INTERMEDIATE TENNIS

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30369, 19 February 1964, Page 10

INTERMEDIATE TENNIS

Championship Suggested

The possibility of a New Zealand intermediate tennis championship being held next season received the support of the Canterbury Lawn Tennis Association’s management committee on Monday evening. The manager of the Can-: terbury junior team (Mr S. T. Day) said that many players fade out of the picture when they leave the junior grade (under 19 years) and cannot get very far in senior championships in the two-year gap between under 19 and under 21. He moved that the centre recommend to the New Zealand Lawn Tennis Association that a New Zealand intermediate championship be held under invitation conditions for under 21 years players. “I think it’s a great idea,” said Mr D. D. M. Stewart, “we need more ■ tournaments. There is a big gap between the under 19 and 21 grades and that’s where the players fall out.”

Mr Stewart also suggested that it would be more constructive if Canterbury indicated that it was prepared to run the tournament and that was added to the motion. Mr S. Bullen: I think it’s a magnificent idea. It shows real thought by Mr Day. Mr M. C. Healey, the committee’s chairman, said that it was one of the biggest problems facing New Zealand tennis, and a satisfactory solution hasn’t been reached. It has been tried, unsuccessfully, by individual associations, but Canterbury hasn’t tried it yet. he said. Mr R. P. Murphy said that Show week-end had been suggested as a date for the championship, but it would be unsuitable for other centres. However, it was pointed out that any date before Christmas would probably be unsuitable.