CROQUET NOTES

Dominion, Volume 26, Issue 98, 19 January 1933, Page 12

CROQUET NOTES

Play in Championships HANDICAP ANOMALIES Game Lasts Many Hours (By “Rover.”) FIXTURES. Dominion Championships, Lower Hutt (in progress). Jan. 21. —Wellington championship. Fob. 5.— Featherston Feb. 7. —Mauawatu tournament, Palmerston North. Feb. 13.—South Canterbury tournament, Tiinaru. Feb. 15.—South Hawke’s Bay tournament, Dannovirke. Feb. 27.—Hamilton tournament. Feb. 27.—Otago tournament, Dunedin. Feb. 28—Hawke’s Bay, Napier. March s.—Gold Medals, Dunedin. Gay Scene at Park. The scene at Riddiford Park at present is particularly gay, during the progress of the Dominion tournament. The brightness of the sunshine and flowers, combined with the summery frocks of the visitors, and the vivid sunshades, resulted in an orgy of colour on the first few days, but rain set in on Tuesday and delayed play. The competitors are settling down to their favourite sport, and many good games have been won and lost. There have been one or two surprises during play; the most notable one being when that veteran player, Mrs. W. E. Caldow. emulated Don Bradman, and walked off the lawn at the conclusion of her game with a duck’s egg to her credit. Her opponent was Mrs. Clark, of New Plymouth, who had three bisques on Mrs. Caldow. The lawns were, prior to the rain, very fiery, but since then have become much heavier, and players have-had to adjust their touch accordingly, to execute the delicate shots.

Players and Handicaps. The Dominion handicapper, Mrs. C. Watkins, is keeping a watchful eye on the players’ performances for future reference. Several of the players in the handicap games have not required to use their handicap to win, consequently their handicaps will need attention. On the otherhand some of the competitors with 7 and 8 have shown their prowess by making breaks of 8 and 9 hoops. The handicap doubles has been the means of some of the players proving the worth of their handicaps. In one game two players gave their opponents the opportunity of making only three shots. In one of the turns one of the players made n break of 8, and the final score was 26—9. The opponents hit in and finished the game in 45 minutes. One game in the same event lasted for close on six hours, and it happened to be one of the boiling hot days which we have been experiencing this week. The first game in the championship doubles was between A. Ross and Mrs. Caldow. against Mesdames Jarvie and Brass, ‘Wanganui. The junior player of the quartet, Mrs. Brass, played the best croquet in the game, her judgment being excellent for hooping, running, and her long shots were above the usual standard. Open Championship. A game which was followed with great interest iby a large bank of spectators, was the one between Mrs. C. Watkins and Mrs.-Walker. In the first game Mrs. Watkins was successful, and a good exhibition of croquet was witnessed. In the second game, Mrs. Walker scored the maximum figures, and excitement ran high, as she kept her -lead. The game ended in Mrs. Walker’s favour by 8 points. As the contest was the best of three, there was now a third game to be played. This Mrs. Watkins won by a margin of 4 points only. Mrs. Walker received many congratulations upon her play against one of the Dominion champion. Wellington Tournament. Excellent entries have been received for the Wellington tournament, and a ..number of players who are playing in the < Dominion tournament this week have entered for the local one, which is to open next Tuesday. The day on which the interclub matches are usually played, Tuesday, happens to be the opening day of the Wellington tournament. According to the rules, matches are suspended during that period, but if neither a club’s lawns, or players, are engaged in the tournament, they may prefer to continue the round. The draw for the eleventh round of intefelub matches is:— A Grade. Wellington I v. Wellington 11. Central v. Waimarie I. Kelburn II v. Kelburn I. Mt. Victoria v. Eastbourne. Hataitai I v. Island Bay. Ngaroma v. Woburn. Rangamaire defaulted to Hataitai 'II. Waimarie II defaulted to Hutt. Intermediate Grade. . Karori v. Woburn. Mt. Victoria v. Kelburn. Eastbourne v. Wellington. Ngaroma V. Waimarie. Hutt v. Seatoun. Hataitai v. Central. B Grade. Kelburn v. Island Bay. Woburn v. Wellington. Eastbourne V. Waimarie. Johnsonville v. Mt. Victoria. Karori v. Hataitai. Ngaio v. Lyall Bay. Central defaulted to Ngaroma. Interclub Results. A grade: Ngaroma 52. Hutt 52, Kelburn II 52, Hataitai I 50, f.-latnitai II 46, ‘Woburn 39, Central 30, Wellington I 26, Kelburn I 21, Woburn 20. Intermediate grade: 'Wellington 52, Hataitai 52, Ngaroma 52, Kelburn 52, Seiatoun 48, Hutt 46. Mt. Victoria 40. Eastbourne 39, Central 35, Karori 28, Woburn 17. . . B grade: Wellington 52, Hataitai 52, Kelburn 52, Ngaio 52, Lyall Bay 52, Eastbourne 52, Karori 41, Island Bay 36. Woburn 26. Johnsonville 21, Ngaroma 23, Mt. Victoria 20.