DOMINION CHAMPIONSHIPS

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 151, 23 December 1926, Page 5

DOMINION CHAMPIONSHIPS

WELLfNGTON PLAYERS AND THEIR CHANCES

AVellington will not be represented by its strongest players at the New Zealand tennis championships, as several o£ the leading players here are not going to Auckland. Among the notable absentees will be Dr. E. B,- w- Smyth, the present holder of the provincial title, Leu France, and R. Donovan. Donovan is a younger player, but he is on the sick list, and ■'probably will not participate m tournaments at all this season. Miss May Tracy, the present provincial lady champion, will also not be playing, and another notable lady player who will be away is Miss Travers, the ex-New Zealand chamQf'those who are bidding for honours in the singles, Wellington has most of its hope in E. D.' Andrews, of Palmerston North. Next yiar Andrews will be lost to Wellington, as Manawatu is forming a separate association. Andrews did not defend his title at the provincial championships here last January. He should go a long way at Auckland. If I). G. France is on iiis game be also should do well. He recently defeated N. R. C. Wilson in straight sets in inter-club matches. J. C. Peacock is a veteran player, and he has been playingi good tennis lately, practising- assiduously, and "chipping the line' consistently. N. R. C. Wilson should also give a good account of himself. C. E. Malfroy has been playing quite well, but he is not up to national standard yet. R. Ferkins is another AVellington boy who 4s expected to do creditably. He recently defeated Dr. Park in inter-club games. Of the ladies, Wellington will count most on Mrs. W. J. Melody and Misb A. Howe. Mrs. Melody has not been well recently, and it is doubtful if she will be at her best in the singles. She has not been able to play any tennis for some weeks. If Miss Howe can reproduce the form she showed a couple of years ago, she should get into tho semi-finals. In the men's doubles, Peacock and Wilson, the present holders of the title, are expected to do well, but they will be up against stiff propositions in North and M'Causland, and the Peach Brothers (N.S.W.), and Seay and Andrews. M. Lampe, of Wanganui, is partnered with D. G. France, and if Lampe is able to conceal his shots this pair ought to go through more than one round. Mrs. Melody is with Mrs. Spiers, of Christchurch, in the ladies' doubles. Miss Spiers is the present lady singles champion. If Mrs. Melody'is anything like up to form this pair should just about win the title. In the Mixed Doubles, Miss Howe is playing with Ferkins; Miss Spiers with D. G. France; and Mrs. Melody with Lampe. Miss Howe and Ferkins should survive the preliminary rounds. Of the others. Miss Spiers and France are looked upon as likely winners, and are expected to get into the final. The Boys' Championship should be an easy,win for C. E. Malfroy.