TENNIS.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 4 October 1926, Page 7

TENNIS.

THE GAME IN HAWERA

PROSPECTS-FOR THE SEASON,

The tennis season in Hawera will commence towards the end of this month. , The indications, as seen by the leading members, of the South Taranaki clubs, arc for a very good season’s play.

HAWEEA CLUB. Taking the Hawera Club first, the grounds are in the host possible condition. Following the annual meeting held earlier in the year, the ground committee, headed by Mr Rod Syme, has taken its work seriously and has given the attention to top-dressing and rolling necessary to give a splendid turf for the members to play on. The courts have never been in better condition. " „ ■ New members are coming forward freelv. All ■ the principal players of last season are still available. The club is still under the able presidency of Mr ,T. M. Collins. Mr M. R. Jones has entered upon his third year as secretary. He is the present leading player, being followed closely by the president. Of the young players who showed promise last year, D. Ryan and B. .McCarthy should prove serviceable in tournament and competition. Should J. Pease remain in Hawera he should, by virtue of having won the Taranaki junior championship, find a place among the leading players. ' > On the ladies' side, though no new players have so far come forward, the leaders of last year —Miss E. B. Nutting, Miss L. Pease, and Miss Wills—will still be available. •

There is every prospect of an increased number of matches with outside clubs, under the direction of the Taranaki Lawri Tennis Association. For the last two or three,-years the Hawera Club has not taken part in the association's match programme. This season, having been approached by the governing body,' the club may decide to take part in the provincial fixtures. The matter of holding a Yankee tournament at the opening of the season is notv under consideration. The ladder matches, and the club championships will be played as usual, arid at Christmas the Hawera Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club open tournament will be held, for which players from clubs throughout New Zealand■' are eligible. This will be the only tournament open at that time for players iu the southern part of the,NorthTsland.; KING EDWARD PARK CLUB. The King Edward Park Lawn Tennis Club is .looking- forward to a very successful tseason. ■ The.club’s six courts are in first-class order, and will be ready—given fine weather —for the opening day on October 211. During the winter ing has been carried out, where necessary. . The fences have been repaired, and some new netting erected. Mr H. H. Bramwell has taken over the captaincy of the club from Mr L. S. Billows, who is vice-captain this year. These gentlemen are tried servants, and may be relied upon to advance the club ’s interests. The duties of secretary and treasurer are filled by Messrs J. Kirkpatrick and D. Burgess respective-, ly. j The membership last year was very good,' and this year gives indications of an increase, some thirty already having been elected. The court accommodation is still adequate for the. membership. • There is room, judging from , last year’s experience, for development of match and tournament play. Attention to this phase of the club’s activities should claim, the committee’s attention. By this in'cans the, general standard of play would be materially improved. East year the Park Club did not participate' in the Taranaki Lawn Tennis Association’s club matches. This year the prospect of a strong team has induced the club to consider the advisability of once again entering the association’s contests.

The committee, following instructions from the general meeting, has proceeded with plans for the erection of a pavilion. The situation has not yet been definitely decided, pending the submission of the pavilion proposals to the polks and reserves Committee of the Hawora Borough Council. To raise further funds for the edifice, the ladies have arranged to hold a shop day later in the month.

Regarding the actual players available to represent the club, the best of last year’s members will still be playing. Messrs W. Budge, T. Kururangi, T. Franklin, H. Braruwell, and L. S. Billows arc amongst those, on the men’s side. Last year’s forces wdll 'be strengthened by the addition of several strong players. On the ladies’ side Mesdames ‘Budge, .Davy, Billows, and Goodwin will be available again; With young players coming on, and experienced ones who have joined this year, the ladies’ team may be more formidable than last year.