CROQUET NOTES

Evening Post, Volume CXIX, Issue 32, 7 February 1935, Page 19

CROQUET NOTES

By "ConckNtrat*'

Auckland Championships (Auckland) in pi-ogress. Wellington Championships (Hult) in progress. Manawatu Championships (Palmerston North) February 12. West Coast Championships (Greymouth) February 12. Hawke's Bay Championships (Napier) February 12. Otago Championships (Dunedin) February'l9. • ' Wangariui Championships (Wanganui) February, 21. Taranaki Championships (New Ply- : mouth) February 21. Southern Hawke's Bay (Dannevirke) February 25. New Zealand -Championships (Auckland) March 7. Interjlsland Contest (Auckland) March 9. CJub Champions. -, Championship matches in the Hutt, Karori, and * JWellington Clubs have now been completed. The season's champions are -as follows:— Hutt.—A grade, Mrs. W. Bock; run-ner-up, Mrs. Ayson. Intermediate, Mrs. 'Teagle;, runner-up, Miss Macaskill. r « Karori.—A grade, Mrs. G. Flint; run-ner-up, Mrs. Swiney, Intermediate, Mrs. Bra,dnock, jun; runner-up, Mrs. Mahoney1. Wellington.—A grade, Mrs. Manton; runner-up, Mrs. Henderson. Intermediate, -Miss Bates; runner-up, Mrs. Billing; B grade, Mrs. Baker, runner-up. Mrs.'Baillie. < Association Ferns. The Association Ferns changed < hands last week, when the Wellington, Club, represented by Mesdames Ramsay and Billing, lost to the Ngaroma Club, represented by Mesdames - Edney and Galvih.' ? The winners were victorious by 11 points. Wellington Tournament. Interest/Js now centred in the Wellington Provincial Tournament, which . opened on Tuesday last in ideal weather at the Lower Hutt. Conditions at Riddiford Park are all that could 'be desired, and with a total of 282 entries which include scratch and minus players from other centres, some good games should be witnessed. Annual Meeting- of Council. The annual general meeting of the / New Zealand Croquet Council will take place at Auckland on March 6. The balance-sheet shows the council's credit balance as roughly £300—an advance on that of last year. The following notices of motion will be considered at the annual meeting:—(l) That the necessary alterations and/or additions be made to the constitution to enable the date of, the i end -of . the * financial ' year to be * changed? (2) To * allow persons resident rin s other countries to ' become honorary absentee associates. > 'Manawatu.' * • '" , 5.» "A successful gala day was held recently at the Northern (Palmer'ston North) Croquet Club's lawns, where a large number-,'of 'competitors 'Was present. The competition for trophies donat-' ed by Mrs. Tapp" resulted as follows: Progressive, Mesdames Anderson and Garner; angles, Mrs. Holmes; crazy pegging out,. Mrs. Morgan^fclf,^ Miss • .D'AOif,. Wch, MrsV ,Mayes-1> ■•, .v • , .On jne "Northern Greens on .Monday ■last theliolders,*.Mrs. Holmes and Miss D'Atb, were : defeated by Mesdames >Colquhoun and Lyall 15-26 in a match ifo^the^fiehnett Buttons. At'Feilding Mesdames Petrie and Wood of.the Oroua Club,'lost'the Pollock Stars to Mesdames Simpson and Moyes;,' of the- Northern Club, 22-26. Croquet at Melbourne.' ,' ,'■;. EL*'P. StratW met *d "JV Miller,, the - Australian champion, with a -4& handicap in the third round of the second Me at the Melbourne tournament. Miller opened the game with a shot to boundary near No. 4 hoop. Stratton followed with a short tice on the west boundary near No. 1 hoop, but failed to hit in going to No. 2 corner. With ■ a wonderful cut rush to No. 2 corner Miller built a four ball break irom line balls,-carrying his clip to 4 back arid wiring at No. 1. Stratton shot to No. 4 corner where Miller again took charge but broke at No. 1. Stratton failed to hit in, and the Australian went to the peg, leaving his ball with a.rush behind-No. 4.^Stratton lifted, b>ut failed,,to hitj MiUer , then took, charge again but broke at 4 back. This let, Stratton in for the^flrst time where' he made.jgood use of his opportunity with'a break to 4'back, wiring at No. 1,- Miller again failed when Stratton continued with a second break to the peg but on failing to wire accurately, had> tot-take a .saving shot which unfortunately left one, ball -on B balk. This gave Miller the chance he wanted and he finished 26-24 after,a thrilling game. < "*-, -- „ Captain,Hartnells met Mrs. Bartle (-3) in the third round^ but he"had no chance whatever 1 to score, Mrs. Bartle making.twp perfect breaks and finishing. ~,Vv" * v ,In .the,other'life Captain Hartnell i^et Miss'Morrison (-3|) when the same (performance was repeated, the New Zealander getting only two shots in the game. * v „ ' ' "Mrs.tCorbet, met Ward'Petley (England) in-the second round of the first life. < This was an exhibition of good ci|)quet by. both players, and through a shght,error on the part of the Dunedm player, Petley won by one point. Mrs. Corbet failed to hit with the first ball, pegging the second out. Petley who was on'one and four back, hit in and kept control until the game was finished. In playing against Colonel Dv Pre (England), Mrs. Corbet had very few chances, and the game ended 26-4 against her. Mrs. Caldow met Reginald Poulter (England) in the fifth round of the first life. Poulter had practically alf the play for some time, making good use of his opportunities. On gaining control, Mrs. Caldow went to four back; but left an incorrect wire at No 1. Poulter got the difficult shot, and went to the peg. Mrs. Caldow then got in, and endeavoured to peg out her opponent's ball, but failed when Poulter again got m. He broke at rover and the Wellington player then pegged out her ball. Poulter was left with >rover to make v and in the next turn the. English player got perfect position from-the side line for his last hoop. / Mrs. \Caldow who had divided the balls, failed" to hit. Over the closing portion of the game Poulter hit a, 25-yard: shoi fojhe peg, finishing the,game 26-15. / In the semi-finals the players left in the draw were, Dv Pre, (England), McCleery (Australia),-" Poulter (England), Miller (Australia), Petley (Ensland); and Windsor and/Hunt (Australial1.,' : . • In the match \agauist Mrs. A E MaAdara-(Brighton, *-2), H. P.-S+rat ton finished the game'in three turns His opponent made'a break of 4 but failed at'Np.,s. Stratton took his clip to' 4 back. ■■Mrs. McAdam failed to hit in, and Stratton finished the game triple-peeling his ball. It took, Mrs. Caldow some time to settle down in her game against Mrs. Burton (Aberfeldie, —1). Mrs. Burton made an all-round break, placing her clip on rover! Mrs. Caldow got in, made an all-round break, peeled her . opponent through rover, and pegged

iiiei. oui,;:,leaving neir-wiui .one oau. I Mrs. Caldow finished the game by wiring successfully. The Australian captain, C. J. Miller; played up to his best form in his match against Mrs. Purdie, making two perfect breaks and finishing the game in twenty-five minutes. The game* throughout have been of an exceptionally high standard, according to reports, and hardly an opportunity has been, missed for a break to four back or the- peg. A' player breaking on more than one occasion has had very. little chance of a win. The outstanding feature of the play is the exceptional ability of Mr. C. J. Miller in his cut He takes a powerful stroke, and can cut a ball at .right angles to any distance with extreme accuracy. The final between Windsor (Australia) and Poulter (England) was an outstanding and at times thrilling exhibition of croquet. It was won by J. C. Windsor. The match went to three games. Windsor won the first game 26-o,'Poulter the: second 26-0, and Windsor the' third 264. In the last game the Englishman stuck at No. 2 hoop, and ,nevef got in again. Test Matches. In the t triangular series of Test matches between. England, New Zealand, and Australia, the first series should have been completed today. The Test which commenced yesterday between New Zealand and Australia will comprise the following players:— Singles, H. P. Stratton v. C. J. Miller; Mrs. Caldow v. J. C. Windsor;. Capt. Hartnell v. E. M. Hunt; Mrs. Corbet v. W. T. McCleery. Doubles, Mrs. Caldow and Stratton v. Messrs. Windsor and McCleery; Capt. Hartnell and Mrs. Corbet v. Messrs. Miller and Hunt. The second Test will commence pn Saturday next between New Zealand and England, and will be played on the Warleigh Club's lawns. When England is playing New Zea land Mr. C. J. Miller will be the referee, and Messrs J. C. Windsor and'E. M. Hunt will act as assistants. ,- When England is playing Australia, Mrs. W.E. Caldow will be the referee, and Capt.' Hartnell and Mr. H. P. Stratton will act as assistants; When Australia plays New Zealand Sir Francis Wemyss will be the referee with Colonel Dv Pre and Reginald Poulter as assistants. All singles are to be played the best two out of three games, and the doubles under the same conditions. An Unusual Incident. The serenity of the international croquet championship at Melbourne last week was disturbed. by an unusual incident in which one player called "foul1 * after a stroke had been made by an opponent. The incident occurred -during \the rplaying. of the doubles finaLbetw,een B. M.' Hunt and C. J. Miller' and Mrs. E. Terry and J. C. Windsor., It had particular interest* because, three men in -the contest had Keen chosen at Australia's referees for tiie .first' Test which began last' Friday.' Hunt play a stroke which in his opinion ,was a 'clean' stroke. Windsor called a lovXi Hunt,' after having consulted his "partner, walked off the lawn. Windsor then realised that Hunt thought that his shot- .was clean, and forfeited his next stroke. Miller then instructed Hunt not to playsattth© ball^whichvwas twer feet away,1 but to retire to the first corner. The incident was then closed ana the game was resumed. Personals. Mesdames Henderson and L'owery (Wellington) intend taking part in the Taranaki Championships, at New Ply-mouth-where .they'will be the guests of Mrs. F. L. Hartnell. , Mrs. Lowery •will later proceed to' Auckland to participate in the New- Zealand championships.l '','<*'. •' Mesdames Halliday and James are Dunedin visitors to Melbourne. Both intend to take part in the Centenary Open Tournament which commences on Thursday, February 28. Mrs. A. J. P. Brittain (Hataitai), who has been on a motoring.tour through the North Island, has returned home. Mrs. Bruce Christie (Kelburn) is at present in Melbourne, and has been an interested spectator at the International ■ Croquet. Mrs. H. P. Stratton and Mrs. O'Meara (Hastings) have left Melbourne on their return to Sydney. Mrs. E. J. Bassett (Masterton) and Mrs. A. A. Clark- (New Plymouth) were spending a-few .days/with a party on the Dondolong Ranges, at most recent advice from, Melbourne. ' Both these ladies were returning to' Melbourne to witness the/first Test'match-between England and. New Zealand., - . ,Mrs. Phillips (Rahgamaire) is another spectator at the Melbourne lawns. The rcroquet; players, Colonel Dv Pre.'E. L.', Ward, Petley, and Sir Francis Colchester Wemyss, will be leaving-Melbourne by-Jthe-> Niagara at the end-of the month for.Auckland. The two former players intend\to take part in the Zealand championships, which commence, at Auckland on March 8. * ', > , - ~