CROQUET

Dominion, Volume 23, Issue 104, 27 January 1930, Page 18

CROQUET

NORTH ' ISLAND TOURNEY CHAMPIONSHIP PLAY The annual North Island croquet championships were continued on Saturday morning in ideal weather on the Waimarie, Hutt, Woburn, Central, and Ngaroma lawns, and on the Hutt Bowling Club’s green. No final decisions have been reached in any of the events yet, although both the champion doubles and the handicap doubles are nearing that stage. On Saturday the four games in the semi-finals of the Champion Double were played, while the final round Will be decided today. This has proved a very interesting section of the tournament, and one in which some good play has been witnessed despite the wide margin existing between some of the scores. The handicap doubles have also progressed well, the semi-finals of which are to be played > to-day. In this event in particular, the bisqueing has proved fairly even, there having been only five * runaway victories out of the 36 games played., On the other hand, especially in the? handicap singles, several surprises have been effected. < . „ , , A five shot rarely seen in New Zealand, if ever before, was . witnessed in the ■handicap singles on Saturday dtiring, a game between Mrs. Walker (Waimarie) and Mr. W. Windsor Richards (England). With his balls left wired by his opponent, the yellow ball being near the ware and the red about 20 yards away, Mr. Richards carefully sighted the red , ball, and turning his back to both balls ’ and hoop, he struck downwards at the yellow causing it to jump over the flop of the hoop and hit the red. It was a unique and difficult shot, which impressed the other players are spectators considerably. ' Play this week will be confined to the Waimarie, Hutt, and Ngaroma lawns. As the tournament progresses with the better players coming to the front, the general standard of croquet should improve, and several close decisions, especially in the championship sections, should be witnessed. The results of Saturday’s play arc as

LADIES’ CHAMPIONSHIP. ’ First Life.' First round: Mrs.Jarvie (Wanganui) defeated Mrs. Johnson (Waimarie), 26— 10; Mrs. N. Smith (Central) defeated Mrs. Boocock (Haeremai). 26—11 ; Mrs. Leadbeater (Karori) defeated Mrs. Spinley (Palmerston North), 26—10. , Second Life. First round: Mrs. Claysen (Masterton) defeated Mrs. Brown 'Northern), 26 —19; Mrs. Sedgwick (Karori) defeated Mrs. Ledger (Haeremai) 26 —14; Mrs. Finlayson (Masterton) defeated. Mrs. 'Brighting (Hataitai), 26 —17. CHAJIPIONSHIP DOUBLES. First round: Mesdames Gambrill (Palmerston North) and Pitcaithley (Hastings) defeated Mesdames Brown and Horn (Dunedin). 26 —16; Mesdames Mount (Waimarie) and Savage (Waimarie) defeated Mesdames Finlayson and Claysen, 26—21. Second round : Mesdames Jvhnson and Taylor (Waimarie) defeated Mesdames Martin (Ngaroma) and N. Smith. 26— 12; Mesdames Gambrill and Pitcaithley defeated Medames Caldow (Wellington) and Henderson (Welliugton), 26—9: Mesdames Mount and Savage defeated Mesdames Spinley and Bayne (Northern). 26—14; Mrs. Gardner (Kelburn) and Mr. W. Windsor Richards (England) defeated Mesdames Bock , (Hutt) and Lowry (Kelburn)', 26—16.. ‘

HANDICAP SINGLES. , First round: Airs. Brice (4J) defeated Mrs. Bayne (54), 26—13. | Second round:. Mrs. Ygtes (Hutt),’ (6), defeated Mrs. Hughes’ (Northern), (6J), 26—25; Mr. Sedgwick (Karori), (9), won by default from:Airs, Roundhill (Waimarie), (64) ; Mrs. Lowery (3) defeated Mr. Gibbs (Patea), (scr.), 26—17; Mrs. Martin (44). defeated Sirs. Gooder (Kelburn), (44), ,26 —19; Mrs. Jarvie (scr.) defeated Mrs. Gardner (lj), 26—24; Mrs. Brice (44) defeated - Mrs. Humphries (Carterton), (6), ; 26— 7; Mr. W. Windsor, Richards ( —4) defeated Mrs. Walker (Waimarie); (44), 26—5; Mrs. Bock (2) defeated Mrs. Norris (Waimarie), (64), 26—1; Mrs. . Tavlor (44) defeated Mrs. Veitch (Central). (10), 26—24; Mrs. Colley (Hae- / remai), (sj), defeated Mrs. Matthews (Ngaroma), (54), 26—21; Mrs. Polson (Masterton), (7). defeated Mrs. Fairley (Ngaroma), (6), 26—14, /- - Third round: Mrs. Heymanson (Hataitai). (6), defeated Mrs. Leighton (Hutt), (SU, 26—22; Mrs. Gibbs (Patea), (SJ), defeated Mrs. Wadsworth (Ngaroma). (6), 26 —12; Mrs. Lowery (3) defeated-

Mrs. Monks (Woburn), (64), 26—16; Mrs. Rowe (Woburn), (7), defeated Mrs. Brighting (3J), 26—19; Mrs. Ledger (6) defeated Mr. Sedgwick (9), 26—12; Mrs. Polson (7) defeated Mrs. Sedgwick. (-1), 26—17. HANDICAP DOUBT-ES. Fourth round; Mesdames Watkin (Kelburn) and Pope (Kelburn) (74) defeated Mesdames Gooder and Alagill (Kelburn) (8), 26 —18; Miss McFarlane (Palmerston North) and W. Windsor Richards (2) defeated Mesdames Wadsworth and Martin (104), 26—12. TO-DAY’S GAMES. The draw for to-day’s play is as follows:— ■ , , Ngaroma. 9 a.m., No. 1 Lawn. Mrs.- Gambrill v. Mrs. Mount, Open Championship. No. 2 lawn: Mrs. Walker v. Miss McFarlane, Open Championship. Later: Mesdames Walker and Gambrill will play Mesdames Moeller and Chambers, and Mesdames Watkin and Pope will play Miss McFarlane and W. Windsor Richards in the Handicap Doubles. Waimarie I, 9 a.m. Handicap Doubles: Mesdames Bassett ■and Polson V. Mesdames Lowery and Brown. ■’ Waimarie 11. Handicap Singles: Mrs. Pitcaithley (1) v. W. Windsor Richards (owe 4). Waimarie I, 9 a.m. Open Championship; Mrs. Boyne v. .Mrs.'Caldow. Waimarie IV. Handicap Singles: Mrs. Ledger (6) v. Mrs.. Gibbs (5). ;C l Hutt Bowling Green. Open Championship: Mrs. Boocock v. Mrs. Jarvie. Hutt Croquet Green. Open Championship: Mrs. Johnson v. A. J. Gibbs.

. AUSTRALIA v. NEW ZEALAND ; Melbourne. January 25. p In the series of eroqUent Tests between and -New Zealand' Australia Mias already won the Macßobertson Shield and will contest, it in 1931 against England in England. Yesterday’s matches resulted : Ross and 1 Stratton beat Miller l and Mrs. Miller, 26 —23, 14 —26. 26 —23; McCleery and Withrow beat Mrs. Cole and Mrs. Smith, 26—6, IS—26, 26—18; Windsor and

Crabb beat Creed-Meredith and Mrs. Watkins. 26—7. 26—7. [The final’ games were to have been decided on Saturday, but the rain may have prevented play.] -