TOP OF TENNIS LADDER AT 18

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30630, 22 December 1964, Page 19

TOP OF TENNIS LADDER AT 18

An 18-year-old boy who has just completed his secondary education at St. Bede's College has risen to the top of the Canterbury men’s tennis ladder and he thoroughly deserves his place. He is J. Martin, top for the North Linwood club in the senior men’s tennis competition.

At the end of last season, Martin was ranked fifth junior in the province. In the season’s interim lists, issued yesterday he was top senior. On the first list of the season issued early in November he was eighth. Martin now plans to attend Canterbury University for a commerce course.

The Canterbury selectors (Messrs J. Anderson, G. Lane and M. Agar) must have had their problems in adjusting their ladder at the end of pre-Christmas ranking matches. When Martin beat the previous top man, W. Thom, in a ranking match on December 1 he was not promoted to the top of the ladder displayed in the pavilion at Wilding Park. The next week he beat B. Aldridge and it was hoped to pit him against L. W. Watkins but Watkins has been suffering from eye trouble. Then, when Martin beat Thom again in a club match last Saturday, the selectors may have felt the issue was beyond doubt. Slim, quick, with a fast service and flowing drives, Martin has shown a singular application to the game and he has been soundly coached by a former New Zealand champion, A. D. Brown for several years. This season he has fashioned a fine record, winning all his six ranking matches, four of five club matches at top—the loss was to P. S. Alexander (Cashmere) who is not playing ranking—he has been in devastating form for the junior Slazenger Shield team, and he was a strong candidate for the Linton Cup junior team to visit Australia. Another Canterbury boy who is in that team, J. Mitchell, has not played a ranking match.

On the men’s list Thom has dropped to second and Aldridge has gone from second to sixth. A former top man in Canterbury and sixth in New Zealand, C. G. Judge is back on at fourth.

Mrs Davy at Top Mrs R. Davy, formerly Miss Ruia Morrison, is still naturally at the head of the women's list but the second position has changed. After being ranked second in the province to Miss J. Davidson at the end of last season. Miss D. Smith had dropped to third behind Miss S. Field on the November list. However, since then. Miss Smith has beaten Miss Field and regained the second place. The lists are:—

J. Martin 1, W. Thom 2, L. W. Watkins 3, C. G. Judge 4, M. Agar 5, B. Aldridge 6, W. Edgecumbe 7, J. Duggan 8. A. Brooks 9, P. Angland 10, B. Crofts 11, R. Neumann 12, J. Cullington 13, G. Boddy 14, 1. Stanton 15, V. Price 16, P. Boatwood 17, J. Dickie 18, J. Tavlor 19, M. C. Healy 20. L. Legge" 21, E. Ogier 22, G. Rodley 23, G. Shaw 24, G. Ha*stie 25, R. Rodgers 26, R. Stanton 27, B. Templeton 28, J. Griffiths 29, M. Thom 30.

Mrs R. Davy 1, Mis® D. Smith 2, Miss S. Field 3, Miss H. Bruce 4, Miss S. Andrew 5, Mrs L. Buxton 6, Miss L. Watson 7, Miss J. Hatch 8, Miss A. Woods 9, Miss J. Bishop 10, Miss R. Walls 11, Miss J. Bell 12, Miss F. Thompson 13, Miss H. Caldwell 14, Miss M. Sewell 15, Miss P Kerr 16.

TAI TAPU.— Four-ball, best-ball bogey: G. Saunders and Mr.* Mills, 11 up; D. Cadman and Mrs Wheeler, 9 up; Mr and Mrs C. Brixton, 9 up. Stableford: J. Mills, 39 points; N. Cadman, 36; G. Gallan, 36.