and four or even more greens may be required in the Huddersfield distnct. All associations, leagues, and clubs in the county were asked to keep this dale an open one, so that every bowler would have the opportunity of joining the Yorkshire Merit. With one exception every association has carried out this desire.

Huddersfield preferring to fix ties in connection with both the Subscription and the Drayton Cups the same day. Last week I was understood to say that competitors in the Merit could play their games daring the week previous. It should have read they could play their cup-tie games, not Merit games.

At the Yorkshire Executive meeting of last week the president of our local association undertook to convene a special meeting of the committee for the purpose of rearranging the cup-tie games, and so set at liberty those players who are wishful to compete in the County Merit. This he afterwards thought was unnecessary, in the belief that the Merit players could arrange their game for any previous evening.

The obstacles against such a course being taken are:—(l) The greens will not be selected until the Tuesday evening; (2) the draw not made known till Thursday (hence how can the competitors come to terms?; and (3) successful competitors will required to play three or four times on the same afternoon to qualify for the contest on Whit Monday and Tuesday. It is not too late I hope, for the Huddersfield Association officials to' rectify matters, and remove the serious handicap which their members will be subjected to if the existing circumstances are allowed to obtain.

LIGNUM CHIPPINGS

It behoves all bowlers to use the greens at the present moment just as would our most valuable asset, and then grumblers will be few and far between. Another bowling league has been formed in Huddersfield, and is comprised exclusively of Working Men’s Clubs. In all probability, it will become affiliated to the Yorkshire County Association. Don’t dispise a novice ”; attempts to give him pleasure as your own game gives you. Have you decided to join the Yorkshire Merit? Do it now. and let us have record numbers.

The Yorkshire Executive will meet at the While Hart, Huddersfield, next Wednesday evening, at 7-15, to arrange greens for the second round of the Yorkshire cup-ties, and to make the ** draw and fix the greens for the preliminary of the Consolation. A good attendance of representatives is requested.

The Yorkshire Year Book is expected to beon sale next Wednesday. As volume of information it is replete, and no bowler of any pretensions can afford to be without a copy, the price of which one penny, or bundle of fifteen for one shilling. For club-room purposes single copies, punched and strung, may be purchased at the same price.

Accounts to hand from more sources than one regarding the Paddock C&BC team show that some five or half a dozen of last year’s players are either in the retired or migratory categories. As counter-balance rumour has it that George Thewlis purports to assist the Paddock Club in the Yorkshire campaign. Similar rumour* were afloat last season, but how far correct they were every bowler is now aware.

Appearances are indicative of pronounced success to Mr. Noah Riley’s conception of the Bowlers’ Union. If not abused, the privileges which it affords cannot fail to enhance its reputation. Snappy pars will be welcomed for this column. Years ago “drawn cup-tie games were seldom, if ever, heard tell of. But in more recent times such events have become more common, and already this season Ossett Flying Horse and Cleckheaton C&BC. have made draws of 211 each in the West Riding Cup Competition.

The stnke craze has at last found its way amongst bowlers in connection with the Leeds Parks Association.

Several past records of proficient bowlers are coming to hand with a view to their consideration by the Yorkshire Selection Committee, and probable subsequent inclusion in the county team.

Will secretaries kindly send scorecards of any notable competition games? Thev may be left at the headquarters of the Huddersfield Association.