LAWN TENNIS

Press, Volume LXXXI, Issue 24711, 31 October 1945, Page 4

LAWN TENNIS

CANTERBURY RANKING LISTS STRONG REPRESENTATION The selectors to the Canterbury Lawn Tennis Association (Messrs E. A. Lee, J. T. M. Fisher, and R. N. C. Hill) last evening announced the personnel of. the provincial ranking lists. The first matches will not be played until after November 10, the date of the opening of the grass courts at Wilding Park, but keen competition is expected in view of the resumption of interprovincial matches this year. A feature of the lists is the extension, of the women's ladder, which, before the war, was limited to 12 players, to 20. The new names on this'list include, a large number of young players of great promise. Notable absentees from the higher section of the women's list are Miss T. Poole, Canterbury champion for several seasons before the- war, and Mrs H. Lane (formerly Miss Heather Elsom). Miss Poole had' a serious illness recently and will not play tennis this season. Mrs E. L. Hatherley and Mrs D. Mowat (formerly Miss Dorothy Dickey) are representative players of a few years ago who are returning to the game after several seasons.

-The list is headed by Mrs K. Hart (formerly Miss Kathleen Armstrong), who played well last season and won the singles at the Easter' tournament. -Mrs D. Donnithorne (formerly Miss Doris Elsom), Mrs J. Adams (formerly Miss Joan Peake), Miss M. BurreTl, and Mrs Hatherley follow, and sixth is Miss Jean Mac Gibbon, New Zealand junior champion and one of the most brilliant juniors of recent years. The only notable absentee from the men's list is C. Angas, former New Zealand champion, who is still in Italy. A. D. Brown, returning this year to' Competitive play, is top, and R. G. Pattinson, who has just returned from overseas service, is second. W. J. Smith and H. A. Barnett, the province's leading players last season, are third and fourth respectively. The men's list is strong, although many of the players are young. Another prominent player who has yet to return from overseas-is M. J. Corich, who won the Distinguished Flying Medal while serving with Bomber Command.

The strength of the lists augurs well for the coming season and for Canterbury's prospects of challenging successfully for the Anthony Wilding Memorial Shield and the Kathleen Nimneley Casket, both of which are held by Wellington. Hutt Valley will " play Wellington for both trophies this week-end, and it is intended that Canterbury should lodge a challenge to the winner for a match before Christmas. The lists are:—

Men.—A, D. Brown, R. G. Pattinson, W. J. Smith, H. A. Barnett, A. R. Cant,' B. E. Souter, M. J. Souter. H. Dymond, G. C. C. Reid, E. J.. Donnithorne, T. W. Callander, J. B. Bushell, A. D. L. Hunter, J. H. Silvester, I. J. Corich, T. W. Walls. F. W. Seldon, K. E. Lane, B. R. Penfold, E. D. White. Reserves; A. T. Goddard. J. J. Borough. Women.—Mrs K. Hart, Mrs D. Donnithorne, Mrs J. Adams, Miss M. Burrell, Mrs E. L. Hatherley, Miss J. Mac Gibbon, Mrs D. Mowat, Miss V. Flood, Miss S. Elsom, Miss A. Hewstone, Miss P. Stevens, Miss W. Dryden, Mrs U. Rogers, Mrs B. Boyd, Miss P. Dickey, Miss I, . Kitson, Mrs R. W. Austin. Miss B. Parish, Miss P. Kitson, Miss N. Davey. SUMNER CLUB The opening of the Sumner Lawn Tennis Club's season was held last Saturday- when more than 20 ° Persons attended. The president (Mrs P. C. Fenwlck) presented junior trophies, and the season Sm dopen by the Patron (Mr R. Vim Lr. Jllll),