LAWN TENNIS

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 15, 12 October 1927, Page 8

LAWN TENNIS

ASSOCIATION CHAIRMAN HOPES, AMBITIONS, AND WORK

The Wellington Provincial Lawn Tennis Association is singularly fortunate in having secured, as ths chairman of its Management Committee, Mr. M. E. F. Airey. A business man to his finger tips, a long association with tennis (which ho regardfl as his hobby) IU many countries of (he world, tho experiemee of organising the gome in parts where”it had never before been heard ot, have made him familiar with all the requirements of the game. The only test he sets himself is results, and to get results'he demands work from those connected with him, equally with- himself. He does not consider a. committee to be a success unless it substitutes considered action for mere debate. He co-ordinates and crystallises into action the results of the deliberations of his colleagues. As a true chairman ought to do, he determines the province cf their discussion and sees to it that what is decided upon is done. Not for him is there any satisfaction in the passing of fine resolutions, and then tho pursuit of a masterly inactivity. A pleasing trait is his willingness to listen to suggestions from outside the committee room. He welcomes criticism provided the criticism is honest. Ho examines each question thoroughly from all points, nnd once convinced of its right he forward, with it unhesitatingly. While there is no undue haste with his methods, neither IS there any undue delay. Tho Pioneers.

Mr. Airev is now past the age when he can look i'orward to improve his game of tennis. Ho is now devoting much of his spare time and often time, that he can spare oily at. great inconvenience), to providing facilities . to help youngerpeople to improve their game. He is wholly wrapped up in making a success of tho Miramar scheme. Ho conceives this to bo a duiv due by khe association and by tennis players to the pioneers of tho scheme. F«r these pioneers he has the greatest resnect. It has filled him with astonishment that men, some of whom were themselves long past the ago of playing, should have so interested themselves in the game and in its players, as to turn n marshy swamp into the magnicenf "rounds fhot tho association grounds at Miramar now are. "I take off my hat to those pioneers.” he said, "and every tennis player should do the same.*'

Miramar Scheme. Visit Mr. Airey at his office and so much ns mention "tennis” and “Miramar” and ho will immediately, unfold before von plans of the scheme and enfhnsirwtically outline its virtues. Ho will toll yon there is scarcely anything like it in tho world. Outside of the famous centre court at 'Wimbledon he has not seen finer grass courts (han the sixteen nt Miramar laboriously built tin from swamp with no foundation to their present state by Mr. Poinfon. When the grass is cut short one might almost play billiards on them. Then there are grass courts which are being pro-

pared by taking off tho turf, levelling tho soil underneath, and replacing tho turfs. These courts will serve very well lor everyday plav, the sixteen built up courts to lid used (and rightly so) only Cor important occasions. At present nlso there are 1(1 hard courts fas the surfacing of which with bitumen (not putting in foundations be it remembered, but surfacing only) the City Council charged within a few pounds of t £"2WO. By that means, after leasing to tho tennis association, what w*s practically a swamp in winter used only for a few lower grade rugby matches, does (ho City Council help along tho game of tennis in Wellington under tho control of the body best fitted to control it. Were tho council’s generosity devoted on ■i similar basis to tho other sports bodies there would be such a. howl from them ns no council could withstand. At present that .£'2469 stands as a millstone round tho neck of the association and the council would be doing incalculable service to tennis (not tho association, hilt tennis) in Wellington if it cancelled tho debt. Tho Pavilion.

Mr. Airev would show you tho plans of the proposed pavilion, tenders for tho erection of a portion of which have already been called. While ministering to the comfort and convenience of players when off tho court there is nothing superfluous about its furnishing or equipment. Tho pavilion will be so constructed to front the sixteen principal grass courts and to give also a good view of the other courts. Windows will lie so arranged as to give amnio sunlight tho whole day. Nor will players want for a nlnco to have meals. Lounge rooms will be provided and a hall for dancing or entertainments. The Work. Within the last three months the progress in Iho construction work at Miramar has been remarkable and (ho whole place is well worthy of a visit. In order to afford additional protection to the courts from wind it is proposed, when funds will allow, to erect wire netting on tho principle employed by Sir Trnby King to break the wind. But this will cost money. _ The hedges behind courts, plants which, in their season, will flower and add colour to the place, are looking at their best. A watering machine which moves automaficnlly on” a wide circle, a motor lawn mower which cuts tho 1(1 grass courts in -I hours, compared with the two days previously occupied bv two men. the ID sheen eating down grass on the other court sites, are all great savings in expenses.

Surface of a Davis Cup Court. In view of the intention of the French Association to apply to have amended tho rule concerning the surface of n Davis Cup court it is interesting to quote rule No. 9: "Tho surface of tho courts to be user! in tho competition shall lie either grass, turf, or a natural or artificial fine gritty material, but in no case shall a tie be played under cover or on a surface of wood, stone, concrete, asphalt, cement, or other similar substance or compositioFrance will apply for the imle to ba amended to include hard courts.

Russell Young Excels. In the inter-" varsity lawn tennis matches Oxford— Cambridge versus Harvnrd—Yale, R. R. T. Young, of Wellington was. with Austin (a noted English plaver and brother-in-law to Randolph Lvcoli), referred to by American lawn Tennis as "a hero for the English,” as lie accounted for two of flic Americans, McGlinn and Read. Against the latter ho was down I—s in the. second set, only to pull even and finally win at 12—10. He also had a nip and tuck battle with McGlinn, emerging the victor after 7—5 had been reached in the deciding set. Young also won iiis doubles match. Bad Taste.

“When the nerve-wracking battle between Mre. Mallory (U.S.A.) and Miss Joan Fry (England), in the Wightman Cup match ended in a victory for Mrs. Mallorv the umpire called, 'Mrs. Mallory wins (he match and thereby clinches our win of the Wightman Cup.’ It was ‘a direct slap in the face to the English plovers and their well svishers, said tho editor of American Lawn Tennis, who refers to tho matte, ‘Io make some amends, and to, express the general regret over the occnrrence as well as to prevent repetition of the occur rance'.”

How Lacoste Beat Tilden. An excellent account of how Reno Incosto beat W. T. Tilden in the National Singles Championship of U.S.A., with some pertinent observations on Tilden’s place in the lawn tennis world, is given by Vincent Richards, the professional, once a Davis Cup star and the pupil of Tilden. Tilden, he said, played his best gaino this year in that final. "Lacoste now takes his place among the super players of the ago,” said Richards. “It was a beautifully played backcourt duel that tested tho .ability of both players before the first three games had been played. Had Tilden been able to follow his powerful drives into the net to cut off Lacostc’s returns with crisp volleys, one might write a different story, but no man in the world can hqpo io take Lncoste’s measure from the baseline. He is absolutely a stonewall from the backcourt, and his remarkable 'gets’ from either side earned thunderous applafise. “No matter what Tilden had to offer, the young Frenchman seemed always to anticipate the -move, and be waiting on the spot. “Though Tilden led half-way through the first set, I knew he could not, win. He led four games Lo one and five to two in tho third set. only Io have a cannon-ball service and terrific drives returned with tho utmost easo and remarkable placements. It would Iravo taken the heart, out of any player, and my hat goes off to Tilden for the gallant fight. “It was a repetition of the Davis Cup matches. Tilden never will be able to beat Lacoste from the baseline, and ho is no longer able to stand the terrific strain of running into the net in a hard five-set match. In this respect he is in the same position as Jolin-

ston. Tho American Davis Cup Committee must look for younger and more active material.

“It is worth while remembering that Franco has two extra players for the doubles. Tilden might have done better on the third day of the Davis Cup matches if ho was not compelled to carry the brunt of tho tight against Bruguon and Borotra.” An Enthusiast,

As one listens to Mr. Airey"s exposition of the case for the Miramar courts, his hopes and aspirations, and then visits tiio place to see for oneself what has been clone, it is impossible not to catch something of his enthusiasm even though ono might still wonder how the great annual expenditure will bo met solely from club subscriptions. This, however, is a point which 1 will net now touch on. Aly readers know full well my views upon it, and they have not altered. I have striven to present Miramar us seen through the mind ot Mr. Airey, and ho is entitled to every chanca to give his ideas scope. Nor must it be lost sight of that the association will bold its interclub matches there again this year, and that on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturday mornings the schools, primary and secondary, hold their competitions there. The moving spirit in this is Mr, W. J. Melody. These questions I will deal with in greater detail at a later date. INTER-GLUB COMPETITION CLUBS GRADED. In accordance with a suggestion I made last year, tho Maliagement Committee of the association has graded tho clubs for the inter-club competitions, thus obviating any chance of obviously second and third-rate clubs playing in the senior grade. The grading is as follows i— Senior. Brough am Hill, Miramar, Thorndon, Newtown, University, Wellington. Both the University and Wellington Clubs are stated by tho committee to have senior men players, but junior ladies. Junior. Kelburn, Khandallah, Lower Hutt, Lyall Bay, Muritai, Petone, University, Wellington. Third Grade. Halaitai. Highland Park, Johnsonville, Karori, Mitehelltown, Salamanca Municipal, Sontonn, South Wellington, Taita, Roscnenth, Trinity. Fourth Grade. Berhampore, Island Bay, Plimmerton, Kongotai, St. Peter’s, Victoria. Talavera, Upper Hutt, Trent ham Defence. The Management Committee states

that ten hard courts have been set aside for the inter-club matches every Saturday, and, at a. later date, it is hoped the number may be increased. With certain modifications the rules will be the same as for the inter-club matches last year. To commence with, a third nnd fourth grade competition will be playetl, but consideration will be given to the senior and junior grades later on in the season. Each team will consist of four men and four ladies. The games to be played will consist of men’s and ladies’ singles and doubles and mixed doubles. A matih will consist of thirty points straight. Any team defaulting more than once will be scratched. The entry fee will be 10s. 6d for each grade entered.