PLAN FOR TEAMS’ TENNIS TOURNEY

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30528, 25 August 1964, Page 16

PLAN FOR TEAMS’ TENNIS TOURNEY

The possibility of four-man i international teams playing in Christchurch next summer (for a trophy commemorating 'the fiftieth anniversary of the death of Anthony Wilding will be investigated by the management committee of the Canterbury Lawn Tennis Association. To this end the committee will write to the New Zealand body to ascertain if the Australian players flying to Auckland for an invitation tournament in February could extend their visit to include the proposed trophy contest in Christchurch. The chairman (Mr M. C. Healey) said the fiftieth anniversary of Wilding's death fell in May next year, but if the Australians could be obtained in February it would give impetus to an event which could be held annually or biennially. The organisation to bring the Australians to New Zealand was in motion and if the visiting players could be held for an extra week there would be no problem, he said.

“It will be the closest we will get to a Davis Cup tie for a while,” said Mr S. W. Bullen.

Mr Healey suggested that the name of Sir Norman Brookes should be coupled with that of Wilding in the trophy, because of the Ausitralian’s association with the New Zealander in winning Davis Cup teams in 1907 1908, 1909 and 1914. The discussion was started in a light-hearted fashion when Mr Healey, for the second time in six months, committed a faux pas over Anthony Wilding’s name. “Next year will be the fiftieth anniversary of Michael Wilding's death." he began Mr Bullen: He's still alive. Mr Healey (waving his hand towards the press table): No comment.