Table Tennis

Evening Star, Issue 23657, 17 August 1940, Page 7 (Supplement)

Table Tennis

a Notes and L Comments

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Fixtures. August 19, 20, and 21.—Otagq table tennis championships, at Dunedin. August 26 and 27.—South Island championships, at Christchurch. September 2,3, and 4.—-New Zealand championships, at Wellington. Otago to Compete. For , the first time in the history of Otago table tennis the province will send a team to compete in the interprovincial championships at Wellington at the end of August. The team consists of players who are all under 20, and even if it does not win the championship, the experience- should benefit the players. Following is the team: —

R. A. Algie (St. Clair), captain, M. Friend (Y.M.C.A.), L. Howe (Dunedin), W. Fogarty (Dunedin). Friend took up table tennis six years ago in B grade competition, and since then he has made great advance in the game. His first success was gained in the South Island junior championship four years ago Since then he has won the Southland singles championship three times, the Southland doubles twice, and the Otago doubles once. This year ho has again shown excellent form, winning the Southland singles and doubles, the Aotca Club open tournament, and the Dunedin Cup, and he was runner-up in the Otago handicap doubles.

L. Howe has made excellent progress in the game. He first started to play three years ago, and in his first season played B TI. grade for Dunedin. That season he reached the quarter-finals in the handicap singles. Last year was his first in _ A grade, and he showed much promise, going on to win the South Otago singles, and, partnered by S. Archer, he won the South Otago doubles. Following this he was selected for Otago’s second team. At the present time he is top of the Otago ladder, and has won the Kensington handicap tournament from the back mark. With V. Brown, he was the first to defeat the Algie brothers in the doubles. W. Fogarty is one of the keenest players, as he travels from Balclutha every Wednesday to play for his team. Ho began his table tennis career five years ago in the South Otago district. Although he has not the impressive record of his team mates because of inability to compote in the same tournaments as they, his record is a good one, nevertheless. He is the present holder of the South Island doubles championship and Southland doubles championship. Last year he was in the semi-final of the New Zealand doubles championship, rumier-up in the Otago singles, and he also won the South Otago singles.

Otago Handicap Tournament. Table tennis of an exceptionally high standard was witnessed during the playing of this tournament. Although there were only two surprises—the defeat of S. Algie in the second round of the C grado and of M. Friend in the second round of the A grade—several of the star players in their different grades had to fight all the way to win. One of the best games -was between L. Howe and L. Todd, This was the best of the opening night’s displays, Howe just managing to defeat Todd. Congratulations are extended to Clarrie Hall on his fine performance in beating Howe. . Although Hall was receiving 11 off Howe in a 29-up game, it must be remembered that Hall is in the veteran class, and his performance in reaching the semi-final was an excellent one.

Hogg and Harwood provided a keen tussle, Hogg proving superior after a three-set game. He won by 31-29, 26-31, and 31-25 In the semi-final a good game was witnessed between Hogg and a promising junior, Aitken, the latter being the winner after a classy display. In the final of the C grade singles this player scored a popular win by defeating Henderson, a dour stonewaller, in a 3-set game. Congratulations are also extended to Misses Morris and Cormack (Chambers) on defeating the New Zealand doubles champions. Misses Lock and Hayward, in the final of the A grade doubles. Misses Morris and Cormack were in receipt of 3 from the champions, and won by 24-17 24-21. The final of the ladies’ U grade doubles was between Brown and Slither-

land, who proved too good for Misses Marsden and Lyons in a 3-set game. The final of the men’s O grade doubles saw Hogg and Healy defeat S. Algie and Harwood after a good game. Excellent form was shown throughout tho.tournament by Watts, a junior from the Aotea Club, who annexed the D grado singles, and, partnered by Colquhoun, won the I) grade doubles. Miss M'Stay (who was off + 3) easily accounted for Miss Latta in'the final of the A grade singles. Miss M’Stay’s win was very popular, a.s she bad shown fine form throughout. Miss E. Latta, who was runner-up, failed to get going on the night. She is a player who is in her first season of A grade matches, and it should not be very long before sho is in the front rank of Otago table tennis. Winners of tho IB grade doubles were Waller and Mitchell, who, though off a good handicap, throughly deserved their win, defeating Robertson - and Rayner fairly comfortably. Another good game was the final of the B grade singles, which was won by Pitches, who is captain of tho junior representative team, and has shown outstanding form this season. One of the best games of the night was tho final of the men’s A grade doubles,,* this being .between ,the .Algie brothers (New Zealand champions), who defeated Friend and Fogarty, the Algies proving their superiority after a gruelling struggle. A close final was won by Miss Fogarty, who defeated Miss- Welsh. 22-20 and 22-20.

The highlight of the tournament was the final of the men’s A grade singles, between IR. A. Algie and L. Ramsay. Both olayers showed outstanding form, and Ramsay is to be congratu!ated_ on the excellent display he gave against the red-rd-Pah'* IRuss. Algie. who proved too good for ißamsav to win by 29-18, 27-29. 29-25, and 29-18. Taking into consideration the ease with which R. Algie won his games and considering he was giving away big handicaps, he proved he is right up to top form, and must, be a tough proposition in the coining New Zealand ehmnnionships. He is the present tjtleholdor.