Lawn Tennis. [By Huka.]

Evening Post, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 57, 4 September 1909, Page 14

Lawn Tennis. [By Huka.]

The Brougham Hill Club's 1 annual dance took place on Tuesday night, and despite the wet weather, a large gathering made merry until the small hours of the morning. The winners of championship and handicap events were presented with handsome trophies by Mr. Aitken, who congratulated winners, and advised losers to practise harder next year, with tho idea of being returned victors. The gathering was the most successful yet held by the club, but one could not help wondering why bo many of the «trong active young ladies and athletic young men who danced so vigorously, and clamoured for "extras," do not do more for tennis than merely attending the dances. They of- course asy "Why, you have no grounds for us" to play on !" If that is the sole reason for them not grasping the racket, it is to be hoped that the powers that be will soon dispel it by granting all applications for grounds. The Kilbirme Club has applied for courts from the council, and hopes soon to be able to start work in laying down its court. The Wellington Association's annual i general meeting is to be held on the 23rd j instant. The report in itself is a long one, and goes to show what a hardworking secretary the association has. Mr. T. H. Jones has indeed nut in' a lot of hard work for his association, and if, as appears from the first business on the order-paper, he intends to retire, then his services should be recognised in a suitable manner. Mr. J. Blair, the well-known and popular ex-Victorian player, has definitely settled in Wellington. Mrs. Blair, who is also a tennis enthusiast, hails also from' Victoria. Miss May Sutton, the well-known Californian player, has become engaged to Mr. Harry B. Ham, a well-known American athlete. Mr. Ham, whose age is about 24, is a son of the manager of one of the largest banks in Mexico. COLONIAL PLAYERS ABROAD. S. N. Doust and Poidevin (both of Sydney)^ have been doing so well together in doubles that many say that they would have given the All England champions, Gore and Barrett, a great run lor the doubles championship at Wimbledon, had they only entered together for it. At Reading they walked away with the doubles, beating Ritchie and the German crack player Rahe 9—7, (j — 1, in the final. Ritchie beat Doust in the second round of the singles A — 6, 6—2,6 — 2, 6—l. Poidevin, after getting to the semi-final, retired to Rahe. Ritchie then beat Rahe in the final 6—3, 6—o,6 — 0, 3—6, 3—6, 6—3. Doust competed at Leamington for the doubles championship of Warwickshire (he retired in the singles), but his partner, Whitehouse, was not strong enough to help him enough in the final, and they fell to Charlton and Mavrogordato (the Greek) B—6, 6—l, 6—4. Miss Lloyd and Doust also got to final of combined, but were just beaten or> the post by Mrs. Parton and Rahe 6—3, 5—7, 7—5.7 — 5. DOINGS OF DAVIS CUP REPRESENTATIVES. W. C. Crawley, one of the chosen for the Davis Cup contest, beat Rahe in the singles I—4, 4—2, 4—o, then fell to E. R. Allen (one of the twins) 4—2, 4—2,4 — 2, but Mavrogordato beat Allen 6—3, B—6, 6—l, in the final. StUi, W. G. Crawley is reckoned good enough to represent the British Isles for the Davis Cup. E. R. Allen again, in the University singles at the same meeting, put Crawley out 6—4, 6—o, and also finished off A. E. Crawley in the final 6—2,6 — 2, 6^-0. For the championship of Shropshire, Mavrogordato again proved his worth and claim to be placed before Crawley by putting E. R. Allen out in the final 5—7, 6—l, B—lo, 6—l; 6—3. One can also 'fancy that the English cricket selectors are not the only selectors who want to be put on the shelf, but a surprise may be forthcoming, as the Doherty brothers are again competing in open tournament — does that mean they are likely to go out after the Cup ? On the top of Crawley's defeat comes the news that C. P. Dixon, another of the Davis Cup chosen ones, has been beaten by R. S. Barnes 6—2} 3—6, 6—3, in the final for the Crystal Palace Championship. It is said the loser was suffering from a bad cold and an attack of lumbago. Crawley made some amends by securing the Welsh Combined Championship with Miss Garfit, beating Miss Salusbury and Evans 6—l, 6—B,6 — 8, 7—5, in the final. ' NEW ZEALANDERS SCORE AT NORWICH. H. A. Parker and F. R. Quill won championship of Norfolk from 22" other pairs, beating the Aliens 6—3, 6—l6 — 1 in the final. It was somewhat of a surprise this win, as the twins are fine double players, but Parker was in great form, and never gave his opponents a chance. Quill also played splendidly. Quill retired after losing ' the first set m the semi-final of the Norfolk chamEionship singles to E. R. Allen. Quill eat Parker 6 — -1, 6—l in the third round — not H. A., but L. Parker. H.A. won the event, and secured the Norwich Challenge Cup, but not without great opposition from E. R. Allen, the score beine 6—4,6 — 4, 7—5,7 — 5, 6—4. Parker and Miss Lane beat 0. G. Allen and .Miss Wright 6—l,6 — 1, 6—l,6 — 1, in the final of thp combined championship. Parker wan in great form at this meeting, and it was clear that he had thrown off the indisposition that spoilt his chances in the championship at Wimble don. Parker and Quill may be competitors at the Homburg, and some other tournaments on the Continent, and as Ritchie will also be there, it will be interesting to see how H. A. shapes against his Wimbledon victor. j