Evening star., 1932-12-06
CLASS IDEA VETOED
DUE TO TINY PRIZES
Effort to Give Dubs Break
Bars Girl Leaders Plan
for YuIetide Event.
BY r. ID. THOMAS.
EADERS of the Washington
Ladies League aver they've
- been misrepresented in their

6nDGllo Va k4lS w tOAA
Ladies League aver they've
L. been misrepresented in their
attitude toward the handi-
cap system to be instituted in The
Stars fifth annual Yuletide bowl
ing tournament, entries for
which close December %.
In a piece in these columns The other
day. replying TO a protest made by
Miss Bronson Qualities, president of The
league, against the handicap plan, 1t
was pointed out that. handicap compe-
tition was not different in principle
frcm the classified tournament spon-
sored yearly by the Washington Wom-
ems Duckpin Association OF which the
league is a pillar.
EOR years, hundreds of bowlerS have
l. competed in The Stars tourna-
ment with only outside chances OF
sharing the $500 in prizes. With no
entry fee to pay, they had nothing 70
lose if only slim opportunity to gain
and, for some, it was fun trying.
nament on the grounds that it was
hopeless to compete, on even terms,
with the experts. To make poor
showing in any sort of competition Is
embarrassing TO the average human.
Even with the handicap system, the
lowly dubs opportunity to Join the pay
line is not so bright but for vast
majority of bowlers the tournament as
now arranged is far more attractive
than it has been, if their main objective
is share in the purse, and Its cinch
that many new names will appear IN
the prize winning lineup.
HOWEVER, here's what the officers
i i OF the Washington Ladies League
have to say about it alive quote
verbatim from a letter signed by MISS
Quaites, president; Lorraine GULL, vice
president, and Rena Levy. secretary:
'The conclusions you draw from the
statements made are absolutely in error.
While we are strongly opposed to
handicap tournament we are very much
in favor of a classified tournament.
where the bowler actually rolls against
her own class We have always sup
ported this in the Washington Women's
Duckpin Association. In fact, as you
say, we feel we have helped to build
it up.
AFTER all, it is admitted that VIC
tory with a handicap is hollow one
and not to be compared to q victory on
ones own merits, and the bowler rating
a handicap would still feel herseI roll
ing against the star bowler.
Were it to be q classified tourna-
ment, against her own speed, more con-
fidence would result and we believe the
actual scoring would be higher, togeth-
er with true feeling Of victory for the
winners.
.tOUR highest aim in the Washing
~ ton Ladies Duckpin League Is to
encourage the new and lower
bowler-our classified prize list will bear
this out, but we do not think any one
is going to travel very far or get much
satisfaction in winning something that
they really do not earn.
ITO us the two things farthest apart
on principle, merit and every other
point, are handicaps ard classes.
I'VE might also add that last year the
Washington Ladies' Duckpin League,
then eight teams. turned in to your
tournament Al entries, believe it or
not more than 100 per cent. Did any
other league beat that? Taking the
total number of ladies entered in your
tournament from the different leagues
and the percentage we gave you, do you
not feels that cur opinion should be
given some consideration?
Yours for classified and bigger
tournament, helping both the alley own
er and the bowler"
ITO the directors of the Yuletide tour
J. nament, when plans were being
drawn for this seasons event. it
mattered little on principle whether 1t
be handicap or classification affair SO
long as the average and mediocre bowl
ers were given a fair shot at the prizes,
something they were denied so long as
they competed on equal footing with
performers of Campbell Sweepstakes
caliber.
The classification plan was given full
consideration, but it entailed so fine
distribution of the purse that none OF
the prizes would have been attractive.
AS matters stand, whether or not
prize winner in the coming tournament
relishes success gained with the aid OF
a handicap, certainly he will have no
objection to the size of his check.
In the meantime, the bowling fra
ternity as whole seems quite en-
thusiastic over the innovation. Virtual
ly every one Of the 30-odd establish
ments at which preliminaries will be
held has reported a heavy early entry.
Bowlers not fully acquainted with de-
tails of the tournament should consult
any alley manager or communicate
with the writer. Entry blanks are
available at all bowling plants.