CROQUET

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 27, 1 February 1929, Page 13

CROQUET

WELLINGTON TOURNEY

FIRST DAY'S PLAY

The Wellington Croquet Association's nnnual "tournament is being continued daily, at Lower Hult. The tournament is beiug managed by Mrs. Earl M'Kenzie (ton. secretary of the association), assisted by a strong committee. The visitors are delighted with the surroundings, and are loud in their praise o*f the beauty and brightness of the gardens in Eiddiford Park, due to the care and attention of Mr. E. Hutt (reserves manager) and Air. H. Edwards (caretaker). The women's rest room, provided, by the Borough,. Council ia .the Plunket building is proving a boon: .to players and visitors alike,' owing fu the lack of shade in the park.

■Mrs. H; \Copk, of. Karori, is among the competitors, and though now in her bighty-third year, she -follows all .the games with v the greatest interest. There are several entries in which vtbs-part-ners are mother and daughter.

Besults of play yestero>y s aftor ','The Post" went to press are as follows: — ■Championship Doubles.—Mesdames Bush and M'llroy v. Mesdames Bock and Ayson, 26-15; Mr. and Mrs. Boocock v. Mesdames Johnson and Collins, 26-25. . " . : ; '

Ladies' Championship (second life).— Mrs. Frost v. Mrs. Leighton, 2(5-2; Mrs. Frost v. Mrs. Bee, 26-14. ' . Handicap Doubles.—Mesdames Andrews and Pollock y. Mesdames Speneo and Living, f 26-25;' Mrs. Falder and Gillbanks v.' Mrs. Brice and Bennett, 26-18; Mrs.: Kelly and Vafg v. Mrs. M'Pherson and Mrs. Laurie, 26-24; Mis. Walker and M'Gill v. Mr. and Mrs. Pollock, 26-20; Mrs. Taylor and Hughes v. Mrs. Pink and Jackson, 26-14; Mis. Hughes and" Tuckwell v. Mrs. Mouat and Murphy, 26-25. . Handicap Singles, \ A Grade. —Mrs. Wickens (2£) v., Mrs. Caldow (2^), •26-8: ; :'-. /.•'.'•■•-■,, ■ ;:■ ■„ • Handicap Singles, B Grade.—Mr^ Kelly (6) v. Mr. Laurie (?),, 26-20; Mrs.;;Cplley (8) v. Mrs. Heenan (lOj), 26-23;. Mrs. Manton (oij v.'.-Jtrs^-Alox-anderi (7), 26-18; Mrs.'Lees (7) y. Mrs. Savage (6), 26-17. . - j ;;f . '.. !'•.' In the .championship doubles the game bctwoon Mesdamos Bush, and M'llroy (Haeremai). against Meadavnes Bock and Ayson (Hutt) was one of care, and lasted for 3£ hours. Playing on the IT -ft bowling green, all the competitors i.v.md it so very keen.that it ■was diniiv.ilt to get position at the hoops, .and on account of there' riot being much grass to make a grip they found it more than difficult to run the hoops. The game finished 26-15 in favour of the Haeremai players, who were picking up tho long shots in splendid style. ,-,

The game Mr. , and Mrs. Boocock ;(Haoremai) v. Mrs. Johnson CWoburn) and Mrs. Collins (Haeremai) was also. \played on. tho bowling green, and pro-, 'vided quite a lot of interest for, the onlookers.' , Mrs. Johnson \ reached rovor bcforo her partner had left the . first hoop. Mr. and Mrs. 'Boocock forged ahead to rover, but Mrs. Collins, after many attempts, joined Mrs.; Johnson on the peg, leaving her a rush to peg out. Mrs. Johnson, however, only pegged out her own ball, her partner's ball just missing. Mrs. Booeock felled her own: and partner's ball through, rover and'pegged out, winning the game 26-25. ; ■■■/:; [ .-..■• ■■. '; »>'.'■ .:.;;: ; .In the' handicap doubles there was another finish with a margin of one point only in the game, of Mcsdamcs Mouat arid Murphy against -Mcsdamcs Hughes and Tuckwell. Both.being for tho peg, Mrs. Mouat pegged out Mrs: Hughes's ball and loft a rush for Mrs. Murphy, but in her next turn Mrs. Murphy only succeeded in pegging out her own. Mrs. Tuckwell, picked up a long shot on Mrs. Mouat's ball, but failing to get position for rover hoop, retired, back near penultimate. Mrs. Mouat dribbled her ball towards . thapeg, but failed to«reach it, leaving Mrs. .Tuckwell absolutely pegged. Mrs. Tuckwell, having placedher ball whero it wa»i had nothing left but to go to lover "hoop.. As'sho Avas quite, twentyfour ' feet off; she hit firmly and much to her. surprise her ball sailed: through Tover and she' pegged out, making the «core 26-25: ; . ,! In.her game against Mrs. Caldow in the A handicap singles, Mrs,. Wickona (Fcatherstoh) played the best cToqu'ct .of the day., ."^hc "conditions wero ideal, being late afternoon and on the Hutt lawn, but Mrs. Caldow was not allowed any opening. Evenly matched in bisquing, the game attracted a big j audience. Mrs. Wickens made seven .in one turn and five in another, but her tactics were absolutely sound and it yna excellent croquet, tho game lasting less than an hour and a half. -,■' The best breaks of the day were made by Mrs. "Wickens and Johnson, 7 each, and Mrs. Hughes, 6.