Time For Hard Court Tourney

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31139, 16 August 1966, Page 17

Time For Hard Court Tourney

CN’.Z. Press Association) WELLINGTON. The New Zealand Lawn Tennis Association says in its annual report the time has come to consider inaugurating; a national hard court tennis championship tournament in New Zealand. “The management committee does not consider it should approve or disapprove a type of surface on which a tournament is conducted by an association. As is the case overseas, each tournament should be classified as hard court, grass court, clay court or indoor as the case may be," states the report. “On this basis, the time may be considered appropriate to term the existing national national championships the ‘national grass court championship.’ ” Any centre possessing adequate facilities and courts with a true playing hard surface would be eligible to stage the national hard court championship if it is inaugurated. the report states. The association’s annual meeting will be held at Wellington on August 30.

“This year mare overseas players were brought to the national championships and greater scope and support has been given to junior activities both within New Zealand and ■with overseas teams,” the report said.’ Affiliated membership increased by 961 in 1965-66 to a total 40,958 —the first time the membership figure has topped the 40,000 mark since 1952. Auckland with 8720 is the biggest association followed by Canterbury 6224 and Wellington 3939.