Administrator’s breakthrough

Press, 18 April 1986, Page 10

Administrator’s breakthrough

For the first time in the seven-season history of the award, the Canterbury tennis “Personality of the Year” trophy has been won by an administrator. The recipient for 198586 is Mr Maurice Agar, the chairman of the Canterbury Lawn Tennis Association’s management committee for the last four years, and a former president of the national body. A man whose quiet, almost retiring, personality masks a sharp mind, Maude Agar has been a C.L.T.A. senior administrator for 10 years and served on the junior management committee for

nine — six of those seasons overlapping. He has done his whack, too, on club committees, notably St Ninians and Woolston, selected at senior provincial and junior national levels, and helped organise Davis Cup ties at Wilding Park. Some of his best work has been done out of sight of the Christchurch tennis fraternity. His low-key, but firm advocacy of Canterbury association views has played an important part in shaping national

body thinking. Maurie Agar can also claim to be the first veteran to win the award; he is active, and successful, in the ranks of the over--405. In his playing heyday he captained the Woolston seniors to men’s championship success in 1963-64-65 and represented Canterbury many times, rising to Wilding Shield level. Previous winners of the personality award were Stephen Harley (twice), Shirley Haig, Sally Moorfield, Hugh Robinson and Christine Newton. The selectors, and members of the competitions committee and the news media are involved in sorting out a winner each year. This year’s presentation was made by Alison Robertson, of Radio New Zealand sports. There was not any particular stunning administrative coup brought off by Maurie Agar last summer which caused the judges to place him above the leading players. Rather, it was an acknowledgement of his determined and devoted service to the sport over a length of time.