On the Courts

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 13, 29 November 1924, Page 18

On the Courts

MIRAMAR GROUNDS

COURTS,TO BE READY THIS

SEASON

AMATEUR OR PROFESSIONAL?

Kaikoura Championships—December 27, 29 3D at Kaikoura. '

Br " Hcfka."-

■ Down in Dunedin at present it is almost dangerous to ask anyone for the ■ definition of an amateur, though the subject is being more or less discussed by most" followers of the sport. The whole trouble is—if trouble there be—that ■someone wants to know if a person who is connected with the Rugby League, either as an official or as a player, is barred from being a member of a tennis club and playing in. tennis tournaments. Seemingly the New Zealand Tennis Association has been asked for a ruling and has given an answer. The New Zealand Lawn Tennis Association has no actual rule governing the situation, nor has it a rule giving a definition of an amateur as far as its sport is concerned, but there is a rule which says that the New Zealand Lawn Tennis Association adopts the laws of the English association to which it is affiliated. The New Zealand body has also another rule which, reads as fol-lows-:—"Any rule or by-law of an affiliated association which is in conflict with the rules or by-laws of this association, or with the Laws of Lawn Tennis, or the Rules as to Professionalism, as laid down by "The Lawn Tennis Association, shall be inoperative." The Lawn Tennis Association means the association in England. That body in its definition of amateur, starts off with the following : "An amateur lawn tennis player is a person who" . -. . and goes on to .give what has not been done by the said amateur, to break the amateur status. In the very last clause other sports are mentioned as follows : —"ls not disqualified ! as an amateur in any other branch, of j sport." The rule followiug says—"No } person, other than an amateur, shall be i eligible to compete in any club prize competition." Now it is pretty clear that the English association's rules deal only with persons who have been disqualified as amateur in any other branch of sport, other than its own, and it would be foolish to attempt to do so. Because a person belongs to a Eugby j League football club, the'tennis association cannot say that he is not an amateur, either as far as the sports of football or tennis are concerned. The .English association has as one of its objects the .promotion of the Professional Lawn ' Tennis Championships of Great Britain ! and. to'make, maintain, and publish re- I gulations for the same and the matches j and competition played therein. During j September the English association had j before it the minutes of a meeting of de- I legates of International Federations and ! Olympic Committees held in Paris on j 28th and 29th July, at which • discussion took place on matters which are to come before the Olympic Congress next May. The most important question is the amateur definition, and with a view to ascertaining the opinions of all bodies I concerned on this subject, a questionnaire has been drawn up. There is a large number of questions, but the very first deals with this vexed Dunedin discussion, and reads as follows :—"Can a professional at one sport be or become %n amateur in other sports?" The English Lawn Tennis Association decided to ad' here to its own amateur definition for Great Britain, and declared that it "supports and cannot countenance any modification of the existing amateur definition of the International Lawn Tennis Federation for all international contests, including the Olympic Games." The association also declared that "a certificate of the amateur status of players in any country, as supplied by the governing body of the gam 6in that country, should be sufficient guarantee of the status of its players." As mentioned above the English association caters for its professionals, yet by so-doing the members of the association are not breaking the amateur rule. Nearly every sport has quite enough to do in looking after its own affairs as far as the amateur status is concerned; in fact it is more than hard for most 'sport bodites to frame a. suitable rule as to the amateur definition. It is a well known fact that amateur cricketers, who have played with and against professional cricketers, have also competed in championship tennis tournaments in England, and consequently it appears that a person is an amateur untif disqualified as such. Even after breaking all the English rules of amateurism, and being disqualified, a person can be reinstated as an amateur by the council. A BUSY AFTERNOON. Last Saturday was a most perfect day for tennis, and just as delightful for onlookers. Neither was there any wind to blow side lino shots astray. The Brougham Hill Club's handicap events were pushed for all they were worth, and the ladies doubles and mixed doubles were finished off. The final of the former event provided, a very exciting finish. Mesdames Penlington and Cook met Mrs. Brown and Miss North. Both pairs were ou the same mark—rec. 6—and it was a close go from start to finish. The I match was 40 points advantage, but as the score was called 39 all, it then became a struggle to see who would secure two successive winning strokes. Players on adjacent courts forgot their score or missed their shots in trying to watch the struggle as first one and then the other pair secured the advantage. Mfcsdames Penlington and Cook, led at 47t46,; and the next shot being hit out by their opponents the contest was over. ! It- was a good match up to 39 all, but! aftorthat.it was a case of keeping the ball '; in play untiL one of the players ended it j by an error. Had any one of the players decided to go for winning shots, the , match would have ended very quickly- in the early forties. A semi-final of the men's • doubles match between L. France and "Ward v. i Wilson and Ellis was won by the. former ' pair, 50-48. The losers, who hud a ! atari, of, 8, lost their advantage in the I early stages, and then tlio match ran ! point to point until near the end. When it came to L. France's service the match looked as an easy win for his side, but the other pair hung on, and made a close go oE it. Ward cut in ;it the • net, mid brought oft" some %dazzling shots, which nonplussed his opponents for a, time. France wasj clever with his cross-court shots, ■ scoring many good aces. Ellis stood up well to the attack directed a,t him, and had Wilson beeu vi hsgreesivt; as usual in his sinuebisig, ita SWUfira >veuld iiftyg h&i a Murder.

task to win. The final of the combined was won by Miss Doris Howe and L. France (rec. 14) from Miss North and T. Williams (rec. 12), the score being 40-38. ' The match was a close one right throught, and Misses Howe and North had many a duel, with their partners hovering around looking for a chance to cut in. Miss Howe in particular was very safe, and France had just enough opportunities to enable his side to keep ahead. Miss North played well, and it was hard luck to go out in two finals on the same day. Williams cut in well at the net, but lost some chances by over ■ eagerness iv attempting to take some ehots that could have been left to his partner at the back of the court. LADDER MATCHES. At the present time there is an extra keenness amongst the men, and several good contests have taken place for positions on the ladder. Salmond, who holds sixth position, was successful in holding off Young, but it was a strenuous fight, and both players had had quite enough by the time it was over. Court craft enabled the older player to hold his position, but the loser should have picked up a wrinkle or two that should assist him in future contests. N. Wilson now holds seventh position, having defeated Young in a 3-set go. The score was 6-1, 1-6, 6-3. The first set was Wilson's all the way, and he led S-love. Young then took a game, but lost the next one. The second set saw Young in bommand, and evened the sets with a 6-1 win—and looked like taking the third set, as he reeled off eight games in quick succession. Wilson reasserted himself, and crowding on extra pace, won the third set and match at 6-3. The winner is showing very fair form this season, and in a test match with Foden, who is fifth on the ladder, ran out a winner 6-3, 6-4. Of course, that match does not count as a ladder match, but it goes to give the selection committee a line to work upon Possibly Wilson may find Foden a harl der nut to crack next time they meet Wheeler edged Parker out of third place by a win 7-5, 1-6, 6-2. The loser had a firm gnp of the opening set, and with a shade of luck would have won that set He took the second set comfortably but condition told its talo in the third sot. Foden beat Salmond 3-6, 6-4 7-5 and Ellis defeated E. Reeves 6-4 7-5' It is quite clear that those who desire to hold their positions on the ladder will have to do some hard training this season. b

AN IMMEDIATE START.

At a meeting of the Advisory Committtee it was decided to advise the management of the Wellington Association that a start should at once be made with the formation of courts at the Miramar grounds. It was resolved that sixteen hard courts should be laid at the northern end of the ground, and also that the formation of sixteen grass courts in the centre portion of thu ground should be started. Provision has also been made for a. certain amount of dressing-room accommodation and shower baths, etc., will be provided. Sufficient money is in sight to make a good start, and it is quite possible that the hard courts will be ready for play this season. Now that it is known that progress is being made, and that it will not be long before play can actually be indulged in on the courts at Miramar, tennis players, and well wishers of the sport in Wellington, should Tally round the association, and give that little extra help that is now necessary, so that the whole scheme rriay be carried out without any further delay. It is too good a scheme, both from a civic, as well as a tennis point of view, to be allowed, to move slowly. ■ The whole ground pavilion included, should be completed before the start of the season in September, 1925, and then the tennis^ players as well as those who enjoy seeing the young people contending in this grand sport, will realise what Wellington has been missing for years. It ■will be possible, to put down about 80 courts on the ground, and that means 320 players can be taking part in the game at tho one time. It will be a sight well worth seeing, and it behoves those that wish for the advancement of the sport not only in Wellington, but in New Zealand, to lend a helping hand. With the grass courts laid down not only can the Wellington championship be played at Miramar, but the Aew Zealand championships also With the ground in full swing inter-club matches will again come into their own, P? IICl 1C !? h0, 01 cl!an3 Pionships, which attract hundreds of young players of both aexes, can be controlled with comloi t by the one manager, and players generally will be enabled to get sufficient singes-practice whereby their in the future will be greatly enhanced.

ADVICE FROM CHAMPIONS. J, 1!? m«sf .always' keep the mind ml a 1 *» masons why one is missorSnn fi ieS' °T musfc "ever los<> heart oi confidence.; A match is never lost till the last ball is played.—H. Cochet. far Pc< Ti 1S - 6 °hie£ end t0 bo striv™ fpVtn fV S 110t at tlle moment a ieature of the game which should be a more pressing pre-occupation. Young players like D. M. Greig and J. D. P Wheatlev appear to be developing a style which will lead to the-end of those lalhes which seem to lasb through an eternity. At the outset of their careers' they have taken rank among the best Players Is it not probable that they have taken advantage of opportunities to practise on covered courts?— Mile Lenclen. **

lor the great majority of players the ..! *'ay,, to !lifc the ball is with a little top. By this means you got more pace on the ball and keep it in court. With "top" on it the ball dips into the court instead of Hying out. "Top" is obtained by gripping the racquet with a- slanting face and -striking the ball j^itli an upper movement. To cut Lho ball you must turn the face of the racquet away from the net and chop the ball. It is a good stroke to play as a variation, but is rather inclined to tako the pace out of the ball and send it out. To clean hit the t,all the racquet should be at absolutely right angles with tho ground and tho ball should be mot absolutely square on the racquet. Jo slice, draw the racquet across the ball. It is a very good shot to use, as it makes the bull go off with a swerve, and it is very difficult for the man at tlie back of the court to puss you if you follow it up to tho not. Mrs. ]\;,rcoinbc is particularly good nL this shot,, as is also Major Kiiigscolc.—F. 0. Lowe.

England is tho great country of ancient memorial brasses, possessing about 4000. vVnws he? abput go, Swikiii! tmly tliree, Irejaad five, i«id the Continent eboufc 250