LAWN TENNIS

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 124, 21 November 1925, Page 18

LAWN TENNIS

•r 'Huka.' CHAMPIONSHIPS PALMERSTON NORTH PLAYERS AGITATED QUESTION OF GRASS OR HAttU COURTS, r COJIIMU EVENTS.. New Zealaud Championships, at Christcuuicn— December 2ii, 28, 21), 30, 31. North Otago Championships, at Oamaru— December 2a, 20, 28, £9. Southland Cbampionihips, at Invercarglll— December 25, 20, 28. Kotorua Championships, at Rotorui—December 25, 20, 28. Auckland Handicap Tournament, at Auckland— December 26, 28. South Canterbury Cbatnplopships, at Tlinaru— January 1, 2, 4. Canterbury Open Tournament, at Cnrlstcburch —January 1, 2, 4. Otago Open Tournament, at Dunedin— January. Taranakl Championships, at New PlymouthJanuary 5 to 8. Patmerstou North Championship*, at Palmerston North—January ' ™" Eotorua Junior Tournament, at Eotorua— January 14, 15. Waipukurau Championships, at' Waipukurau— January 18, 10, 20. Wairarapa Championpbipi, at Masterton— January 2i, 22 23, 25.'' Wellington Championships, at WellingtonJanuary 22, 23, .25. Haetlogs Championships, *t Hastings—January 28, '25, 20.

According to " specials" that have been sent to the "Star" (Christchurch) and the "Evening Pgst," the Palmerston North Tennis Club is somewhat, agitated that the Wellington Association has decided to hold its championships in Wellington city; also that the said championships are to be held on hard courts. The Palmerston North Club contends that it is ultra vires to play grass court (lawn tennis) championships on hard courts." The club also seemingly has the idea of appealing to the l New Zealand Association and the English Association against the Wellington Association's proposal. It has always been considered by most followers of the game in this city that it was a mistake to allocato the championships to any of the clubs, but when it was done city players and officials, generally did their best to make the meetings successful, both at Masterton and Palmerston North, and the two clubs concerned reaped a fairly handsome profit from the championships on all occasions. The association certainly received a stated sum out of the profits, but would have made_ considerably wore had the meeting been run in the city. The game, no doubt, was fostered in the country by the association's action, but it was at the expense of the game in tho city, and many of the clubs here haveiolt that their players of late years have been neglected accordingly. Thero are about 800 odd players in the country districts that can be claimed'as Palmarstou North territory, end although Masterton is now not under Wellington's banner there are 800 odd players in and around that district. There aro about 3000 players in the city, and they justly claim that the timo is now ripe for the-i championships to be held at headquarters. It rests entirely with the Wellington Aslociation as to what kind of courts are used for its championships, and neither the New Zealand or the English Associations have any jurisdicdietion in the matter. The finals of the Wellington championships have • been played on hard courts on quite a number of occasions, and the general opinion amongst expert tennis players the world over is that it is better to play championship tennis on hard courts that are true and fast, than on the uneven sufaces that most grass courts have. In the past the hard court players of the city raised no objection to going afield and playing on strange courts when defending their titles, and the writer firmly believes that E. D. Andrews, the present holder of the Wellington singles championship, would improve his game considerably by playing for a season on hard courts that are fast and true. The championships after all are only games, and although tho best players generally" receive the greatest benefit from them, yet the' hundreds of other players should also bo given sonio consideration. If it were not for those hundreds who pationise these events there would possibly be no championship meetings for the champions to compete at, or at any rate the meetings would always be run at a loss. Tho old idea that championships should only be played on grass has beon exploded long ago, and the Davis Cup has been played on hard courts on many occasions. In fact all the matches except two or tlu-Qo played in the European zone since the zone system was started have been played on hard courts. Many of the courts that the French players have learned ■ their games on are made of red briektjust. The American players on the Pacific Coast all play on hard courts, and even conservative England has at last come to the conclusion that the only way to speed her players so that they will be able to compete on even terms with the great American and French players is to provide hard courts for them. The famous Suzanne Lenglen learned her game on hard courts, and it would be sheer madness to ask her to play, on some of our grass courts in Now Zealand. After all it is the concern of tho Wellington Association and no other parties, and the Wellington Association alone, and no other tennis liorty, has right to say on what kind oi: courts, and wliere, ils championships shall be plnyed. Tho must snrious comment made from Palmerston North is that the Wellington Association "jumped" 'tho dates of the Masterton .tournament. The Wellington Association applied for its dates under the New Zealand Association's rnle that pro-

vides for applications being in by 10th October, and because an association may have applied mouths bei'oie, that does not give it any preference All. tho dates received by 10th October' lire considered at the next winmi t tee meeting, Mini approved of. The Wellington diites. by fho way, are 'i-'st, L!2iui, -.'ird. and U.itli January, iinti i! number of l'ii|i-tia.iiit-"iiLa a|->pfu>'-■>d foi- lhi.j souboii iii-d beiny run on l-hc saw" dates. Buut'i. Canterbury

and Canterbury have meeting! oa Ist, 2nd, and 4th January. There are tournaments at Eotorua, Auckland, Southland, North Otago, Marlborougli, Mai'tinborough, and Kaikoura, all cm the same dates as those selected for the New' Zealand championships at Christchurch, and it would be unfair to the general mass of tennis players to refuse those applications. With between 24,000 and 26,000 tennis players in the Dominion nowadays it would be most unwise to Rive anyone .issociation or club a monopoly of any particular m datos. There arc plenty of players to make any well-run tournament a success, and if any of the tournament managers are looking for tho champions of New Zealand to play at their gathering, well, they can bo attracted by providing courts that play faßt and true, and good management will attract those players agnin and again. Wellington will be quite content to provide for its numberless players who are longing for its championships again, and many of them cannot always secure the necessary time to travel to other : districts,

It must also be remembered by I those managing tournaments outside 'of Wellington, that players in the city are noted for attending tournaments held in the country districts, and it may not be a good policy to throw too many bricks at any movement that the Management Committee has brought forward, which has been clamoured for by those located in tho city. The time is now ripe for ' the clubs in the Manawatu district to band together, and apply for direct affiliation 'with the New Zealand. Association. With local government' the' game could be controlled and fostered to the benefit of all those clubs concerned, and the Wellington Association would be the first to congratulate the new association upon any such step. That has been the policy in the, past, and although many of the large associations at first considered that Wellington was wrong in encouraging its country clubs to form associations of their own, they have now come to our way of thinking, and new associations have sprung up at North Auckland, North Otago, South Canterbury, in the Wairarapa, and in the Waikato districts. AH are flourishing, and riot only have all the clubs in the districts been gathered in, but the players by getting matches with the players from larger associations have improved the standard of play in'their own particular territory. '' Huka'' is quite satisfied that successful tournaments could be run at Masterton, Palmerston North, Wanganui, and Wellington, even if all had the same dates. The trouble, if trouble there be, is too small for any friction to occur, and it is to be hoped that those who are enthusiastic, for the sport will look at the matters concerned fairly, giving consideration to those most concerned, and then all will bo well. The city au.d the country clubs, the play, cis, and the associations that are, or to be, have a great future before them, and can work in splendidly with one another at all times, provided that matters are calmly discussed together before trying to agitate New Zealand tennis circles.

Ctnttrbury'i Rinklna List. . The following is the order of the Canterbury ranking lists:—Men—(l) G. 01----livier, (2) D. G. France, (3) I. Seay (4, „G. G. Aitkcn,. (5), F. S, -.Wilding, ■(6J'D. F. ".Glimville, (7) P. G. Greenwood, (8) T. W. Pattevsou, (9) B. B. Loughman, (10) S. D. Dentou, (11) jS. W. Field, (12) Ken Walker, (13) B. H. Tait, (14) A. B. Loughman, (15) F. B. Hale, (16) W. 8. SomervMo, (17) H. S; Wilkinson, (18) E. Eaton, (19) M. G. Moore, (20) L. D. Cotterill. Ladies—(l) Miss M. X Speirs, (2) Miss E. M. Partridge, (3) Miss M. Murison, (4) Miss'M. Wake, (5) Miss Y. Ferrier, 6 Miss E. Buchanan, (7) Miss L. Saunders, (8) Mrs. Sharp, (9) Miss G. Wriht, (10) Mrs. Page, (11) Mrs. B. Cotterill, (12) Mrs. Miles. D. G. France, the ex-Wellington player, who rank* ac second player in Canterbury, was defeated quite recently by D. F. Glanville, who ranks sixth, in the final of the Avonside Club's championship j singles, 5-7, 6-1 , 6-4. It was a great I match, states the 1 Christchurch "Star," and, although many thought that France would run the older player off his feet, as he appeared to be able to do in the first set, Glanville fought back, and secured a most creditable win. Both drove hard in the first set, but France did most of the attacking, and he had Glanville on the gallop from one side of the court to the other and back again. Then France would go in to the net and finish the rally by a well-placed sharp volley. Glanville never let up and chased Franco's drives and overhead work, took the turning some that looked sure winners, kept his opponent guessing. Tho score ran to 5-all, and France, with perfect drives and overheawd work took the aexi, two games and set. Glanville kept up his splendid effort in the second set, and gradually France became uncertain, His drives became less aggressive, and by double-faulting he lost his grip of the attack. GltfnviJle evened the- sets by winning 6-1. xhe third set promised to bo the best of the lot, and when France led 2-love, Glanville made his effort. He would not allow a drive to pass him, and the tennis on both sides was of a high order, but Glunville took three games in succession, aiid led 3-2. Both player* went Inv the service games for all they were worth, and after a display of brilliant tennis, thp score- sv-rs called—4-jill, Glanville fought for the ninth and tenth games like a tiger, and secured a great victory by winning both games, and set 6-4. Canterbury will have a very fine set ' of'players to pick its team from for the Anthony Wilding ■ Memorial match against Auckland, and cannot very well lose from all appearance. Auckland will require to have its best t(jpm, and the players in their best for,m to defend successfully. According to the Auckland "Star," E. W. Griffiths will be kept out of the game for some time- owing to a strained knee. Auckland tennis can ill afford to be without him, as last season . Griffiths was Auckland's most successful match player. He is bolder' of the Auckland provincial. singles championship/ and also of the doubles title, partnered by Brinsden. He is a fighter to the last, and a great tactician, and tennis players will wish the popular "Griff" a speedy and lasting recovery. Auckland will also l>o without, the services of Fotherinjthnm, who won the New Zenland doubles last year with Smyth, as tho former-lias returned to England, and, according to nil accounts, wua showing good form there. ■

fjflsl Saturday, during Uie ::^Urnoon Lea interval, Mr. 11. M. Gore, president of (lie Thonidon Tennw Club, on behalf of members, presented Mr. C. L. Mayo with a handsome tea service. Mr. Gore reminded those present of the valuiible services Ihiifc the retiring l.un. secretary had rendered during the four years he had held officr, awl how all arratmc'Dcnts liild been iwofiilly considered and curried <mt su Unit. Kenilmrs were cniiliied to fully I'lijuy tlii-fr panics ill fill limes. Mr. Miiyo vv.-i? .yivfii a'jrri-'ut rally by. the large gatiiti'iny present.