CROQUET NOTES

Dominion, Volume 26, Issue 104, 26 January 1933, Page 5

CROQUET NOTES

Dominion Tournament COMMENTS ON PLAY Wellington Championships

(By

“Rover.")

FIXTURES. Wellington Championship now in proFeb/tf.—lVairaraiia tournament, FeathersFeb. 7. —Manawatu tournament, Palmerston North. . Feb. 13.—South Canterbury tournament, Timaru. Feb. 15.—South Hawke's Bay tournament, Dannevirke. Feb. 27. —Hamilton tournament. Feb. 27.—Otago tournament, Dunedin. Feb. 28—Hawke’s Bay, Napier. March. 6.—Gold Medals, Dunedin. Inter-club Matches. A few inter-club games were played last week, on those lawns which were not occupied by Dominion matches. The .0.lowing are the results: — A Grade. —Hataitai I. 52, Woburn 2<, Kelburn 26, Intermediate Grade —Hataitai 52. Eastbourne 34, Woburn 26, Keiburu 22. B Grade.—Hataitai 52. Karori 52, Wellington 52, Ngaio 52, Johnsonville 30, Lyall Bay 31, Eastbourne 28, Island Bay 28. Woburn 26, Kelburn 26. The matches are suspended this wees, owing to the local tournament, but any players not engaged therein can play oa their games by mutual agreement. Dominion Tournament. The nineteenth annual tournament is now a thing of the past, in common with the bowling and tennis tournaments. Tins year all the dates for these events coincided, and the many greens, both bowling and croquet, had quite a carnival air when crowded with players and spectators. The New Plymouth team worthily upheld the honour of its district. Captain Hartnell reached the demi-semi-final of the open championship, and was in the final of the championship doubles. Miss Beal won the “B” grade handicap singles', and Mesdames Tingey and Clark were in the finals of the handicap doubles. This is a very fine record for a team, and was it either a win or a loss, they all showed a good sporting spirit, in all their games. In the early stages of the final of the handicap doubles Mesdames Clark and Tingey had a good lead, and made the best of it, as their opponents were off their long shooting for a considerable time, however, they gradually overtook the Taranaki players, and won by a margin of six points. The finest game of the whole tournament was that played between Captain Hartnell and H. P. Stratton, in the semifinal of the open championship. Stratton played classical croquet, and his scientific break play will long be remembered by those who had the privilege of seeing him win the rubber. In both games lus judgment and “peels” were absolutely perfect. The final game between Stratton and Mrs. Watkins was not nearly so spectacular, as Mrs. Watkins was not given.the opportunity to show what she is capable of doing.

Champion Below Form. A. G. F. Ross, who proved himself to be for a number of years an outstanding exponent of croquet, not only in tins Dominion but also in Australia, attracted a crowded gallery whenever he was in action on the lawn. During the tournament, however, the spectators did not have their expectations realised. In tactics, accuracy in laying out breaks, precision in running hoops for which this player has become noted, were absent. The champion of so many past contests was considerably below form. Ross is) hon. secretary of the Dominion Croquet Council, and the duties of this office, no doubt, affected not only the period he usually sets aside for practice, but during the progress of the tournament the council business distracted his attention from the lawns. Again, the council held no less than four consecutive meetings, which were protracted eacli evening beyond reason. What should have been accomplished in an hour took many to complete, due to useless reiteration, failure to recognise the rules of debate, and the uninteresting loquacity of some of the speakers!. It is confidently anticipated that, future meetings will be controlled in a manner which will eliminate the possibility of extraneous subjects being introduced, and valuable time thertb”- wasted. A resolution was passed at the meeting held last week that in future the annual meeting should be held on the day prior to the opening of the Dominion tournament. This should be the means of getting through all the business before play commences, and will tend to better results all round. Dominion Tournament Results.

Results ot the Dominion tournament play are as follow: — OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP.

Women’s Championship.—Mrs. Caldow, 1; Mrs. Watkins, 2. Championship Doubles. —H. P. Stratton and Mrs. Palmer, 1; Capt. Hartnell and Mrs. Henderson, 2. HANDICAP EVENTS.

Handicap Doubles. —E. Managh and Mrs. Bartlett, 1; Mesdames Tingey and Clark, 2. Handicap Singles.—Mrs. Kibblewhite, 1; Mrs. Bassett, 2. Level Singles.—E. Managh, 1; Mrs. Lees. 2.

B Grade (Handicap Singles.—Miss Beal, 1; Rev. Tye, 2. Wellington Tournament.

In brilliant sunshine, the local tourney was opened on Tuesday. Mrs. W. S. Austin, president of the Wellington association, welcomed players and visitors alike, and voiced the pleasure all felt at the inclusion of several players from other parts of the Dominion. She introduced Capt. Hartnell, the president of the Dominion Council, to the players, not only as president, but as a competitor also, and he made a happy and suitable response. The opening ceremony was performed by the Mayoress. Mrs. T. C. A. Hislop, and she played the first ball through the hoop. Play was soon in progress on all the lawns-, and to Mrs. Bush, Mt. Victoria club, falls the honour of being the first player to make a big break, her score being one of 10 points. In another game Mrs. Deare was pegged out, when Miss Bates had still 8 points to make. This she was able to accomplish quite easily, as her long shooting was excellent, and she never missed hitting tho ball. The game between Mesdames Chisholm and Woodham versus Mrs. Pritchard and F. Laurie, was one of endurance, as it lasted over five hours. Another game which held progress up was one on the Hataitai lawns. This also lasted over five hours.

The handicap doubles event has no less than 98 competitors in it; this is the largest entry for that for sonic years. Generally there is an-average of between 70 and SO entrants. Tho bulk of the scores in I his competition indicate that the handicaps are normal, numbers of games only being won by the narrowest margins of points.