DAVIS CUP.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 31 March 1928, Page 12

DAVIS CUP.

Tne entry of New eZaland. into the preiiuiinaiy lor tne woruwaineu _uu\is up, inas.es one i cause tne cosinepoiitun ueveiopnient or me game, ana me way it nas spread mto countries wnich, Out a. few years since, lew, ii any ot tnose tailing part, one yiouiu nave epected to see piaying tne game at all and least of all entering into competition witu the most conservative nation of tne gloOe. Originally 'tne cup, presented over 20 years ago by Dwignt Davis, was for competition Detween the United otales ana the British Isles. Gradually other nations came on the scene, and it was a rude shock to the Unitea States and tiie British Isles to mid mat Australasia, in the persons ol jsorman Brookes and the late Anthony vViiding, were able to deieat them. Now the competing peoples take one from England and many countries of Europe to India and the Philliphines and iroin Australia and the States to Qiiin, Mexico, and to China and j apan. Though a New Zealander, the late Anthony Wilding, took part in a contest —and that a successful one—for the Cup, it w'as omy as part ol an Australasian team. Never before has a New Zealand team, a.s such, been entered to compete. In his ‘‘Life and Work” written by A. Wallis Myers, a lifelong friend; and felow-piayer, the author, writing in 1916, says. “Those International matches to which no personal prize was attached always appealed to him. They tended to promote fraternity among the athletic nations of the world. Not only to bind the units of the British Empire closer together, but through the medium of ,a common sport to strengthen the bonds of fellowship which linked" one civilised country to the other. America, France and Belgium were among its earliest ani remained its most faithful supporters. Russia had no team quite' strong enough to press a challenge, bet m the last year or two no less than eight countries were represented. . . . The contest inspired Anthony’s zeal and sympathy. Between them Wilding and the Davis Cup did much for lawn tennis, and through its medium something for sporting chivalry and all that it emphasises to the world at large.” It was in 1907, after three attempts, that Wilding and Brookes co-operat-ed in winning the cup and made the lamous combination that was to last for the rest of his young life. He defended the title with Brookes in I9Uo, and his next appearance was in 1914, his last tennis year, when he and Brookes set out for America, in search of the coveted trophy. They did not succeed, but they put up a. tremendous struggle against two of the greatest players the world has seen. The struggle was watched by 12000 people and amongst the spectators and play ers was til© German, Troitzheim. It was on the eve of the war and there was no resentment against the young Germans. The author says, “Anthony chatted Froitzhedin, as he left to catch the boat at New York, on the prospect of a bayonet tussle on the courts of TLombui-g. The grim ii’ony of that Country Club banter often occurs _to me now. Little did either imagine then that the one would be a prisoner of war in England for many months, the other blown to pieces by a German shell in France.” _ Wilding’s was a tragic, but a glorious death, and his loss was most deeply felt by his Regiment, so popular did he become as a soldier, just as lie had been as a sportman. NORTH ISLAND CHAMPION SHIPS The North Island and the South Island championships, which by the way were only started last year, have had a rough passage this year. Ihe Waikato Association was granted the North and the Otago Association the South Island championships, but both associations for ground reasons eventually decided that they could not run the fixtures. Canterbury then applied for and was granted the South Island events, and Auckland was likewise successful in being granted the North Island meeting. Last week the Auckland Association decided, that it could not run the meeting owing to alleged want of support .bv prominent playersThe Thames Valley Association, which ■ was- only formed quite recently, at I once applied for the North Island ■ Championships, and the Tournament Committee of the New Zealand Association granted the request. The officers of the Thames Valley Association are evidently very much alive Their application was only considered last week but on Monday, 19th March the entrv forms for the meeting were in circulation. This speaks well for this new association, and of. the- officers and committee keep their present action going the meeting should he a most successful one from all points ol view. At any rate the association-de-serves patronage for its prompt enterprise.