Many N.Z. Tennis Players Overseas

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29803, 21 April 1962, Page 9

Many N.Z. Tennis Players Overseas

’THE departure of Muss S. x Rich, of Canterbury, and Miss E. Terry, of Waikato, tor Britain last week-end meant that New- Zealand will have the surprising number of eight women tennis players in British tournaments this year. Misses J. Glenie (Auckland) and V. Fladgate (Waikato) arrived several weeks ago on a private tour, and the official women’s team of Misses J. Davidson (Canterbury), M. A. Smith and P. Belton (Auckland), and E. Green (North Shore), travelled on from Darwin this week.

The eight women plus the Davis Cup team of I. S. Crookenden (Canterbury). R. G. Clarke. R. N. Hawkes and J. B Souter (Wellington*; J. R. McDonald, of Wellington. who has been in England tor some time; and M. A. Otway, who now lives there, almost certainly make more New Zealanders playing overseas this year than ever before.

Two of the group of seven from which the tour women tor the official team were selected. Misses Rich and Terry, arranged to tour together and they expert to benefit from several months overseas. The 18-year-old Miss Rich, formerly of St. Margaret's College and now training as a kindergarten teacher in Christchurch, and Miss Terry, aged 17. head prefect at Cambridge High School, have been close rivals this season. Miss Rich lost to Miss Terry in the finals of both the national junior and national BP tournaments after she had won the first set each time.

Miss Rich, who is expected in Canterbury to follow in the footsteps of Miss Davidson. had a highly-succersful

season. Unseeded tor the junior singles, she beat the top seed and 1961 second-ranked senior. Miss Smith to reach the final. She was also in the final of the doubles from an unseeded position. In the B.P. tournament she beat last year's fourth-ranked junior, Miss E. Cavaye. to reach the final. She later won another New Zealand competition conducted by the International Club

Somewhat concerned about a report that the New Zealand players might have difficulty in securing entries in Britain. Miss Rich before she left obtained an assurance from the New Zealand association's representative in London (Mr D C. Coombe> that there would be plenty ef tournaments available tor her. In the meantime, the other Canterbury woman player ovenseas. tee national champion. Miss Davidson, in a letter to her parents. Mr and Mrs T. Davidson, of RedclifTs. from Darwin where the New Zealand men’s and women’s teams were training until this week, gave a glowing account of the coaching of the Australian professional. L. Atkins. The first session she had with him lasted from 9 15 am. to 12.45 pm. and he worked the players hard. One of the men players who looked exceedingly tired was not allowed to rest.

• Atkins said he was impressed with Miss Davidson's forehand and he was helping her with her backhand. He had all the players doing a' variety of hard physical exercises and spared nobody's feelings in discussing their faults.

Miss Davidson also sa;d that the people of Darwin had arranged so much hospitality tor them that a great deal of their training was to be done early in the morning and also in the evening, sometimes under lights.