LAWN TENNIS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1271, 28 October 1911, Page 12

LAWN TENNIS.

CBi "Footfauw.T COMING EVENTS. Wellington Provincial Championship and Handicap Tournament, at Day's Bay, January 20, 22, 23, 1912. New Zealand Championships Tournament at Lancaster Park, Christchurch, December 23, 26, 27, and 2S, 1911. Davis Cup Contest.—December 29, 30, 1911, and January 1, 1912, at Lancaster Park, Christchurch. Inter-club Matches. In all, 51 entries have been accepted for this season's inter-club competitions. The men' 6 competition has been divided up into the following four grades, tho entries for which aro also annexed:— Shield—Wellington A, Wellington B, Newtown, Brougham Hill, Victoria College. Cup.—Wellington, Trinity, Peton*, Newtown, Brougham Hill A, Brougham Hill Ji, Victoria College A, Victoria College B. Pennant.—Trinity, St. John's, Kilbirnie, Bidweil Street, Oriental, Khandallah, Potono A, Pctono B, Newtown, Brougham Hill, Victoria College, Jolmsonville. Racket—Trinity, Oriental, Brougham Hill, Victoria College xV, Victoria Collesv> B. The ladies' competition has been divided up into the following three grades, together with the entries:— Shield.—Wellington A, Wellington B, N-ewtown, Brougham Hill, Victoria Collect, Thorndon. 'Cup.—Trinity, Wellington, Oriental, Khandallah, P«tone, Newtown, Brougham it'iil, Victoria College. Pennant.—Trinity, St. John's, Kilbirnie, Pctoiie, Newtown, Brougham Hill, Johnsonvillo. Dearth of Young Players. Tho production of such wonderful boy tenuis players as Laureutz and Gobert is not lo be confined to France. America unearthed two prodigies at tho championship meeting at Newport, one being Walter it. Washburn, a boy of 18, who defeated R. D. Little (America's Davis Cup representative) by 9—7, 5—7, 3—G, G—2, 6—l. Another youngster, George M. Church, 19 years of age, got within a stroke of beating T. C. Bundy, another member of tho Davis Cup team, tho score being 8-G, 3-6, G-8, 6-1, 7-5, in the latter's favour. In last week's notes attention was drawn to tho dearth of promising young players to take the place of thoso who aro still this country s best exponents of the game. Writing in tho "K-eforeo" of October 18, "Austral," after giving interesting items with regard to tho brilliant younger players of America, Germany, Franco, _ and nearer home in Melbourne (some of' whom are-only'just out of their teens), comments- as follows:—The adage, therefore, that youth will be served, though for some curious reason in abejvinco hero in Sydney, in New Zealand, and in England, obtains elsewhere. Play on Labour Day. A very enjoyable combined sealed handicap tournament was held on tho Wellington Club's courts on Labour Day, wliich resulted in a win for Mrs. Walker nnd Mr. Boddiugton. Both these players wero in good form, all tho games being keenly contested. Mr. Boddington is tho lion, "secretary of the Masterton Club, and was visiting Wellington in connection with tho Masterton Club's protest against the dates clioscn by tho Wellington Provincial Association for the tournament to bo held at Day's Bay on January 20, 22, and 23.

Members of tho Brougham Hill Club spent an enjoyable day on the club's courts on Monday last, when lunch was provided at Mr. J. A. B. Howe's grounds. Mr. Leslie Holland and a few other members of "Our Miss Gibbs" Company were among the players. Mr. Holland, who is no novico at tho game, would, with tho necessary practice, bo a very attroctivo player. The annual general meeting of the New Zealand Association will be held on Tuesday evening next. The Marton Tennis Club. Tho annual meeting of the Marton Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club took place recently. Tho balance-sheet showed tho club's finances to be in a satisfactorycondition, and the report states that twenty new members were elected during tho past season, there being ninety members on tho roll. Tho annual tournament, held on December 20, 27, and 28, passed off successfully. The following list shows tho events and tho successful competitors:— Men's Championship Singles— J. G. Swainson, Pahiatoa.. Men's Championship Doubles— J. G. and W. H. Swainson, Auckland. Ladies' Championship SinglesMiss Paterson, Christchnroh'. Combined Championship Doubles— R. D. Wybourne, Waverley, and Miss Tennent, Wellington. Men's Handicap Singles, First Grade— W. H. Swainson, rec. 17. Men's Handicap Singles, Second Grade— K. Clark (rec. 25), Bulls. Mon's Handicap Doubles— J. G. and W. H. Swainson (rec. 8). Ladies'' Handicap SinglesMiss J. Tennent (7), Ladies' Handicap DoublesMisses J. Tennent and C. Beckett (H). Combined Handicap Doubles — J. G. Swainson and Misa N. Wilson (scr.), Bulls. Two club tournaments were held during the season, and matches were plaj-ed with the Wanganui and llnntcrville Clubs. A new grass court has been formed, and will be ready for uso at the annual tournament to bo held on Boxing Day and the two following days. The club will now have five courts available for tournament play. The opening of the 6Cason is' fixed for November 1.