ON THE CROQUET LAWN

Dominion, Volume 27, Issue 15, 12 October 1933, Page 5

ON THE CROQUET LAWN

Notes on Play and Players

OPENING OF CLUBS

(By

Rover.)

FIXTURES. October 12.—Neuroma Club, I’elone; Hataitai Club; Khandallah Club. October 14.—Woburn Club, Lower Hutt;

Hutt Club. October 17.—Eastbourne Club, Rona Bay;

Upper Hutt. October 18. —Island Bay Club; Kanglmalre

Club, Katorl. October 21.—St. Augustine’s Club, Petone. October 26.—Johnsonville Club. November 28.—Walrarapa Tournament,

Featherston. January 4.—South Island Championships,

Ashburton. January 4.—North Island Championships,

' Rotorua. January 17.—Dominion Championships,

Christchurch. February I.—Wellington Tournament,

Lower Hutt. March.—Gold Mallets, Greymouth.

Challenge Competitions. The following clubs have entered for the association competitions : — Pollock Stars: Waimarie, Ngaroma, Hataitai, Kelburn, Woburn, Karori, Island Bay, and Seatoun clubs. Association Ferns: Plimmerton, AVaimarie, AVellington, Ngaroma, Hataitai, AA’oburn, Karori, Kelburn, and Seatoun clubs, AVellington. McKenzie Gups: Plimmerton, Kelburn, AA’aimarie, Ngaroma, Hataitai. AVoburn, Karori, Island Bay, Seatoun, Wellington.

Inter-club Matches. The entries for these competitions promise to be fully representative, many of the clubs entering two teams in the A grade. Lack of playing areas prevents the entry of more teams ip the other grades. In the A grade the following clubs have entered :—

A grade: Karori, Woburn, Ngaroma, Island Bay, AVellington (2 teams), AVaimarie (2 teams), Hataitai (2 teams), Kelburn (2 teams). Intermediate grade: Karori, Woburn, Ngaroma, AVaimarie (2 teams), .Seatoun, Hataitai, Kelburn (2 teams), Wellington.

B grade: Karori, Woburn, St. Augustine, Ngaroma, Island Bay, Waimarie, Seatoun, Hataitai, Kelburn. AVellington.

Club Competitions.

It is advisable before clubs commence their competitions to have the position regarding defaulting in any matches made quite clear. In the Beddow Cup, one of the classic events played at Roehampton, the following provision is included on the programme: “If a competitor fails from any cause to play through the whole of the games in the series, his, or her, score in that series will be entirely eliminated from the competition. No substitute will be permitted in any circumstances after the competition has once commenced.” Such a condition as the foregoing could, with advantage to the competition, be included in the Dominion gold medals, to be played at Christchurch during the coming season. It is of assistance to the management and the competitors to know the position exactly before they commence play. Bisque and Foul.

Many players may be ignorant of the fact that a bisque can be taken after a foul. Also after playing with a wrong ball. In the first instance, the opponent would claim the penalty—either allow the balls to remain where they come to rest, or be replaced, then the player can use his handicap. , In the event of a player using the wrong ball, he can take a bisque, if the turn has ceased. Umpiring.

If an opponent is asked to watch a shot, you accept him, or her, as an umpire, and must abide by his decision. This action creates a difficult position for both players, and should not be done except in rases of necessity, but, if it is, the decision should never be disputed. The only shot on which the striker’s opinion prevails is that of taking croquet and declaring that the balls moved, or not. Remain Silent

No player should interrupt another when the opponent is playing, even to acquaint them with the fact that they are making the wrong hoop, until the turn is finished. This is to he avoided in doubles much more so than in singles as in the former the whole team is involved.

Handicap I‘laj’. Many players fail to realise that a ball can be pegged out only under certain conditions. Should a ball be accidentally pegged out in handicap play, the point is not scored, and the ball remains where it rests. But, if one of the adversaries’’ balls has already hit the peg, the point is scored, as the other ball would also be for the peg.

The "Onlooker” Cups. The "Onlooker” Cups and the Champion Cups are being played simultaneously this year at Rockhampton. The event is open singles, and the players are divided into two grades, according to bisques. An innovation in the using of the bisques is being tried out this year. It is known as the Leamington variation, wherein not more than onethird of the total number of bisques allowed can be taken in extension of an ordinary turn. The particulars of the scheme are as follows:—"For convenience an ordinary turn extended by bisques may be called an “innings.” The whole bisqueg allowance, is, where possible, divided into three approximately equal batches. When these batches are not identical, the value of the highest batch cannot differ from that of the lowest by more than one bisque; it may be only half a bisque. Thus. 5} bisques yield handicaps of first two bisques, second two bisques, third one bisque and a half; likewise eight bisques will yield three bisques, three bisques, and lastly two bisques. A player with 9A bisques can first use 3J, then three, and again later three. At present a player can use all his handicap in the one turn if he pleases, and the scheme now being tried out in England, Is to ascertain if the change-over will be universally beneficial, or only affect the weaker plnycr.

Tiie Beddow Cup. This event is played by the ten best players in England. The competitors this, year, who were able to avail themselves of the invitation from the English body, are:—Miss D. D. Steel, Mr. A. lonides, Lt.-Col. N. B. Du Pre, Ben G. Apps, Rev. G. Elvey, B. G. Klein. W. Loughman, J. N. Lovett, M. Rackitt, G. F. Colman. Several other associates were unable to accept the invitation of the council.

Waimarie Sports Day. A very pleasant afternoon was held on Saturday, when the active and honorary members of the Waimarie club held an afternoon and bid farewell to Mrs. Wallace, who is leaving the district to reside in Blenheim. Mrs. Andrews, mayoress, and Mrs. J. Mitchell, vice-president, were also present. During the afternoon tea adjournment the president, Mrs. Vaughan, in a brief speech stated that Mrs. Wallace would be missed by her many friends in the district, and she took the opportunity of presenting her with a dainty bouquet and piece of crystal from the playing members of the club. Mrs. J. Mitchell on behalf of (lie honorary members also made a presentation of a handsome book autographed by all the members. Mrs. 'Wallace thanked all the members for (heir gifts, and said she. too. regretted having to say good-bye. Owing to the inelement weather, indoor competitions were held, the winners being: Skittles, Mrs. Vaughan; bowls. Mrs. Stonehouse. Mrs. Judd; rings. Mrs. Wallace, Mrs. Vagg; quoits. Mrs. J. Mitchell, Mrs. Cameron; mat croquet, Mrs. Glover, Mrs. Campbell; putting. Mrs. Routley. Mrs. Mount.

Seatoun Club. A tremendous crowd of visitors was present nt. the opening of the Sealnun club on Tuesday afternoon. No doubt the well-known hospitality of the seaside club was partly the attraction, and the glori-

ous weather was another. . The visitors were received by Mrs. McGirr, president, Mrs. Bedford, vice-president, and Mrs. Page, honorary secretary. Mrs. Austin, president of the AVellington association, declared the season open and played the first ball. The social hall, where tea was laid, was decorated with yellow tulips, cowslips, and maidenhair fern. The daintiest of teas was served by the members. Competitions of various kinds were played by the visitors. Personal.

Mrs. Bassett, who has been visiting Wellington, has returned home to Masterton.

Mrs. Gambrill. Palmerston North, is visiting her daughter, Mrs. Beggs, Karori.

Captain Hartnell is playing in the North Island tournament at Rotorua; later he is competing in the Dominion championships at Christchurch. Mrs. Crawford, AVanganui, is managing the Dominion tournament at Christchurch. Answers to Correspondents.

To Inquirer, S.J.: If the rules of your club state that, the president and vice-pre-sident of your club are members ex-of-ficio of all suh-committeefi that is final, and they can attend any of the meetings they desire. If the matter is not provided for in the rules, they must be elected to the various committees, which govern the club’s activities’, in the same method as the other candidates.