Easter Tennis Misses Day And A Half

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31654, 15 April 1968, Page 12

Easter Tennis Misses Day And A Half

After missing Saturday because of the bad weather and yesterday morning because the courts were still wet; the Canterbury Junior Tennis Association's Easter tournament began yesterday afternoon.

Several weeks ago it was decided no senior tournament would be held because so long after the conclusion of other matches, Easter was unlikely to attract entries However, the junior association felt that its part of the tournament would still be well supported, and so it proved. About 70 players entered in under 17. and 15, and under 13 sections and, although there were a few defaults yes terday—some apparently had gained the impression that the tournament had been cancel led completely—most arrived, including many from country districts. Even then conditions were far from attractive, the bitter wind bringing players on to the courts in windbreakers and other un-tennis-like wear An innovation for the tournament this year is a parent and child handicap doubles tournament which will begin today. This has been exceedingly popular to draw a field of 23 pairs—fathers and sons, fathers and daughters and mothers and daughters, and one mother and son. In spite of the lost time, the tournament was well advanced by last evening because the early rounds are the best of 17 games There should be little difficulty completing all sections on Tuesday, some of them probably today. Some of the more notable performances were given by country players. D. Croy, of View Hill, in the Malvern sub association, eliminated P Davey, seeded first in the under 13 boys’ singles and runner-up this year in the Canterbury under-13 singles. In the under 13 girls’ singles, another Malvern pair. L. Wilson,

of Kirwee, and D. Wilson, of Halkelt, will meet in the final today. These cousins beat strong town opponents, S. Sparrow and C. Newton. D. Wilson and Newton had a fine driving game. A Kaiapoi lad, B. Clark, did well to reach the semi-finals of the under 15 boys’ singles. He will meet R. Dillon, and T. Mooney and J. Cory will play the other semi-final, Mr S F. Clarke, the Canterbury association's professional, who is also managing this tournament, was delighted with the success of country children who must have benefited from the association’s policy of sending him into country districts. R. Webster v. R. Tuck, and M. Beaumont v. B. Smyth will be the under 17 boys’ singles semifinalists; P. James will play G. Iredale in one under 17 girls final The under 15 girls’ semifinalists are S. Moore v. A. Mentes, G. Skilling v. P. Bamford. The under 13 girls’ semi-finalists are Croy v. A. James and W. Andrew v. B. Sanders. Results: UNDER 17 Boys’ Singles First round.—R. Adams beat I. Shaw, 9-1; R. Tuck beat G. Clifford, 9-2; M. Beaumont beat M. Day, 9-8. Second round. —R. Webster beat D. Mitchell by default; N. Dillon beat S. Simmonds, by default; K. Lewis beat R. Smith, 9-4; Adams beat G. Calvert, 9-3; I. Webster beat M. Sibley, 9-1; R Tuck beat F. Versteeg, 9-4'; Games Delayed (N.Z P A.-Reuter —Copyright) CAMBRIDGE. ’ Rain prevented play on . Saturday and Sunday in the national hard-court tennis championships. It is hoped to make a start at 8.30 a.m. today. Even if the weather improves the tour .ament cannot be completed until tomorrow.

B. Smyth beat D. Schroeder, 9-6: Beaumont beat N. Pattinson, 9-8, Quarter-final.—Webster beat Lewis. 9-3; Tuck beat Adams, 9-1; Beaumont beat 1. Webster, 9-4; Smyth beat Dillon, 9-7. Girls Singles First round.—E. Price beat G. Robb, 9-1; G. Iredale beat J. Dodgshun. by default; P. James beat R. Jones, 9-5. UNDER IS Boys* Singles First round. —R. Versteeg beat I. Shinn, 9-3; B. Clark beat K. Ryan, 9-4. Second round.—T. Mooney beat B. Batchelor, 9-4; J. Cory beat B. Fehsenfeld, 9-3; B. Clark beat R. Versteeg, 9-4: J. Lagan beat N Blackburn, 9-2: P. Gilmour beat M. Lum, 9-1; R. Dillon beat A. McEachen, 9-1; B. Harrington beat M. Barton, 9-8; R. Cullen beat G. Cowie, by default. Quarter-finals. —Mooney beat Harrington, 9-3: Cory beat Cullen, 9-4: Dillon beat Gilmour. 9-2; Clark beat Lagan, 9-2. Girls* Singles First round.—A. Meates beat C. O’Rourke, 9-2: M. Brosnahan beat L. Lewis, 9-7. Second round.—S. Moore beat R. Smith, 9-3; P. Bamford beat M. P. Cross, 9-1; Meates beat S Shaw, 9-2: G. Skilling beat Brosnahan, 9-7. UNDER 13 Boys* Singles First round.—D. Croy beat G. Wilson, 9-3: A. James beat G. Knowles, 9-1; W. Andrew beat M. Mooney, 9-5; T. Moon beat M Kelleher, by default. Second round. —James beat Moon, 9-2; B. Sanders beat M. Shinn, 9-4; Croy beat P. Davey, 9-7; Andrew beat S. Hughes. 9-4 Girls* Singles First round.—C. Newton beat A. McMaster, 9-8: D. Wilson beat M. Hopkinson, 9-0; L. Wilson beat J. Higgins, 9-3 Semi-finals. —L. Wilson beat S. Sparrow, 9-2; D. Wilson beat C. Newton, 9-5.