ROUGH HOUSE AT WIMBLEDON

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 5, 1 October 1935, Page 14

ROUGH HOUSE AT WIMBLEDON

Court Pelted With Cushions Wimbledon, renowned throughout the world for its tra’ditions of sportsmanship and the immaculate behaviour of its crowds, fell from grace on July 20, reports Loudon “Sporting Life.” Hundreds of disappointed spectators hurled cushions, oranges, paper bags, bottles, and other missiles on to court No. 1 as a protest against the curtailment of, play. No more amazing scene has been witnessed in the history of the All-England Club, and it is to be sincerely hoped that it will never be repeated. Rain, which interfered with many sporting events throughout the country, was the initial cause of the trouble. Showers had interrupted the match in which Donald Budge, by beating H. Kenkel, 7-5, 11-9, 6-8, 6-1, had put America one up on Germany in the Davis Cup Inter-zone final, and another storm ■began when the players left the court. After half an hour the rain ceased, but it was another 30 minutes before the tarpaulin cover was removed and the uet set up again. When the linesmen came out and there was no sign of the respective captains, Gottfried von Cramm, of Germany, and Wilmer Allison, of America, the crowd became impatient and’ began to demonstrate.

■Mr. D. R. Larcombe, secretary of the All-England Club, announced to the spectators that there would be no further play, as the referee had decided that ; t would be unfair to both sides to start a match which the players could not finish. The crowd hooted, and the shower of missiles began. Two of the -linesmen were struck by cushions, and several bottles fell with a crash into the court.

The groundsmen stood helplessly looking on, waiting until the supply of “ammunition” had failed, and then they commenced their task of clearing up.