CROQUET TOURNAMENT.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 19 February 1925, Page 6

CROQUET TOURNAMENT.

END OF PLAY. CHAMPION FINALS. PRESENTATION OF PRIZES. Much enthusiasm and keen interest marked the closing stages of the Taranaki croquet championships and tournament. which took place yesterday afternoon in the presence of a large number of players and visitors. The success which lias attended the tournament was undoubted, and was acknowledged on all sides. The result must give the game a very great- fillip and to advance the cause of croquet very materially. CHAMPION SINGLES. The event of the whole meeting, was undoubtedly the filial, in the singles championship. The two who- came though without a loss were Messrs Meredith (Wanganui) and Clague (Maliaiu). They met yesterday in the finals and their meeting was marked by two remarkable line displays of croquet, of a class land up to a standard never reached in Hawera previously. THE SECOND MATCH. The conditions were best two out of three, but Meredith put the issue beyound doubt by his two successive wins. Clague, in the seeoncr, again went away with one ball and made a capital break, taking eight hoops in good style. His opponent hung back for an opening, and shortly after got- it and went right round, making yellow a rover. He then left blue and black wired, and Clague’s only chance lay in a. long sporting shot to break up his combination. He took it, and just failed, as in the morning, by a fraction. Meredith then got in, and, nursing the balls with the skill and finesse of a crack biUiardist, went round again in one break, iand at the end had all the balls round the peg. with his own a- foot away. Two easy shots and all was over. The scores in the two matches were: Meredith 26 and 26 Clague 10 and S ROSE BOWL. In tlie teams match for the rose bowl New Plymouth beat Mnnaia in the aggregate by 187 points to 93. PRESENTATION OF PRIZES. In the unavoidable absence of Dr. Home, president of the association, Mr Gr. J. Bayley, president of the Hawera Club, made the closing speech. He expressed the pleasure of the Hawera players at seeing so many visiting players present, and said that three essentials were needed for a successful tournament —good weather, good entries and goodfellowship. All would i agree, he added, that each essential j had been secured, -and the -result had | been a complete success. In conclusion, | lie said that the tournament would I serve many good purposes; that play- | ers met and were able to talk over play and get new ideas and useful exi perience, all of which would be to, the good of the game generally. . He said finally that Hawera hoped all had enjoyed themselves and would go away with a good impression of the town, and that in a year -or two the tournament would 'again he held here. Mrs Suisted then presented the prizes, which were won as follow: —« Champion Singles. —Mr Meredith (Wanganui); runner-up, Mr Clague (Mnnaia). Champion Doubles. —Mesdames Morris and Cook (New Plymouth); runnersup, Mr Clague and Mrs McKay (Mann in).

Handicap Singles.—Mrs 11. Wylie (Hawera); runner-up, Mr Horn (Patea) .

Handicap Doubles.—Mesdames McKay and Snowden (Mnnaia) ; runnersup, Mesdames Suisted and Crlasson (Hawera). Teams Match (Home rose bowl.—-New Plymouth. Club.

Responding for the visitors, Air Meredith, in a very happily-worded speech, expressed the hearty appreciation of all for the great kindness shown, and the excellent management throughout the tournament. He paid a great tribute to Airs Dowling (lion, secretary) and Mrs Bitten (mbaiager) for their splendid work, which had been in a large measure responsible for the success achieved. On behalf of all. players, he then presented each lady with a very handsome token, of. the esteem with which they were held, and said that nothing could have been better than their work during the long and trying days of tlie tournament.

Thus, in this happy wav, ended the tournament for 1925.