PICTURES OF SARTORIAL ELEGANCE

FULL MARKS and congratulations to the Mosman club for their initiative in introducing the inaugural Centenary Gala Day, where bowlers from 14 of the 16 oldest bowling clubs in the Sydney metropolitan area, enjoyed a day of bowl’s nostalgia under blue skies accompanied by a gentle breeze.

The criteria to this unique day was that every club must be at least a 100 years old, with the Balmain club (1880) the oldest, followed by Manly (1883), North Sydney (1888), Ashfield (1889), Waverley (1893), Randwick (1894), Neutral Bay (1898), Chatswood (1900), Hunters Hill (1901), Mosman (1902), Warringah (1903), Warrawee (1907), Beecroft (1913), Killara (1916).

Twenty eight teams totalling 84 players assembled in the adjoining school grounds and were ceremoniously led by Mosman’s George Lindsay’s wife Vicky, a piper with the Manly Warringah Pipe Band, who led the procession out onto the street, through the club’s front gates and onto the green for the official opening ceremony and Chatswood’s Barney Flanagans call of the cards.

Mosman members and many of the visitors complimented the day by dressing in very fashionable costumes of yester year, which included top hats, tails and of course the mandatory sweeping dresses and feathers, giving quite a glamourous touch to the occasion.

The atmosphere on the day was enhanced with a display of memorabilia from the archives of both Mosman and several visiting clubs, which together with the club’s gardens and surrounds, were a picture of colour and tranquility. Obviously this wouldn’t have been possible without Peter McAdam’s organisational skills and of course the club’s turf craftsmen, Scotty and Snowy’s horticultural expertise.

The winners were Waverley, whose name will be inscribed on the perpetual trophy, who finished one shot ahead of Beecroft. The Killara club will host next year’s event.