Court Maimers Attacked

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31596, 6 February 1968, Page 14

Court Maimers Attacked

Bad manners and bad court behaviour of players at the Canterbury championships were complained of by the tournament controller s (Mr H. Dillon) in his report to the management committee of the Canterbury Lawn Tennis Association last evening.

The New Zealand association is very disturbed about the bad behaviour and lack of respect for officials,” said Mr Dillon. “This is creeping in among the younger players especially.

“The court temperament of • number of players has shown no real improvement," he said.

Local and visiting players

thought they could demand anything, Mid the Chairman (Mr R. B. Brown), endorsing Mr Dillon’s remarks. “They seem to be here for everything the association can give them,” he said. “It it about time the players realised that the officials are volunteers and they are not here to be organised by the players.” Mr S. F. Clarke said that the decorum of the players was worse. “The back-chat to linesmen of -our top players was deplorable. Players should be defaulted for such conduct. Under-24 Bvents

Mr T. A. F. Withers said the new system of playing of the national under-19 championships with the senior championships should be discontinued. “A number of these junior players were tied up In too many events,” said Mr Brown. “We pushed them on the first two days, but they steyed In the senior events to complicate things. "We could probably run the tournament on eight or 10 courts but for the increasing number of juniors staying In “I suggest that we push the juniors harder or keep the under-19 events separate from the senior tournament," he said.

It is hoped to play some of the senior men's competition on Saturday at the United club's courts, to help to remove some of the back-log of matches caused by rain at the week-end.