CROQUET

Dominion, Volume 22, Issue 84, 3 January 1929, Page 12

CROQUET

NOTES AND COMMENTS

“Rover.”)

(By'

COMING EVENTS. Gold Medal Competition—Christchurch, January 2. l'J2'J. Dominion Championship — Wanganui, Wednesday, January IG. Wellington Association Tournament— Lower Hutt, Thursday, January 31. South Taranaki Association Tournament — Hawera, February 4. North Island Championship—New Plymouth, February 13. Otago Annual Tournament —Dunedin, February 20. Manawatu Association Tournament —Palmerston North, February 20. South Taranaki Association first annual It grade tournament —Hawera, March Southern Hawke’s Bay Tournament— Dannevirke, Tuesday, March 5. Evolution of Croquet. Although croquet cannot claim to be the oldest game, it is certainly steeped in antiquity. Tlie game was fashionable in the 17th century in London, but its actual birth date is not known. It is, however, a game that has been in existence for at least 300 years. In its early days, croquet was played with hoops, a ball, and a mallet, the object being to run the ball through the lioyps and strike a peg in the fewest strokes. A similar game was played in France, called paillemallle. It was recognised that the game was capable of scientific improvement and the first movement in this direction was accomplished in Ireland. There, croquet was played (very similar to that of the present day, in method) eighty years ago. In 1800 it was a popular game in England, but not in its'present form. There are many persons living who played, and enjoyed, the game in their youth. As then played, there were ten hoops, or arches as they* were termed, with a double hoop in the centre forming a cage in which a bell was hung. There were a mupber of lawns in Wellington and Lower Hutt, and croquet parties were a fashionable means of entertaining.

Killed by Tennis. The All England Croquet Club was formed approximately’ sixty years ago aud championship games.were played. Strange to say Wimbledon was the croquet headquarters and there the championships were held. So popular did the game become, that it was played everywhere that a lawn was available and gradually it was being made more scientific. Lawn tennis then won the hearts of the sporting British people and this -practically killed croquet. The All England Croquet Club went out of existence and Wimbledon became the battle ground for tennis Instead of croquet. For twenty’ years croquet struggled for a place amongst the favoured sports, but it was not until the English Croquet Association was formed in 181)7 that a revival of the game,, in a new form, took place, and it has progressed ever since. Roehampton was made the headquarters in England and the game is ruled from there.

Very Scientific. Croquet is, undoubtedly, the most scientific outdoor -game. Many of the shots are similar to those in billiards and call for greater skill in executing them. There are run-through shots, screw shots, cut shots, and many others. Breaks are laid, and made, and “strength” and “touch” are required in order to excel to a more marked degree in croquet than billiards. The billiard table is level and the nap on the cloth has a less resisting power to the run of the balls than a lawn, irrespective of the fact that it has been made as true as possible, and the grass cut as closely as a lawn-mower is capablb of doing. The Wellington Association.

Ten years ago a number of ladies interested in the game-met in Wellington and fqi’iued an association. The first president was Lady Luke and Mesdames E. McKenzie and F. Wilkinson were appointed secretary and treasurer respectively. Mesdames Wilkinson and McKenzie still hold office. On the retirement of Lady Luke, Mrs. S. Bennett became president, and was followed a year later by Mrs. W. 8. Austin. ' > When the association came into existence there were six clubs (Ngaroma, Hutt, Seatoun, Kelburn, Karori aud Wellington), and the district was not then defined. A year later the New Zealand Council came into being,' through the efforts of Dr. Edgar Whitaker ( one of the first ten players in.- the world. The district given to -the - Wellington Association included the Wairarapa, as far as Pahiatua; ■ Otaki iu the Manawatu, and intermediate areas. The growth of the game was phenomenal, clubs springing up everywhere iu the district. To-day there are twenty-two clubs in Wellington district, with a large aggregate membership of players. There are seven clubs in Wairarapa, which, until a few months ago, were Units of the association, but the New Zealand Council decided that Wairarapa should be made a separate district and placed in a position for the controlling of its own affairs. These clubs did not desire a change, and intimated to the New Zealand Council that if they were compelled to break away from the Wellington body it was improbable that an association for the district would be formed. The severance was. however, made an accomplished fact, and the interchanges of visits with city teams are now becoming a memory instead of being a stimulus; as they were proved to be, to the Wairarapa clubs, from a sporting as well as a social aspect. Wairarapa clubs are now what are known as “representative” clubs, unaffiliated, with no combined executive, but with allegiance to the New Zealand Council. The Players. When the English team visited New Zealand • its members remarked on the preponderance of women players, there being approximately four thousand associates to less than one hundred men. In Englund there are considerably more men players than women. This is accounted for by the fact that the game is more in vogue amongst the leisured class. There are club competitions in England, but during the season the “top” players compete at tournaments, which are held in various centres in Great Britain. The Croquet Association championships are held at Roeliampton. The champion cup is competed for by the best ten available players, and has been won by Dr. Edgar Whitaker, a former resident of New Zealand. The ladies’ champion cup, for which the best eight lady players are Invited to compete, was won by Miss J. Retailack. Miss D. D. Steel lias won the open’championship on three occasions. Canterbury Tournament.

The annual tournament, held by the Canterbury Croquet Association, was marred by unfavourable weather. On opening day the lawns were slow on account of rain the previous night, but improved during the course of the day. The aggregate entries totalled 02, being 4S below last year's aggregate. With two exceptions the contestants were local residents, the only visitors being Misses A. and J. Evans, of Victoria. The local players include Messrs. E. J. and A. Boss, Chambers, Williams, aiid Mesdanies Smith, Maddren, and Tyers. In the open championship Mrs. Smith was in good form and defeated T. F. Chambers, ofi 24, 0—26, 26—3. In the first round of the Izard Memorial Cup the Misses Evans proved their capabilities by defeating T. F. Chambers and Mrs. Maddren, 26—7. In the final the Victorians gained a victory over A. Ross and Mrs, Tyers, 26—23, after a splendid struggle. The following are some of the results:— Open Championship.—S. McCullough defeated H. Penn, 26—17, 10—26, 20—11. Mrs. Smith defeated T. F. Chambers, 26—24, 0—26, 26—3. Izard Memorial.—The first round of the Izard Memorial doubles resulted as follows:—Misses Evans (Victoria) defeated T. F. Chambers and Mrs. Maddren, 20—7. A. Ross and Mrs. Tyers defeated E. J. Rosa and Mrs. Oxley, 20—14. Mesdames Palmer and McCullough defeated H. Penn and Mrs. E. A. Smith, 26 —25. Final: Misses Evans defeated A. Ross and Mrs. Tyers, 26—23.

Ladies' Championship.—First round, first life: Mrs. Maddren beat Miss A. Evans (Victoria) 26—22. Mrs. E. A. Smith beat Mrs. Palmer, 20 —24. Second life: Miss J. Evans (Victoria) beat .Miss Gerard, 20—4, Mrs. Oxley beat Mrs. Good, 20—10. Mrs. Maddren beat Mrs. Oxley, 20—0. Canterbury Handicap.—A grade: A. Ross (2) defeated Mrs. Palmer (4j), 20—2. S. McCullough (scr.) defeated Mrs. E. McCullough (4). 2(1—21. Mrs. Beanland (3) defeated Miss Gerard (21), 20—12. E. J. Ross (11) defeated A. Ross (2). 20—24. B Grade Championship.—Mrs. Rinaldo defeated Mr. Colwill 20—14. Handicap Singles.—Mrs. Freeman (7) defeated Mrs. Cowper (0). 20—19. Handicap Doubles. —Mesdames Brennan anil Rinaldo defeated Mesdames Cowper and Colwill, 26—23. Dominion Tournament. At the Dominion tournament, to be held at Wanganui, Mesdames Mount and Walker (Waimarie Club) will be playing together in the doubles, and will also be Contestants in the singles. Mrs. Caldow (Hataitai Club) will have as her partner in the doubles Mrs. Meikle (Te Arolia). Mrs. Horn (Dunedin) will be Mrs. Lowry's (Karori) paitjier ■in the doubles. Mesdames Patterson and Christie (Kelburn ,

Club) are to play together and Mesdamgs Butcher and Leadbeater (Karon Club). from overseas have been received from Sir 1 rancis Colchester Wemyss K 8.E., Miss D. D. Steel, and Miss J. Retailack. “id Mrs. A. E. Pollock (Karorl Club), who have been on an extended visit to Australia, have returned to Aew Zealand. Mr. and Mrs. Pollock are staying with friends in the South. Island, and are returning to Wellington in time to take part in the Dominion tournament at Wanganui. _____