CROQUET

Press, Volume LXX, Issue 21087, 12 February 1934, Page 6

CROQUET

JUNIOR TOURNAMENT THREE CHAMPIONSHIPS DECIDED Rain again interfered with the play in the junior croquet championship tournament on Saturday, but by taking shelter between the many showers and taking advantages of the longer breaks in the weather, players were able to finish three of the sections. The finals were played in the A and B championships, and in the handicap singles.

Most of the play took place in the morning, at the United Club greens, the previous vain and intermittent showers during the day keeping the greens very heavy and wet. After about an hour's play in th.e afternoon very heavy rain began to fall, while the handicap singles final game was in progress, and for the time play was abandoned. But later conditions became more favourable, and in spite of the sodden greens the section was completed. The remaining doubles anal will be played this morning. The results of the play on Saturday were:— J A CHAMPIONSHIP Final n^ S C^ lin ( °P aw a> defeated Mrs Collins (Edgeware), 2G-3. B CHAMPIONSHIP Final Mrs C. Hunter (Cashmere) defeated Mrs Harris (Waimate), 26-8. leaica

HANDICAP SINGLES Final Mrs Cook (Addington) defeated Mrs G. Owen (Opawa),, 26-18. The PJay The tournament, which is organised by the Canterbury Croquet Association and is the third fixture of its Kind, has provided some play of ;i very high standard, and in spite of the conditions on Saturday this standard was maintained in the final games, although the championship games were won by a fair margin of points in each case.

Mrs Cowhn, in the game for the A championship, established an early lead and took black to rover hoop Mrs Collins hit in and made ?°& hoops, but broke down. Mrs Cowl in iXri <nT; ith , blUe - Mrs C °Uins tailed to hit in a long shot, and Mrs Cowhn made a fine break of seven hoops, peeling black through the rover. She repeated that performance with blue again making seven breaks, and then took both balls to the corner and lay up for the Tie" Mrl C C°owh S aSai " f V e§ t0 h it in, SSS Mrs Cowhn pegged out blue. Mrs er° tT d , ain - and her opponent pegged out the remaining ball. A Good Opening Mr" Hnn S w e f< ? r B dwmpioiishin -ills Hunter, who is a promising Player, making a good openh vent to three back with black. Mrs Harris ailed with the long shot; M-s Hunter, playing blue, made the boon L° m in hC M,^ SidC - l ettin * S ns in. Mrs Harris had made nniv two hoops when she broke down Mrs ook te blue lt to n n Witl il a , I™* °hoT 2nd, nkrvinJ I°°™ back " Mr * Harris. * Fwi g ! more successfully, made three hoops. Mrs Hunter acoin 5g e ? n u P wit ," a long shot and foo I blue to four back, and after a «oor m a /o°win hanSinS Play I

The handicap singles game was interesting throughout, as the score of 26-18 in favour of Mrs Cook shows. Both players showed a good knowledge of the strategy of the game, and in spite of the uncertainties of th« weather were able to maintain their fine play until the last ball. Trophies Presented The two championship trophies were presented to the winners after afternoon tea in the United Club*s pavilion by Mr E. J. Ross, the president of the Canterbury Croquet Association. Mr Ross emphasised the importance' of the tournament, for, he said, senior players of the future would naturally be recruited from the present junto;* ' ranks. He looked on the fixture - one of the most important events of the season. Mr Ross t thanked the competitors for their co-operation, and expressed the hope that for future tournaments the entries would increase. Obvious proof of the high standard of the play, he said, was the speed with which the games were got off.

On behalf of the association, Mr Ross thanked the United Club for the use of the greens, and Mr S. McCulJough and officials for conducting the tournament so successfully. Mr McCullough, in replv. thanked Mrs J. P. Maddrcn for her assistance :n running the tournament, and mentioned that the playcra had cooperated splendidly.