CROQUET.

Press, Volume LXIV, Issue 19503, 27 December 1928, Page 14

CROQUET.

CANTERBURY CHAMPION-

SHIPS.

PLAY COMMENCED YESTERDAY.'

Play was commenced in tho Canterbury Croquet Association's Christmas tournament yesterday on the Unitod Club's lawns. At first tbe lawns played slowly, owing to overnight rain, but they improved in the afternoon. There were •92 entries, as compared with 150 laßt year, but there was additional interest in the play owing to the fact that two Victorian players, Miss H. L. Evans and Miss J. H. Evans, participated in the tournament. Tliese two players have done exceedingly well in the Izard Memorial Doubjes, haVing reached the semi-finals. Other prominent players' on the green were A. G. F. Ross, T. P. Chambers, Mrs E. A. Smith, and Mrs Maddren.

The Canterbury championship tournamont will Inst probably till Monday, to bo followed by the New Zealand gold medal championship on January 2nd. Very few championship games were played yesterday, but the majority of them will be played to-day. The results pf yesterday's play were as follows :

OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP. First 'Round—S. McCullough beat H. A, Penn, 26-17, 10-26, 26-11.

Second Round—Mrs Maddren beat E. G. Rawnsley, 26-7, 26-20. IZARD MEMORIAL DOUBLES.

First. Round—Miss H. L. Evanß and Miss J. H. Evans beat Mrs Maddren and T. F. Chambers, 26-7; Mrs Hadfield and S. McCullough beat Mrs Boanland and H. J. "Williams, 26^23; Mrs W. M. Tyers and A. G. F. Ross beat Mrs Oxley and E. J. Ross,, 26-14: Mrs Palmer and Mrs McCullough beat Mrs E. A. Smith and H. A. Penn. 26-25. Semi-final—M»s Tyers and Ross beat' Mrs Palmer aiid Mrs McCullough, 26-6; Misses Evans beat Mrs Hadfield and McCullough. CANTERBURY HANDICAP. '"' First Round—E. J. Ross (scr) best Mrs Maddren (i), 26-23; T. F. Chambers (J) beat E. G. Rawnsley (3J), 26-7: Mrs H. Smith <SJ) beat Mrs G. Good (4); Mrs E. A. Smith (scr) beat H. J. Williams (—1), 26-22; Mrs Hadfield (3J) beat Mis Oxley (21), 26-10. B GRADE CHAMPIONSHIP. First Round—Mrs Cowper beat H. Smith, 26-19.

Second Round—Mrs Colwill beat Mrs Irwin, 26-8; Mrs Cowper beat Mrs Keetley, 26-22; Mrs Rinaldi beat Mrs Taylor Smith, 26-18. B GRADE HANDICAP DOUBLES.

First RoundI—Mrs 1 —Mrs Freeman and Mrs Williamson beat Mrß Irwin and H. Smith; 26-2; Mrs Anderson arid Mrs Wood beat Mrs Pullar and Mrs Vincent, 26-13. B GRADE HANDICAP SINGLES.

First Round—Mrs Colwill (7) beat Mrs Anderson (8), 26-8; H. Smith (6) beat Mrs Keetley (7), 26-13. Second Round —Mrs Cowper (6) beat Mrs Taylor Smith (7i), 26-8; Mrs Freeman (7) beat Mrs Irwin (6), 26-8; H. Smith beat Mrs Rinaldi (6), 26-17.