Croquet Notes

Evening Post, Volume CXV, Issue 39, 16 February 1933, Page 18

Croquet Notes

By "Concentrate"

Coming Tournaments. • . South Taranaki (Hawera), in progress. Hamilton Tourney, February 27. Otago Tourney (Dunedin), February 27. Hawke's Bay Tourney (Napier), February 23. English Gold and Silver Medals (Dunedin), March 5. Taranaki Association Championships. (New Plymouth), March 6. Now that the main Wellington event is over the clubs are settling down to the usual routine, and matches which have been delayed are now being played, off. In some instances the championships have been finished, but the majority of clubs have yet to complete this event. . Interclub Matches. Practically all the interclub matches are now over, and next week should see the rounds completed. Owing to -the. Dominion and Wellington tournaments intervening, a number of the A grade games were postponed, but a few in the intermediate and B grades were played. The following are the results of this week's matches, the score of tho first-mentioned club being first in each instance:—A Grade: Island Bay v. Woburn,. home 26-17, away 21-26; Wellington (1) v. "Waimarie, home 26 , away 26-1; Wellington (2) v. Kelburn (1), home 16-26, away 21-26; Hataitai (2) v: Eastbourne, home 26-12, away 21-26. •■'•.- Intermediate Grade: Seatoun v. Ngaroma, home 26-8, away 26-14. B Grade: Wellington v. Woburn, home 26-19, away 10-26; Hataitai v. Lyall Bay, home. 26-23, away 8-26; Kelburn v. Eastbourne, home 26-12, away 26-12. Pollock Stars. The ninth round of the Pollock^Stars was played on the Hataitai lawns last Friday afternoon between the Kelburn Club (Mesdames. Gardner'and O'Donnell)' and the holders", Hataitai Club (Mesdames! Thomas and Moeller). The latter pair were again successful in retaining the stars. Both the Hataitai players are good hitters and strong drivers, and ' are capable of "securing position for hoops from long distances. It'is particularly'noticeable that these players shepherd' the ball 'to its position and follow through more than is customary, and .one can' only attribute this-feature of 7 play, to the fact that the surface':of;the lawns';is so uneven that if becomes necessary to,guide the ball to attain the; desired, object. There are still several challenges to be played ' off. before the -end- of (the season, the following; being the .order in which they' are' to be played:—Hutt (defaulted), Eastbourne, Mt. - Victoria, Wellington, and' Woburn. . Plimmerton OrtciuetClul). The. president and .'members of the Plitameron Croquet Club recently gave an afternoon in honour of Miss Gardner, the winner- of the handicap singles ■at the recent" tournament,, and Mrsu Ross, who with Miss Gardner,won the handicap doubles. Mr"s. Neale (president) welcomed the guests of honour. , She presented each with a charming bouquet, and congratulated them.on their success. Mr.' Wright, president of the bowling section, also made eulogistic references to the winners, and wished them continued success. At the conclusion of the afternoon a. round of applause^was given for MSss Gardner and Mrs.'Ross. Nelson Tournament. The recent tournament at Nelson was the first occasioii'On which the Nelson Association had vent'ered to run a tournament on similar lines, to other associations, and according to reports' it will not be.the last. The entries, we're very satisfactory, both, from the town and country clubs,- and great credit is due to the excellent manner in which the tournament committee handled. the arrangements. At the conclusion of play, Colonel Hume (president) made reference to.the success of Nelson's first effort, and thanked the competitors for their punctuality./He made special reference to the services rendered by Mrs. Waters, who *as in charge of- the Nelson green, and Mrs.: Condell, wko was in charge of the Hinemoa lawn. Col-. Onel Hume also thanked the ladies responsible for the catering arrangements at,: the Nelson Club, where the final gam'e.iWas played between Mrs.' Frost (winner)" and Mrs. Levy (runner-up). Manawatu Association. • The Manawatu Association's tournament; has. now concluded. Aa is. usual-

with tournaments held' in Palmerston I North, the entries were large, and interest was mainained throughout The] tournament produced several' surprisos, among them being the defeat of Mrs. I Austis (—1) by Mrs. Simpson (ser) in the open event, and the marked success of Mr. E. Simpson, who played! Mrs. Simpson in tbe finals. Mr. Simpson is a comparatively new player, but he has made rapid strides; and the time is not far distant-when he will be ranking with New. Zealand's foremost players. Unfortunately the . weather was not at all pleasant, a high wind greatly disturbing' the cdmpeitors. There were , several. instances 7of the balls being blown well out of : position, thus making line ".jke-offs'^ treacherous. ,-..•' At the conclusion of the tourney Mrs. Gambrill (president), said that _ a pleasing feature of the tourney was the number of new players-who had taken part and who had .figured in the prize list. The management was in the capable hands of Mrs. Parkes, who was asked to accept a token of appreciation from the cimpetitors. The work of the greenkeepers wka also acknowledged in a tangible form. The following is a list of the' winners :—- Open cham;: pionship: Mrs..E. Simpson. Clubpairs: Mesdames Anstis and E. Simpson; run-ners-up, Miss E. Terinane and E. Simpson. ' Handicap singles: Mrs; Radford; runner-up E. Simpson. • Handicap doubles:. Mesdames Anstis and Field; ruuners-up, Mesdames Maye-: and T. Simpson. 13 Grade championship: C. Bryan; runner-up, Mrs. Burnett. Handicap singles B: B. Bryan; runner-up, Mrs. Cook. . Wairarapa Tournament. ■ The Wairarapa- tournament, played on the Featherston Club lawns, has now concluded. Although the weather was hot as favourable, as it might ■ have been, there were some'interesting contests, especially in.the handicap.section. The final of the handicap ddubles was won by Mesdames Watson arid Lyf ord (Hainni), who defeated. Mesdames Rowles and C. Edwards (Featherston), 26-13. In the open event the results of the finals are-not-yet to hand, .but the f ollowinjg are a few of the results:—■ Mrs. Feist beat. Mm: Rowles,. 26-18; Mrs. Poison, beat: Mrs. Feist,, 26-14; T. Saunders, beat. W. Rowles,. 26-20.' Association Ferns. ■ The Eastbourne pair,; Mesdames Wise and - Palmer, .are again the'holders. of the Association Ferns, .having defeated the Hataitai Club- in a: hard-fought game during the week. The; nest on the list of' challengers is-the Waimarie Club. • . ,/ McKenzie Cups. ."" The McKenzie Cups were-this week again successfully defended bythe Kelburn Club, represented by Mesdames Hsley and Taylor, the challengers'being Mesdames Russell and Woodham, Hataitai Club. The shooting of-all four players was .excellent.- The Kelburn players, however, made-better use of the opportunities afforded. The next on the list of challengers lis the' Island Bay Club.' ' South1 Taranaki Association. Th^ South' Taranaki" croquet tournament commenced on Monday at Hawera. Several showers; fell during the * day, but play was,not hindered to any great extent. .Mr. J. M. Claque, president of the South Taranaki: Association, in a brief speech- of welcome,' referred to the number of visitors who were present from. New - Plymouth, Waitara, Wanganui, and. Wellington, and wished them a pleasant stay in Hawera. He congratulated; Captain Hartnell on- his appointment' as president of the, New Zealand Croquet Council. Mr. and Mrs. Bull are-managing the -tournament, and: Mrs. Chadwick is in charge, at the. park. 'The referee is Mr. Claque, Mrs. Bull being his assistant. .The following.referees have also been appointed: Mr. Harrison, Mrs. Bock, Mrs. Masters, Mrs. "McKay, and Mrs. Chadwick.-,. ....- ....... Personals..Mrs. Lewis (Karori); is at present on a visit to Auckland "and Rotorua, - Mesdames Allen and-Robertson (Seatoun) have left for:Dannevirke,.where they intend taking part'in the Hawke's Bay tourney. Mrs. Manhire, who has 'been,' handicapper to the Otago - Croquet Association since' the ■ association - was; first formed, has resigned.-Mrs. Buchler was elected to .fill the position for the remainder of the season.