TENNIS

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 4 January 1926, Page 6

TENNIS

WILDING SHIELD. WON BY CANTERBURY. (by TEI.KGRAPH J‘KESS ASSOCIATION.) CHRISTCHURCH, Jam 2. By the narrow margin of 15 sots to 14 -Canterbury won hack the Anthony Wilding tennis shield from Auckland on Saturday. Each province won six matches. Canterbury was tnvo matches down, having won two and lost four on Friday’s play, but on Saturday the local team won three singles and a double. The singles champion, Geoffrey Ollivier, was beaten by Bartleet in the singles, winning two games only in each of the two sets, and partnered by Greenwood Ollivier lost the doubles also. The results of Saturday ’s play arc: Si nodes. —G. Ollivier lost to E. L. Bartleet 2—6, 2 —o; D. G. France beat 1-b W. Griffiths 7 —5, 9 —7; I. A. Seay beat L. G. Knott o—l,0 —1, o—3; R. G. Greenwood beat A. A. Johns 7—5, 6—o Doubles. —Ollivier and Greenwood lost to Bartleet and Griffiths 5- 7, 6 2, i; :g. France and Seay beat Johns and Knott 4 —o. 6 —4, 6 2..Totals. —Canterbury 6 matches, lo sets; Auckland, 6 matches, 14 sets.

LESSONS OP TOURNAATENT

VHAT COULD BE LEARNT,

The value of a tournament in any branch of sport goes far beyond the immediate results and the actual success achieved in the running of the function. These naturally are the legitimate aims of the committee and organisers, a.nd are essential to the success for which they all seek. In fact, if that result were not secured it would be a bar to all future similar events. There must be good entries, a high standard of play in the leading competitors, and smooth concerted running at the business end of tournament so that competitors by securing good treatment and favouiabio conditions would lie induced to return for future events. One point of great value lies iu the education provided for the young and inexperienced players, who were able, by watching the play of the older competitors and by coming into contact with them to derive the benefits to be secured thereby and to be inspired to practise the shots by which these cracks won their matches, and in that way to cultivate an improved style. Unless they profited by this experience they were not likely to progress, and thereby the value of tournaments would not be realised.

To the town and district of Hawera the advent and stay for several days of tennis players from centres all over the Island must have been of great value. Players for instance came here who had never been here before, and they wouiu all go back and tell their friends in other clubs of the excellence of the courts, the good organisation am’ management, while the attractions <. the town to the visitors would no doubt form, no inconsiderable part of their re ports. The Hawera club was very fortunate in having secured cordial support from many residents in the way of donations. Two of these were cups which would bo perpetual challenge trophies, for the boys’ and girls’ championships: This was a part of the tournament which actually needed most, encouragement, for from these young players would come the seniors and champions of the future.

The people of town and district, attended in fair numbers, but it was fairly certain that future tournaments would attract much larger attendances of the public when it was realised that the standard of play was so good.

The success achieved at the tournament just concluded 'presaged far greater results and a widening of the sphere of influence by similar tournaments in the future. The committee f the Hawera Club and all concerned were entitled to a. liberal mead of praise for their efforts in the welfare or the game of tennis in the district.

TARANA KJ TOURNAATENT. Excellent entries have been received for the tennis tourna'ment which will open at New Plymouth to-morrow. The total of entries is reported to be a record. Among the players who will be taking part are Griffiths, Bartleet, Brinsden, Robson (Auckland), E. B. AY. Smyth, J. B. Parker, Noel AVilson (Wellington), C. B. Webster (New Plymouth), Haege (Australia), Lainpe (Wanganui), Miss L. Pease (Hawera), Miss W. McPherson (Taumarunui). In the championships there are 48 entries in men’s singles, 46 in the doubles. 27 in ladies’ singles, 32 in the doubles, (>2 in cojhbined doubles, 10 in girls’ singles, 14 in boys’ singles, and there are large entries in the handicap events. Competition is certain to be verykeen, and much good play is confidently expected when the crack players meet.