TENNIS “INCIDENTS”

Grey River Argus, 10 February 1928, Page 5

TENNIS “INCIDENTS”

RETIREMENT OF PLAYERS Management Criticised BY CHRISTCHURCH NEWSPAPERS MANAGER'S REPLY. WELLINGTON, February 9. During the New Zealand Lawn Tennis Championships at Christchurch, several “incidents’’ occurred which the Lyttelton Times and. the Star described as being due to the management rushing matches, and .vinnicrcialising the tournament with disregard tu the interests of the playThc “incidents’’ referred to were the retirement of Dr. J. Laurenson in his match in the semi-final of the men’s sing.es against E. L. Bartlect, and the retirement of Miss M. Speirs in the Ladies' doubles final, with Miss Partridge against Miss M. Tracy and Mrs. R. P. Adams. It was alleged in Laurenson’s case that there was something inhuman about a system under which a pleyer who had to retire in a singles semifinal from exhaustion, was called on immediately to undertake a five set doubles match against opponents (N. R. C. Wilson and J. C. Peacock) who had not played earlier in the day. In Miss Spoil ’s case, it was Alleged that she had to retire from the double? final on account of fatigue, having previously had an exhausting midday match on the hottest day of the season, her application for an extension of time being disregarded. The manager of the Tournament Mr. D. Murray Keen, who is also Secretary of the N. Z. L. T. A. lias made an official reply to these criticisms. During the tournament, he says he did not receive a single complaint or protest from any one of the competitors, regarding the time set down each day for the matches, and several of them asked for more matches than he could arrange with the number of courts available. ‘‘All the competitors for championship honours are expected to be lit, and no special con-

cessions can be made to enable (he unfit to be nursed through at the expense of those who play the game on and off the court’’. Air. Kean made the defintc statement that the matches were not rushed nor was he in any way influenced or governed by the factor of gale receipts. On the other hand several Canterbury officials wanted the tourney prolonged for the finals to be played on Saturday, lor the sake of the gate. Mr. Kean points out that Dr. Lauren son ■was himself a party to the agreement with Bartlect; made on the previous night, for the singles match to be played next day, at 1 p.m.. and th e doubles match to be played at 3 p.m. Both Mr. Kean and Mr. Peacock remarked on the shortness of the interval between the two matches, lut Dr. Laurenson said that both he and Bartlect (his opponent in the singles and partner in the doubles) preferred that arrangement, and remarked that in any case the singles would not run into more than three sets, whoever vpn. Dr. Laurenson arrived at the courts the next day at 1.45 p.m.. and went on to play Barr leet at J. 55 (55 minutes over the time agreed upon), Mr. Keen informing Dr. Laurenson that the doubles must be played at 3 p.m., Wilson having another match that afternoon, and was not to be penalised. “I say that Dr. Laurenson did not retire from exhaustion”. Dealing with Mss Speir’s case, Mr. Kean said the Airs. Adams v. Miss Knight ami the Aliss Speirs v Aliss AlacFarlanc matches, were advertised to commence at 19.30 on morning. At that time one tha two centre courts was available, and Mr. Kean instructed whatever pair was first ready to bo put on it. The pair was Airs, Adams and Miss Knight. The other court was ready at 11 a.m., and Aliss Speirs and Aliss MacFarlane went on at that lime. As th c two matches were important, it was considered advisable to put them on thc only two sheltered courts. Miss Speirs and Miss MacFarlane’s match finished a few minutes after 1 p.m., the actual playing being about II hours. Mr. Kean was compelled to speak to the umpire about Aliss Speirs long rests between games in the second sots. “Aliss Speirs did not ask m ( > for an extension of time before playing her doubles match, but T allowed hor over half an hour’s extension of time before she played in that ma tch. She had a two and a-half hours spell. Regarding Aliss Speir’s retirement from the doubles match, when she. and her partner had lost the first set, and wcr e 2/1 down, in the ■second set. her statement tu me and to a members of ladies committee, was that her retirement was not on account of illness, but she felt the heat very much. Afr. Goss had advised her to stop playing”. Afr. Kean expresses the opinion that the objects of the criticism is to support the wishes of a few officials to secure control of the New Zealand championship, when played in Christchurch.