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Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 10 February 1925, Page 4

CROQUET.

TARANAKI CHAMPIONSHIPS AND TOURNAMENT. SUCCESSFUL OPENING. An event of much more than usual interest has fallen to Hawera this year in the holding of the championships and tournament for Taranaki. The Hawera Club have tackled the job in great style, and with the leadership of their committee and their capable hon. secretary (Mrs Dowling) all preparations were efficiently made for carrying through the work of the tournament. This was formally opened this morning by his Worship the Mayor (Mr L. A. Bone), who was accompanied by Mrs Bone. Mr Bone, in declaring the tournament open, said it was a great pleasure to see so many visitors from other parts, and he was very pleased on behalf of the town to give them a very cordial welcome and to express the hope that all would go well throughout. He said he was sure they were going to have a successful function, and was pleased to see it on the Hawera lawns. The greens, he added, were first class, the ladies were first class and the town also, and if there was anything else possible for him as Mayor to do for them he hoped they would not hesitate to ask. He had the greatest pleasure in officially opening the tournament. A mallet was procured, and amid the cheers of the assembly Mr Bone struck the first ball through the hoop. At Hawera. —Mrs. Blake v. Mrs. Wills, Mrs. Snowden v. Mrs. Donald. Mrs. Shaw v. Mrs. Tocker, Mrs. Harding v. Mrs. J. Murdoch, Mrs. Evans v. Mrs. Milrov, Mrs. Sutton v. Mrs. A. Murdoch, Mrs. Horner v. Mrs. Masters.

In the matches Miss McDonald v. Mrs. MacGregor and Mrs. Grey v. Miss White, the latter player in each case won by default. Matches were limited to two hours. The lawns are all in perfect order, true and fast, and the grounds look very nretty and picturesque. Perfect weather and lawns need to be backed by good play and the success is assured.

All arrangements are under the general direction of Mrs. Bilton (manager) and Mrs. Dowling, hon. secretary, and thev have done their work well. . The tournament opened promptly at 10 a.m. and will continue fill 1 p.m. and resume to 2 p.m., an hour being allowed for lunch. It is arranged that one series of matches in the morning and two in the afternoon will lie played.

Very favourable comment was made on the ‘draw-sheets,’ large cards, neatly made out with the list of players, and room to carry on winners to successive rounds. Thev are really an excellent piece of work. Interest is naturally very keen in the entry of Rev. M. Meredith and other crack players from other districts. When the championship matches are played, there is certain to be a large gallery watching the play of these champions. THE PLAY. ' ( Handicap singles are being played to-day, six pairs on Hawera and six on Park lawns. The drawing was as follows : At the Parle.—Mrs. McKay v. Mrs. Cook, Mrs. Hillock v. Mrs. Campbell, Mrs. Hill v. Mrs. R. Wyllie, Miss Norman v. Mrs. Riera, Mrs. McGahey v. Mrs. Suisted. Mrs. Curtis v. Mrs. Henderson. HANDICAPS.

The other drawings for the singles are:—

At the Park. —Mrs. Curtis v. Mrs. Henderson, Mrs. Morrison v. Mrs. Wyllie, Mrs. Morns v. Mrs. Jarvie, Mrs. Dowling v. Mrs. Cowling, Mrs. Drayton v. Miss Power. Byes.— Above : Mrs. V. Johnson, Mr. Horner and Rev. Meredith. Below: Mrs. Skeet, Mrs. Weston, Mr. ClagueJ At Hawera.—Mrs. Horner v. Mrs. Masters, Miss Elliott v. Mrs. Glenny, Mrs. Washer v. Miss Sutton, Mrs. Fulton .v. Mr. Greenhill. Byes: Mrs. Armitage, Mrs. McL’Dowie and Mrs. Meuli. CHAMPION BOSE BOWL. The trophy for the champion team wa*3 given to the association, by Dr. G. Home, of New Plymouth. . It is a large and very handsome rose. bowl, and may be seen now jn Purser and Suisted’s window. The trophy is a challenge one, to be won four times at intervals before becoming the property of the winning club. Hawera. were successful in winning it in 1922 and 1924 the winning team, being-: Mrs. B. C. Bennett, Mrs. F. G. Morris, Misi- Power, Mrs. Ml Dowling,Mrs. C. H. Suisted and Mrs. J. E. Campbell. There will be very keen, .competition foi* its possession at the present tournament in Hawera. i