CROQUET

Evening Star, Issue 21316, 21 January 1933, 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 be anrwered as far as possible. Answers to Correspondents. “Pegging Out.”—ln handicap play, unless an opponent’s ball has already been pegged out, a player may not peg out Ins own ball before his partner ball is l a rover. Should he do so the point is not scored, and the ball remains where it comes to rest. In the event of the striker removing the ball from the court in the belief that the stick is hit, it must be replaced to the satisfaction of the opponents. “ Wiring.”—An unusual position occurred last week, when a player on moving the ball in from the boundary in order to get a clear swing of the mallet moved also the object ball, which was very close to No. 3 hoop. It was found, however, that on account of the altered positions of the balls the object ball w r as then wired. The only reasonable way out of the difficulty would therefore be to move the striker’s ball only, leaving the object ball in its original position.

New Zealand Croquet Council. The following ruling on Law 44 (h) has just been received from the English Laws Committee; —“Law 44 (b). This means that if the striker (or his partner) lias pegged out a ball either of his own side or his adversary’s, he thereby loses the privilege of a lift to which he would have been entitled when his adversary later made four-back.” North Island Tournament.

—Results of Play.— Open Championship (best of three games).—Final: Mrs Caldow (Wellington) beat F. L. Harrison (Wanganui), 26-7, 22-26, 26-3. Championship Doubles.—Final: Mesdames Anstis and Simpson (Takaro) beat Mesdames Langford and Bryan (Northern), 26-16. Ladies’ Championship.—Final: Mrs Anstis (Takaro) heat Mrs Simpson (Takaro). Handicap Doubles.—Final: Mrs Bassett and Mr Harrison (Wanganui) heat Mesdames Caldow and Lees, Handicap Singles (A grade).—Final: Mrs Anstis (Takaro) beat Mrs Simpson (Takaro). Handicap Singles (B grade).—Final: Mrs Sears (Manawatu) beat Mrs Patchett (Timaru). New Zealand's Oldest Player, The New Zealand croquet championships are rapidly drawing to a close, and interest centres in the chances of the various champions who will be competing. The oldest croquet player in the dominion, and one who actually played at the championships in her eighty-first year, is. Mrs Richard Wedderspoon, of Wrtnganui. It was at Christchurch in 1931 that she took part in the championship handicap doubles, her partner on that occasion being the present New Zealand champion, Mr Arthur Ross. Mrs Wedderspoon plays fairy godmother to the Wanganui Croquet Club. ‘ New Zealand Free Lance.’ Meeting of Council, The annual meeting of the New Zealand Croquet Council was held on Tuesday evening in the premises of the Hutt Bowling Club, Lower Hutt, Mrs Rhodes Williams (president) occupying the chair. Other members'of the executive present were Mesdames W. E. Caldow and C. Watkins (official referee and official handicapper respectively). Captain Hartnell (vice-president), and Mr A. G. F,: Ross (lion, secretary). Mr C. F. Spooner (lion, treasurer) sent an apology for absence. The delegates from the districts were :—Auckland, Mrs Keesing; Auckland, South, Mr.Managh; Canterbury, Mrs Scandrett; Canterbury South, Mrs M'Lennan; Hawke’s Bay, Mrs C. Watkins; Manawatu, Mrs Simpson; Nelson, Mrs Acheson; Southland, Mrs Palmer; Taranaki, Mrs Clark; Taranaki South, Mrs Masters; Wairarapa, Mrs Wakeley ; Wellington, Mrs Austin; West Coast, Mrs Gilbert. Delegates were not present from either Otago of Wanganui.

During the first part of the meeting players were allowed to take part in a general discussion. The annual report urged the need of placing the council in a more stable position financially. The balance-sheet showed that the year ended with a credit balance of £l9B 10s, as against a starting credit balance of £154, but it was pointed out that the satisfactory position was due to collections being made more promptly than in other years. Fifteen hundred copies of the ‘Croquet Annual J had been distributed, Iho loss being £l2. A player, Mr H. P. Stratton, suggested that the allocation of trophies should be undertaken by the council instead of as at present by iho managers of tournaments. He also suggested the elimination of handicap events at the dominion tournaments. The President said she agreed with both suggestions, and ns a means of affecting the latter suggestion said that dominion tournaments should be held later in the season in order that local associations could be in a position to send forward their best players. Air A. G. F. Ross pointed out that the cutting out of junior players from the dominion tournament would seriously hamper the annual conference, which was the most important part of the tournament. Airs Hamilton, president of the Auckland Association, stressed the growing importance of the Auckland district, which had 1,000. players, and said that the only way of retaining the interest of Auckland players was by giving the district a seat on the executive. The President pointed out that it would bo a disaster, if the dominion lost the co-operation of the Auckland members, but the rules provided that any member was eligible for office on the executive, and therefore special district representation wiis not possible. The meeting then resolved itself into a meeting of delegates only, and after the minutes of • the previous meeting had been confirmed adjourned till AA rednesday evening.