CROQUET

Evening Star, Issue 20990, 2 January 1932, Page 18

CROQUET

It is intended to devote some space in each Saturday’s issue to items of interest to croquet players. The secretaries of the various clubs are asked to send in notes to “ Diana ” not later than Wednesday in each week. _ Correspondence is invited and inquiries as to fine points of the game or other matters connected with croquet will be answered as far as possible. Coming Events. January 4.—South Island championships at Timaru. January 6.—North Island championships at Palmerston North. January 19.—Dominion championships at Wanganui. February 2.—Wellington tournament at Lower Hutt. February B.—Southland tournament at Invercargill. March I.—Otago tournament at Dunedin. Many members of clubs are away holiday-making at this season of the year, so' that few matches are being played, but many friendly contests have been arranged on the various lawns. Opoho Club. The council has granted the Opoho Club another full-sized lawn next to the one it already has. The club will commence at once to have this ready for next season’s play. Southland Tournament. The events for the Southland tournament are as follows: —(a) Open to players with less than 6J bisques. (1) Open championship. (2) Championship doubles, (b) Open to players with 6J bisques or over. (1) Open singles. (2) Open doubles. (3) Handicap singles. (4) Handicap doubles. Entries for all events close with the secretary, Mrs S. F, Curie, 95 Crinan street, Invercargill, on February 1 next.

Alterations to Laws and Regulations. Several suggested alterations to the laws and regulations of croquet were discussed at a conference held in London recently. The well-known law 44 came up for consideration, and it was suggested that the “ lift ” he abolished, and also to bar wiring adversaries’ balls from, each other. Another recommendation was that the “ lift ” be abolished except for open events. It was also stated that some alteration appears necessary in the condition now existing under which bisques may be used by either partner in handicap doubles. Instances have occurred where a minus player has been able to utilise bisques (only available by reason of a high-bisqued partner), which in no circumstances could have been used in singles. In doubles play at present it sometimes happens that the bisques work out to i’s, and the player is given the premium of another I to make it up to a half bisque. It was stated at the foregoing meeting that no player should be entitled to use more than half'the handicap he is entitled to use in a single. Canterbury Tournament. The Canterbury Croquet Association began its annual championship tournament on the United Club’s lawns on Saturday, December 24. The weather conditions were excellent, and the lawns were in good order. Tne tournament is expected to last three or four days, and the first day’s play completed most of the first rounds in the various events. Although the entries are smaller than in the past, they are considered very satisfactory, especially in view of the fact that for the first time the junior events are being held in February, separately from the senior ones, and that the holding of the South Island championships in Timaru in Jnauary has in some measure restricted the entries to Christchurch players.