LAWN TENNIS

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLVI, Issue 21, 23 December 1925, Page 6

LAWN TENNIS

THE GAME LOCALLY AND AFIELD. (Notes by “Cross-court.”) COMING EVENTS. Now Zealand championships, at Christ church —December 26, 28, 29, 30, 31. North Otago championships, at Oamaru December 25, 26, 28, 29. Marlborough championships, at Blenheim December 25, 26. 28, 29. Southland championships, at Invercargill December 25, 26, 28. Rotorua championships, at Rotorua —December 25, 26, 28. Auckland handicap tournament, at Auckland —December 26, 28. South Wairarapa championships, at Martinborough—December 26, 28, 29. South Canterbury championships, at Tinraru —January 1,2, 4. Canterbury open tournament, at Christchurch —January 1,2, 4. Paliiatua championships, at Pahiatua — January 1,2, 4. Taranaki championships, at New Plymouth—January 5 to 8. Palmerston North championships, at Palmorslon North —January 9, 11, 12, 13. Rotorua junior tournament, at Rotorua — January 14, 15. » Waipukuriui championships, at Waipukurau —January 14, 15, 16. (Itago open (oiiriiftinont, at Dunedin January 16, 10, 18, 19. Wairarapa championships, at Mastcrton — January 21, 22, 23, 20. Wellington elmmpiorislii|«i, at Wellington— January 21, 22, 23, 26. 11 ant lugs eliitui|ili/ii«bips, at Hastings.— January 226, 20. AueMaiel i liampionaliipa, at Auckland — January 2V to 30.

At Urn time of wilting tho weather in much mold in Keeping wilit I,bin period of tho year and Diere is oveiy prospect ol lensonably fair tennis conditions over the Yuletide. Tlmro will probably bo few inter-club llnlores, blit the niidstinunei' holidays me it)ways looked forward to as an ii Ins I period lor individual matches and ladder and club competition games. Regret will bo felt at the nonparticipation of E. D. Andrews in the New Zealand championships tiiis year lifter Ids splendid showing against Lumpo, of Wanganui, in a friendly match over tho week-end. Andrews would appear just now to be playing at the top of his form and would probably give the best in tho land a stern tussle for tho premiership of the Dominion. Bocal courts are now showing the effects of the remarkably long period of westerly winds which have parched tho surfaces and stunted growth to such a degree that it has become a matter of difficulty to keep serving bases in order. There was a lively meeting of tho Manawatr Club last week when the tennis members, who wero supported by a section of the bowlers, advanced a suggestion that one of the four croquet greens should be devoted to tlio purposes of the racquet enthusiasts. After a heated discussion on that proposal and an alternative ono that further ground, at present vacant, be converted into tennis courts, a committee was set up to go into ways and means of raising the necessary funds to carry out the latter suggestion. The movement to have this end of tho Wellington Lawn Tennis Association constituted a separate body has, the writer understands, been given a fresh impetus, and something more will be heard of it in the near future. E. B. AV. Smyth is back in AYeliington from the Otago University and was beaten by Guy when the Moana and University Clubs met recently. Ivan Seay beat D. France in a tlirec-set ladder match last week. Seay is the possessor of a great winning drive, says the Christchurch Star’s tennis writer. He volleyed well, but j was rather weak on the smash.

The Evening Post says: It will be very interesting to see how all the young players who have entered for the New Zealand championship singles shape this year. E. D. Andrews is an absentee, which is to *be regretted, especially in view of the fact that a New Zealand team will be visiting New South Wales early in the year. Further commenting on the New Zealand championship meeting “Huka,” a Wellington writer, mentions that Haege, the Victorian player, will be playing with Parker (Wellington), and they should make a good pair. Miss Travers, who won the New Zealand singles in 1910, and the doubles in 1910, 1911 and 1912, is playing with Miss Tracy, and they should give allcomers a very hot time. In a challenge mutch for first place on the Wellington ladder, Noel Wilson, tho young player who created such u favourable impression at the tournament at Palmerston North last January, ' beat Leu France I—6,1 —6, B—6, 7 5. Jn the tenth game of tlio second set France only wanted a point to win 6—4. ~.Wilson takes top place for the first time. Wilson partners J. G. Peacock in the Dominion event. Three-fourtlis of tho singles entrants in the Dominion event are South islanders. Tlio total entries (178) are two fewer than last year. Commenting on the entrants for the ladies’ singles in the blue riband event a Christchurch paper says:—The lady champion, Mrs Melody-, will be absent, and the chief contenders will be Missos Speirs, Macfarlane, Knight, Tracy and Lloyd, and Mrs Scott (nee McLaren;. The most interesting question is whether Miss Speirs can repeat her triumph of 1923, when the championships were last played in Christchurch. Although she does not seem to have undergone systematic practice and training, there is no knowing what she may do with her stroke equipment. Misses Partridge and Muirsou are not entered, hut Miss Wake’s form will bo watched with interest. She plays Miss Marion Macfarlane in the first round. Miss D. Nicholls, of Wellington, who has a fine easy style, will also be watched with interest. A London publication commenting on tho origin and development of lawn tennis says“ Those who have made any study of the early history of lawn tennis will know that in the ’seventies there was much discussion as to whether the game was new or rediscovered and revived. That it had forerunners which it resembled is undoubted, and a book of 1837 (Walker’s “Games and Sports”) lias an illustration of a pastime of the kind being played oil grass. But it was Major Walter Clopton Wingfield who brought his form of court into general notice in the summer of 1874 ; and gives him the honour of inventor of lawn tennis. He called his game Sphairistike, and he wrote a little hook on it which may. truly be called the first book on lawn tennis.” R. V. Hooper plays -at Martinborough on Boxing Day and at Pahiatua at the New Year. His partner at both tourneys will be J. G. Swainson, tlio former Wellington provincial representative. Hooper goes on to New Plymouth for the Taranaki championships, returning in time to compete in tho .Palmerston North events on Saturday, January 9.