NEW TENNIS CHAMPIONS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20761, 2 January 1931, Page 12

NEW TENNIS CHAMPIONS.

DOMINION TITLE-HOLDERS. • I SUCCESS OF STEDMAN. MRS. DYKES WINS AGAIN. DEFEAT OF MISS MACFARLANE. [n Y TELEGRAPH.—PRESS ASSOCIATION.] CHRISTCHURCH. Thu-mlny. The New Zealand lawn tennis championships were concluded at Wilding 1 aik yesterday in glorious weather, before the biggest attendance of tho tournament. The principal attraction was the final of llio men's championship singles between A. C. Stedman (Auckland) and H. A. Barnett (Canterbury). Stedman began nervously, but quickly rallied and after being down J-5 in tho first set went ahead to win the title without much difficulty, 7-5, 6-1, 6-3. His fierce forehand drive into tho corners gave Barnett lit tlo chance, although he played gamely to the bitter end, and often retrieved marvellously. Stedman, who :s 22 years of age, and 6ft, in height, is also the holder of the Auckland doubles championship with N. G. Sturt, and is holder of tho New Zealand University singles title.

Mrs. H. M. Dykes, now of Auckland, who won the ladies' singles title as Miss May Spiers in 1923, 1925 and 1927, was again triumphant to-day, defeating Miss Marjorie Macfarlane, 6—l, 9—7, in the final. Mrs. Dykes is still the only woman player in Now Zealand who can mix her game like a man champion. Tho men's doubles title went to I. A. Seay and C. Angas (Canterbury), who defeated tho France brothers in three sets in a match of sustained brilliance. This is the first time that Seay lias ever held a New Zealand title. Keen contests characterised tho mixed doubles championship throughout, and Miss May Andrew and Seay (Canterbury) were frequently extended before they won tho final after a three-set match with Mrs. Thomson and Noel Wilson. Miss Andrew was tho holder of tho ladies' doubles title last year with Miss Wake, and is tho present Canterbury singles champion. The girls' singles championship was won by Noeleon Bishop (Christehurch), and tho junior mixed doubles championship was won bv Miss M. Ilowe and N. Davys (Wellington). In the opinion of good judges the standard of junior tenuis has never been higher in New Zealand. It was fine to see tho young players going for their shots with confidence and skill. The Anthony Wilding Memorial Cup for the association scoring the greatest number of points at tho tournament was won by Auckland, with Canterbury second. The standard of play in the senior events was not up to that of former years, mainly due to tho absence of several leading men players, but promising and improving competitors were present in abundance, and gaps due to retirement should be filled in a year or two. At the same time it should be emphasised that Stedman is already a worthy successor to Bartleet, Ollivier and Andrews. A feature of the tournament was that every title changed hands. Besults yesterday were:— MEN'S SINGLES. Final. Stedman (Auckland) beat Barnett (Canterbury), 7—5, 6—l, 6—3. LADIES' SINGLES. Final.—Mrs. H. M. Dvkea (Auckland) defeated Miss Marjorie Macfarlane (Auckland), 6—l, 9—7. MEN'S DOUBLES. Final.—T. E. Seay and C. Angas (Canterbury) defeated D. G. and A. L. France (Wellington), 6—3, 6—3, 6—3. MIXED DOUBLES. Semi-final. —Miss Andrew and Seay defeated Mrs. Adams and D. G. France, 7—5, 4—6, 6—4: Mrs. Thomson and Wilson defeated Miss Wake and Stedman, 6—2, 3—6, 11—9. Final. —Miss Andrew and Seay (Canter, bury) beat Mrs. Thomson and Wilson (Wellington), 7—5, 3—6, 7 —5. GIRLS' SINGLES. Final.—Miss N. Bishop (Christehurch) beat Miss C. Reese (Christehurch), 6—2, 6-5. JUNIOR MIXED DOUBLES. Final.—Miss M. Howe and N. Davys (Wellington) beat Miss T. Poole and E. Kean (Christehurch), 6—l, 6—5.