CROQUET NOTES

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 116, 12 November 1931, Page 21

CROQUET NOTES

By "Concentrate*

NEW ZEALAND TOURNAMENTS. Manawatu (Palmerston. North).—24th Noveni- . . ber. North Island (Palmerston Nerth).—6th January. Dominion (Wanganul).—l9th January. Wellington. (Hutt).—2nd February. Gold Medal (Hastings) .—About Ist March. H.B. Tourney (Hastings).—About' Ist March. So far this season the weather ias been excellent for croquet, and as a result players have been getting in quito a lot of practice. With returning form the matchos are finished in good- time, and only a very few long-drawn-out games are reported. Inter-Club Competition. The third, round of the inler-club matches-was played on Tuesday last in perfect spring weather. The following are the results, the score of the first-mentioned l club being first in each instance:—;. A grade: Wellington (2) v. Kelburn (2), home 26/16, away 26/11; Hataitai v. Eelburnj (1), home 26/22, away 14/26; Waimarie (1) v. .Waimarie (2), home 26/15, away 26/20; Haeremai v. Wellington (1), home 18/26, away 11/26; Eastbourne v. Hutt, home 19/26-, away 26/19. Intermediate, grade: Waimarie v. Karori, home 26/19, away 18/26; Woburn v. Kelburn, home 12/26, away 26/17; Lyall Bay v. Eastbourne, home 16/26, away 26/16; Wellington y. Hataitai, home 26/11, away 26/18; Central v. Mount Victoria, home 26/11, away 26/21; Hutt v. Island Bay, home 21/26, away 16/26. B grade: Waimarie v. Ngaio, home 26/7, away 26/14; Mount Victoria v. Central, home 7/26, away 21/26; Eastbourne v. Ngaroma, home 20/26, away 21/26; Seatoun v. Woburn, home 19/26, away 8/26; Island Bay v. Hataitai;; home 26/15, away 22/26; Kelburn-V. Khandallah, h onie 26/18, away ■ 26/16 j". Wellington v. Karori, home 20/26, away 9/26. . ;. The following-is the draw for nest week's, matches: —. • '. . • A grade: Hataitai V. Wellington (1); Hutt v. Haeremai,. Eastbourne v: Wel-lington-(2), Kelburn (1) v.'Waimarie (1), Waimarie (2) v. Kelburn (2). V Intermediate grade: Wpburn-v. Karori, Lyall Bay v. Kelburn, Wellington v. Eastbourne, Central v. Hataitai, Island Bay^,.. Waimarie, Hiitt" v. Nga--roma. B grade: Ngaio v. Central, Waimarie v. Ngaroma, Mount Victoria v. Woburn, Eastbourne V. Hataitai, Khandallah v. Seatoun, Karori v. Kelburn, ■ Wellington v. Island, Bay. Upper Hutt Club. As the bisquing of sever.-.l of last year's intermediate players has been altered, the Upper Hutt Club has now a team eligible.to play in the A grade, and those clubs competing in this'section are asked- to arrange their games' with Upper-Hutt on any day other than Tuesday. Pollock Stars. As weather conditions .were even vorse than last week for the second challenge of the season for tho Pol-.; lock Stars, which was played on Hataitai lawns last Monday, the holders, MesSames Thomas and Moeller, wore successful in retaining tho Stars, defeating their opppnents, Mesdames Bock and Ayson (Hutt), by 1-1 points. A high northerly wind was blowing, which made: break play practically impossible, and great credit is duo to the ".holders, for tlipjfi.'eonsigtpnt play under trying! condition's;' *Tfie fncxt "on the list of challengers is tlio Karori Club, which is to be represented by Mesdames Lewis and Flint.

Association Ferns. Iv the second challenge for the ITems, the challengers, Mesdames BradnpcE, senr., and Swiriey (Karon) were successful in defeating the holders, Mesdames Monk and Kowe (AVoburn), thescore'.'.being -2.6/23. The next on the list isi Upper Hutt Club. M'Kenzie Chips. The second rouud for the M'Kenzie. Cups (B Grade) was played-in boisterous weather last Monday, the challengers, Mesdames Steel© and M'ln tyre (Karori) defeating the holders, Mesdames M'Kenzie and Turner (Lyall Bay) by 11 points. The visiting team played very well and during the game had four peels. The next challengers are Mesdames Small and Morton (Seatoun).

Angles: White spots are marked at different angles round a hoop and a ball is placed on each spot—say sis or eighfc balls—and tho player putting the largest number through tho- hoop wins the competition. "Lawn Etiquette."—Players should, as soon-as their shot is taken, move off the court, but should they fail to do so and the opponent when playing becomes conscious of their presence they may-bo-asked to move outside the boundary line. "Sport."—This break is very often tried by players as a matter of practice, but in match play it would probably be unwise, as should the opponent get in and do the same, your ball stands a good chance of being pegged out. A better plan would be to stop sit penultimate and wire at tho stick, or in a handicap game at No. 1 hoop.

,' Eangamaire Club. The Bangamaire Club held their first sports day recently, when members spent a most enjoyable afternoon. There were few absentees, and the various competitions were keenly contested, the winners being: Mrs. Snarley and Mrs. Grant, hurry skurry; Mrs. Dray ton, french; Mr. Wallace, numbers; Mrs. Wallace, dart. Ssatoun Olub. A very pleasant day was spent by members of the Seatdun Club recently, the occasion being the first of a series of sports days which aje to, be held during the soason. < The weather was fine and there was a good attendance of both playing and hon. members. At the conclusion of the competitions the president, Mrs.. M'Girr, .presented thel prizes to the following winners:—Mrs. Higgins, ladder; Mrs. Morton, angles; Mrs. Easterbrook Smith, take off; Mrs. M'Girr,- french; Mrs. Ingram, golf. Hints to Players. ; • The following extract taken from an English croquet journal .might be of interest to players taking part in tournaments: — 1. If not put on the best lawn: (a) An immediate protest should be made and if the protest is not successful you should mutter periodically during the day, or (b) what an extraordinary way of managing a tournament, or (c) this is the last time they will see me here. • Note.—These phrases may be used alternately if,desired, and should be repeated about every ten or twelve minutes until sympathy appears to be waning. /. 2. If y.qu.miss;alOßg- shot—you'may say:. (a)- It • was' dead oa" all .the way jßtfal-the lastiyard. ,(b) -It.ia really useless to attempt a long shot on this, lawn;- (c) It started straight but rolled right off. ' ' ■ ..•■• . ■ Note.—The tern -"rolled on"' must only be-used when'referring to an op-, ponenti' •.. ..'.•-■.-■ • ■■ 3. If jrou. do get a long shot havo a look round to Blake sure, for your own satisfaction^ that everybody has- seen. it..- - ... ■ . ■, •.:..- . ' &.■ 'Should-you stick in a hoop you may'remark': If went right through and came back again. Should you stick a second time you. say: This hoop is less than the regulation size.. Personal. Tie many friends of" Mrs. SmetUey wiir vSry much regret to hear of her sad loss, and the sympathy of players is.extended to her in her bereavement. Answers to Correspondents. New Plymouth luquiiy.^—The competitions to which you refer are as follows:—Ladder: A large ladder is marked on the lawnin which-different numbers are written. The player is given 8 balls and stands about .5 yards away. As each ball rests, inside the square on which the various numbers are marked"'the score is taken, the person with the largest total being the winner. Peg: Eight bails are placed on marks made on the. lawn a,t different distances from the peg, and the player attempts to hit the stick with each ball. .Trench: This is a splendid competition and a very popular one amongst Wellington clubs. A player is given a ball and starts from the boundary line in front of No. 1 hoop, making 6 hoops and hitting the stick with as few strokes as possible. Players here have made these points in as few as 16 strokes. •- Thia.icompetition.., is,, an , ex?, c'cllent' test" of-'judgmenj; and:one well worth trying.