CROQUET

Evening Star, Issue 20996, 9 January 1932, Page 20

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 he answered as far as possible. Tournament Dates. January 19.—New Zealand championships, at Wanganui. February 2.—Wellington tournanient, at Wellington. February 8. —Southland tournament, at Invercargill. February 9.—Canterbury (junior) tournament, at Christchurch. March I.—Otago tournament, at Dunedin. The Alexandra Club proposes to run an Easter tournament on its lawn, and the local bowling club has offered to lend its green also. This is sure to be a popular event, as Central Otago is a delightful place to spend the Easter holiday. Alexandra Club. There is a suggestion that this club should move its lawns to the domain, where it can get sufficient ground for at least two full-size lawns. The idea is an excellent one, as croquet cannot really go ahead as it should until some such progressive move is made._ Members will find that the work involved will be amply repaid by the added facilities for first-class play. Canterbury Tournament. This tournament was completed on Thursday of last week. A. G. P. Ross (2j bisques) again proved the winner of the open championship for the eighth time and the third year in succession. The runner-up was Mrs A, M. Hadfield (United Club, Christchurch). A Club Novelty. On New Year’s Day members of the Newtown Croquet Club, Wellingtonj held a most successful “ Husbands' Day,” when members of the sterner sex were entertained on the lawns and at lunch by club members. Otago Tournament. Programmes for this tournament, which will commence on March 1 on Punga lawns, are now available. The following events are to be competed for: — Championship singles (open). Championship doubles (open). Handicap singles (A grade), up to 6 bisques, Handicap singles (B grade) over 6 bisques. Handicap doubles (B grade), up to 6 bisques. Handicap doubles (B grade) over 6 bisques. Entries close on February 24 with the secretary. Miss Pilkington, 223 Highgato, Roslyn. South Island Championship Tournament. First day’s play in the South Island championship croquet tournament opened in Timaru on Monday, the matches arranged being played on the Aorangi, Highneld, and Ashbury lawns. A large number of visiting croquet players were in attendance for the tournament, including Mr A. Ross (New Zealand champion) and Mrs Corbet (Otago champion). Play was commenced with the open championship singles. Possibly the most outstanding match of the day was that between Ross and Mrs Telfer, in which the New Zealand champion, after having an easy win in the first match, put up a remarkable performance in the second by playing right out, his opponent failing to score a point. The other noteworthy incident during the day was the defeat of Ross by Mrs Kirk in the handicap singles. The latter was a 6J- handicap, and playing with sound judgment she beat Ross after a good contest. Mrs Pennefather received a telegram from Mrs Rhodes Williams, president of the New Zealand Council, regretting her inability to be present and wishing the tournament every success. Players from Invercargill, Dunedin, Gore, Christchurch, and as far north as New Plymouth are competing, and the standard of play is very high. Raincoats and goloshes were the order of the day for Tuesday, hut play continued until 5 o’clock. Mrs Quinn (Invercargill) put up a very good showing against Ross, but eventually went down to this experienced player. The arrangements for the tournament are being very well carried out by Mrs A. A. E. Pennefather, of Timaru, and granted reasonable weather it should finish on Saturday afternoon. At a meeting of players held during the tournament Mr R. W. M'Creath (Gore), the donor of the M'Creath 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 ho had been persuaded to allow it to stand. The meeting, after a vote had been taken, was of opinion that the bowl should become the property of Mrs J, Horn (last year’s winner), and a recommendation to this effect was passed for submission to the New Zealand Council. The only final result through at the time of writing these notes was the championship doubles. Congratulations to our Dunedin player, Mrs Corbet, who, partnered by A. G. F. Ross, of Christchurch, carried this off. The final between these two and M'Creath (Gore) and Mrs Quinn (Invercargill) must have been an interesting game, with only 5 points between the two ptirs. _________