LAWN TENNIS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22400, 22 April 1936, Page 21

LAWN TENNIS

&OUNTKY COMPETITIONS /RECORD WHANGAREI ENTRY HIGH STANDARD AT PUKEKOHE Once again the North Auckland Lawn 1 Tennis Association's annual championehip tournament was marred by wet and showery ' weather, writes the Hkkald's Whangarei correspondent. This unduly prolonged the tournament, causing, a number of scratchings, and the reducing of matches from three sets to much shorter games. In addition, it "was necessary to transfer players from the Whangarei Lawn Tennis Club's grass courts to the Bargain Stores, limited, asphalt courts, which were kindly lent to the association. The entries constituted a record for the 1 association, over £6O being paid # in entrance fees. // It was partly due to playing on unfamiliar asphalt courts that Miss Beryl Knight, one of Auckland's foremost lady players, 7 was defeated in the semifinal of the ladies' championship singles by Miss Pamela Cooke, the 17-year-old Eden and Epsom player. Miss Cooke won the giils' under IS years championship singles at the tournament, beating Miss W. Smith, aged 16 years, of Kaikoh-3. another .surprisingly good player. It must bo admitted, however, that Miss Cooke played a hard forcing game to beat Miss Knight, and the final, to be played in Auckland, between Miss Cooke and Mrs. H. Christensen, of Kaitaia, sliould provide an interestjug congest. The men's singles title went to Rodnev Smith, of Kaitaia, who had no / difficultv in disposing of 0. Litherland, of Parnell, .in the final, the latter player being the winner last year. Smith did not lose a set in the singles during'the whole tournament, and there"is no doubt that with practice agaihst first-class opponents he would develop into one of the best players in the Domiiiion. He took exactly half mi hour to beat Litherland, 6 —2, 6 —l, fieing in a' hurry to get back to Kai- ■ iaia, where he is employed in the Bank of New Zealand. He has since received notification of liis transfer to Whangarei, where he will no doubt get plenty of good tennis. I The veterans were present as usual in the tournament, notably the president of the association, Mr. 11. S. Finch, and Mr. L. T. Pickniere, vicepresident, of the Whangarei Lawn Tennis Club, both of whom have participated with success in matches during the past 25 years. Another player whose presence js always welcomed was V. R. Johns, of Auckland, who, with Miss Knight, won the championship combined doubles. It is practically certain that the association will, in future hold its annual championship tournament during the Christmas holidays, with possibly a ... smaller., hard-court tournament at Faster, owing to the uncertain weather usually experienced during the latter period. YOUNG PLAYERS PROMINENT SPORTING SPIRIT DISPLAYED The Pukekohe Lawn Tennis Association's annual Easter tournament was most successful. Apart from J. W. Gum, of Auckland, who won the . men's championship singles without being seriously menaced, several new players of the younger generation showed distinct promise. K. Clark, of Waiau Pa, who won the men's junior championship singles, is a natural volleyer and very quick on the court. Partnered with Willis, he also won both the championship and handicap doubles find shows great promise in this department. Among the ladies, Mrs. Wright, of 'Aka Aka, £vas the outstanding player, coming to the top in all the four events in which she entered. Younger competitors who showed promising form were the Misses Kidd, of Karaka, and Betty Potter, of Otaua. At the close of the tourney the president of the club, Mr. H. Curd, presented the cups and other prizes to the winners. He congratulated the competitors on the fine sporting spirit shown in all the matches and on the high standard of tennis played. He expressed the thanks of himself and the club to th"> officials for the very efficient way in which they had conducted the tournament. /