CROQUET NOTES

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 11, 14 January 1932, Page 7

CROQUET NOTES

By "Concentrate"

'Coming Tournaments:— Dominion Tournament (Wanganul)—l9'tU Janu- ■- ■- ary. , , ■ . Wellington (Lower Hutt)—3rd February Walrarapa (Maattorton)—9th February. , Gold and Silver Medals (Hastings)— March. Hawkes Bay Tourney—March. -Interclub Matches. The following are the results of this week's interclub matches, the score of the first-mentioned club being first in each instance:—A Grade: Wellington :(1) v. Kelburn (2),' at homo 2(3/2-1, .away 26/22; Wellington (2) v. Wai- . marie (2), at home away 20/13. ; B Grade: Karori v. Ifataitai, at homo v 20/25, away 20/26; Wellington v. •"Woburn, at home 26/23, away 21/26 viKelburn v. Ngaroma, at lionie 20/16, •;''away 15/26; Island Bay v. Centra), at ■home 26/13, away ,13/26; Seatouu v. i'Ngaio, at home 26/7, away 26/11; East- ; bourne v. Wainiarie, at homo 20/22, away 26/18; Mount Victoria, a bye. : Intermediate Grade: Mount Victoria y; Island Bay, at home 24/26, away i 17/26; Hataitai v. Eastbourne, at .homo • 26/23; .Waimarie v. Central, at homo ■26/2, away, 26/3; Woburn v. Wellingitbn, at home 19/26, away 26/12; Hutt v. Lyall Bay, at homo IS/26, away 26/13. ; North Island Tournament. ". ;..'■ 4 Tho weather on the opening day of the North l3land tournament was any--'-thing but good, rain falling intermitf tently. As a result the greens wero not in the; usual good condition. With ah improvement in the-weather, howover, the lawns were much benefited by ; /the soaking.' In the early stages of play there .were quite a number of surprises, some of New Zealand's fore-' , most players suffering defeat. This goes to prove that new' entrants 'in the field are making rapid progress and •; will in the near future be taking a prominent place in the croquet world. ■:In the open event the North Island lady champion, Mrs. Cole, was defeated by. Mrs. Gibbs, who in turn. < lost to Mr.-Robertson, the latter playing consistently good croquet? In his game against Mrs. Caldow, although f the latter made breaks of 10 and 12,' : Mr. Robertson won the "-rubber in both /games by pegging out his opponent's ball. He has yet to meet Mrs. Tiflen ,in the finals. In the rubber between Airs. Wa.tkins and;, Mrs^ Tiffen, the spectators were treated to three' good games, Mrs. Tiffen winning %the first, Mrs. Watkins the second, and Mrs. Tiffen-the third. The events.have nearly all reached: the semi-final stages^ and break play is the order of the day. In practically all the games players have the strength of the green, and it is not an uncommon sight.to see a ,4*-l)is-que making an/ all-round break.. "'-,.!■ ■ Mrs. 'Walker :(Waimarie) met' Mrs! Piteaithly,. (Hastings) iv the- open event.' It: was.-not: long, before Mrs. fciteaithly bad one clip On the stick with OueVon/rover when;at;, this- stage Mrs. Walker bad -made' nine points. After Mrs. Pitcaitkley, baulked in rover Mrs. Walker, picked up a long.shot, eventually making iip the. 17 points and pegging ;out. ... ' ,

Mrs. Watkins met Mrs. Austin in the final of the first life of the ladies' championship. Mrs. Anstis won the game, both players putting up good breaks. Mrs. Watkins appeared to haxe the game in her hands when she missed a shot at rover hoop. This let Mrs. Anstis" in' with the lift when she made rover: In the finals of the ladies' championship Mrs. Anstis mot Mrs. Caldow. In the first game Mrs. C'aldow won by a goo^l margin. Owing to the lateness of the hour the second game was postponed until yesterday morning, when Mis. Caldow won 2(i/20. Mrs. Tiffen won the first game of the1 rubber against Mr. Robertson in the finals of the'open championship, 20/22. Yesterday Mrs. Tiffen won the final, and the open championship for the second time, with a three-point'margin. During yesterday afternoon Mrs. Ferguson, Mrs. Brown, and.Mrs,. Lisle were presented with a small memento from competitors, and thanked for* the manner in which they had helped to make the tournament a success. Great credit is due to-Mrs. Ferguson for her able management at the Manawatu lawns

on which most ot the games are being'played. In not a single instance are tho lawns vacant for more than a few minutes at.a time, which speaks volumes for the-methodical manner in which the tourney is being run. Associated with Mrs. Ferguson on the management are Mesdawes Brown (Northern)'and Lisle (Takaro), with a committee consisting of Mesdames Gambrill, Mayes, and Mr. Spooner. The following are tho referees: —Mesdames AVatkins, Gambrill, Boocock, Caldow, Cole, Bartleet, Pitcaithiy, Kibblewhite, and A. T. Gibbs. McKenzie Cups. • ~,, The Wellington Club, represented by Mis. Cv C. Ashton and Miss Bates, played the first match after the holiday season against the'challengcrs, Hataitai Club, represented by Mesdames Bussell and M. Scott.: The game ended in favour of the holders, the/scores being 26-14. The next on the list of challengers is the Ngaio Club. , South Island Tournament. The South Island Tournament has now been concluded, Mr. A. G. Ross having won the championship, Mrs. Corbett the ladies' championship, arid Mr. Ross and Mrs. Corbett the doubles.

A meeting was convened by Mr. Ross duriug ,the tournament period for the j purpose of enabling players to become I more conversant with the work of the New Zealand Council, of which he is at present acting-secretary. After welI coming those, present, the. chairman (Mr. Dawson; vice-president of. the Canterbury Croquet Association) said that croquet in New Zealand had gone ahead by leaps and bounds, and as a result a Dominion Council was necessary, as well. as several minor associations, to control and assist the progress-of-a very popular sport. - The idea of calling tlie meeting was explained, by Mr. ..Boss, who said that the Dominion Council were on the eve of their annual meeting, and.it was advisable to acquaint all,croquet players with- the business to be dealt,with. In view of the fact that croquet was more firmly, established in the North Island than was the case in the/South, and that there was a tendency, to control affairs from the northern part,-, a meeting at the South Island; tournament should do ar great deal of good/

Mr. Boss went on to discuss certain 1 remits which were to come -before the annual meetings and gave ,his opinion on their worth or.,otherwise. He spoke of the operations'.of the. council; Btating that a central body was -necessary to keep all players in tquehi with/the latest phases of tho game,/and/to Con; t'rol aiid co-ordinate the - working- of some 231 clubs, whiijh varied, innieni-. bei-skip from seven to 12pJ \ For ygars, befSre the council was constituted, there; was haphazard interpretation of the rules; while a number of clubs/had no rules at all, the result being that a tournament was usually a very wonderful concern. The council was aided in its work by about fourteen .district* associations, all of which fulfilled their functions in a very agreeable and con-. sistent way. The fact.that the Dominion Council had had only one serious argument with "a /croquet 'official since it was Ifdrmed spoke volumes: for its usefulness. l / ."■■■.'■"'

Mr. A. H. W. Aitken (Gore) expressed'the hope that the-Dominion:^ Council would consider the question of having the South Island championships at Timarn again this year. Timaru, ho said, was very suitable-from the point of view of location, while the amenities for a holiday were excellent. , Mr. 5. W. McCreatJi (Gore), the1 donor of the McCreatii silver fruit! bowl for the open championship, signified his desire that the trophy this year should be "won outright, and said that he would donate a more suitable award to take its place* as a" challenge trophy. Last year, when-he presented the bowl, it was his opinion then that it was not .suitable- for challenge purposes, but he had been persuaded to allow it to stand. The meeting, after"* vote had been taken, was of opinion that the bowl should become the- property, of Mrs.

Homo (last year's winner), and a recommendation to this effect was passed for submission to the New Zealand Council. New Zealand Council Meeting. Further notices of motion to be moved at the annual meeting of the New Zealand Council to bo held in Wangauui are as follows: — *

That rule 5 bo deleted and the following ' substituted:—"Between Ihe meetings of the committeo the routine and emergency business of the council shall be managed by n executive consisting of tho elected officers and additional elected representatives, which must include at least three women associates. The committee may from time to time delegate such of its powers as it shall think fit to a sub-committee or sub-commiftees or to one or more of its officers, and between the meetings of the committee and executive the ordinary administrative work of the council shall be carried on by the secretary unless tlie committee shall otherwise direct." Moved by the Wellington Association. , - - That rule 6 be altered by tho addition of the following words:—"Provided, however, that in (the event of the secretary being a salaried officer he shall not be an 'officer', of the council and as such entitled to a vote at council meetings." A. Club' Novelty. . '■'• On New Year's Day the members of tho Newtown Croquet Club held a successful "Husbands' Day," when members of the sterner sex were entertained on the lawns and at lunch by club members. Canterbury Tournament.' Mr..Arthur Ross has now won the open championship for the eighth time, and the third year in succession. Wairarapa Tournament. ; Tho Wairarapa Croquet -Tournament will be held this year at Masterton, commencing on Monday, loth February, . . Gold Buttons. Playing at Carterton last week, Mesdames Knutson and Fiest (holders) .lost to Mesdames Finlayson and Poison (Masterton), the score being 7-36. The following day,the last-named pair were again successful against Featherstou challengers (Mesdames Williams aud Bowles), whom they beat 20-13. ;; Featherston Club. i '........ In a match for the McKonzie Brooches, the holders (Mesdames/Pairbrother and Saunders) were defeated 26-20 by Mesdames Bowles and O'Brien. HaunuiClub. - ' ;'■ _All-day competitions conducted by thjs; club last Thursday resulted"as"f6l--lows:-^A grade, Miss Eva Card; B grade, Miss B. Clark. Playing in tlie Adamson trophy competition, Mrs. McGill beat : Miss Clark, ■20;il, and Miss M. Nix beat/Mrs, isaker, 26-22. ;- ■WTeUington Club// '■■.',■ ' ! "The Roberts Brooches were'-played for on Friday last between the hdldera.' Mesdames'Manton and Ashton, and the challengers,-'Mesdames Priddle and Thornton, and resulted in a win for the latter pair. ■, ' \ iLE.EbUock'Shield. /This,challenge was played last week between .Mesdames Billing and Clark; andVTesulted. in-a win for Mrs. Clark. Southern Hawkes Bay Tournament.. -. Entries for the above tournaihent are to/be posted not later, than 15th February.: to Mr. J. Harris, MePhee sfci-e'e.t, Dannevirke. The following is :th'j; list of events:—Southern Hawkes Bay open championship (open to players up to ah bisques), ladies' championship, championship doubles, handicap singles, handicap doubles Personals. The many friends, of Mis. Sunley (Bangimaiie) will icgret to hear of hoi sudden death duiing the week-end. Mis. Sunley waa^a most respected member of the Raugfmaiic Club, Kaiori, a'nd'&c sympathy of cioquet playcis is extended to her relatives. Mrs. Gambrill (Palmeiston North) will be partnered with Mrs. Pitcaithiy (Hastings) iv the championship doubles at the Dominion tournament.