CROQUET

New Zealand Times, Volume LII, Issue 12042, 21 January 1925, Page 11

CROQUET

DOMINION CHAMPIONSHIP TOURNEY

POLLOCK STARS COMPETITION

M‘KENZIE WRISTLETS

by

A. BAULK

The -cream of New Zealand's croquet players are noW assembled in the Cathedral'City, participating in the championship tourney. Prominent amongst them is Mrs Tiffen (Napier), who has just won the ladies’ championship in the. North Island tournament for the first time, having been runner-up on several occasions previously. Mrs Tiffen is a splendid break player, and runs the hoops with much confidence. v i Miss Hesketh, Auckland, is another noted player. She won the New Zealand ladies' championship in 1923, and the North Island ladies’ championship in 1922. Partnered with Mr 3. Murray, they won the New Zealand doubles championship for 1922-1923, and, also the North Island doubles championship , the 'same year. MrJEt. Caughley, the,1920-21 champion is not competing this year, owing to bnsinessengagements. . Mrs.C. Watkins (Hastings) has' entered in- all events, and •wil 11 defend her title to the New Zealand ladies' championship, which she won last year. With Mr H. P. Stratton they will defend the New Zealand- champion doubles. Other distinguished players competing include Mrs A. E. Johnson, who for three suocessive years (1920-21-22) held the -title of lady champion of New Zealand. In the doubles this year she is playing with.' Mr H. J. Williams.

Mts B.' A. Smith (Chrdstchurch) is playing with Mrs. Tiffen (Napier) in the champion. doubles, and they should prove a strong combination. _ Mrs Murray-Aynsley and Mr A. G.' Ross are the present holders of the Izard Memorial doubles,. and have entered , for the New Zealand champion doubles. Mrs Maddren, winner of the 1 United Club championship for <the past three years, is playing excellent oroduet this year, and coupled with. Mrs F. T. Chambers in tbe champion doubles- they should be amongst /the finalists. 1 ' Other players who have at various times distinguished themselves ; ih the croquet World, aftd are . Competitors. in this tournament, include Mrs Gascoigne (Dunedin), Mrs Adamson' (Featherston), Mrs McDowell (Kelburn), Mrs Manhire, (Dunedin): Miss Blake (Napier), Miss' Card and Mrs Vincent (Featherston), Mrs Passmore (Dunedin), Mrs Wilkinson (Ngaroma), and ’-Mrs • Beanland (Christchurch); Miss Gerard (Christchurch). WAIMARIE CLUB. A series of matches in this club have been started, and good entries have been received for the handicap singles and the Xankoe handicap doubles. ' The following members: are playing together :—Mesdames (Redmond and Cotton, Mesdames Kelly and Vagg, Mesdames Savage and Gibson, Mrs Dames and- Miss Macaskill, Mesdames: Cameron ; and Murphy, Mesdames Parker and Norris, Mesdames Strand and Lees, Mesdames Taylor and' Stainton, Mesdames Hughes and Gowing, Mesdames Wilton and Giesen, Mesdames Jones and Andrews, and Mesdames 3Elxton and' McDonald. In tbe handicap singles, Mrs Barken plays Mrs Strand, Mrs Redmond plays Mrs Cameron. Mre Dames plays Mrs Exton, Mrs Taylor plays Mrs Wilton, Mrs Jones’ plays life Hughes, and Mrs Savage plays Mrs Kelly. Mckenzie wristlets. - i Several, challenges have- been -received for the -above trophies. > The Hataitai Club, (Mesdames Brice .and Guhdersen) will ",piay the' first game against the holders, Mesdames Marris and Robertson, of KelbUrn Club. A dose and interesting game should result. ' POLLOCK STARS. Owing to unforeseen circumstances the match between Carterton and Kelburn was not Played last week, Carterton defaulting to Kelbtim. Island Bay . is the next cluji on the list of challengers, PLAI3NG WITH WRONG BALL. The rule in regard to playing With the wrong ball has heen altered slightly, and now reads: ■ "If the striker j>lay with a wrong ball (except at the start or the game) the 1 turn shall , cease; and the balls • shall be replaced as they, were tbefore the first, stroke in error was made, provided .that the error be announced before-the commencement of another . ordinary turn.". , ’ , Formerly the balls were replaced at. the option of; the adversary, but that has been abolished, and, the rule reads as in the-foregoing .'paragraph. , When the new rule book is issued each season. : club, .committees should call a special meeting, to discuss them, and any .slight- alteration that may: have been made should be 'brought to- their notice. At present it is an everyday occurrence; to hear players say: "Oh, I never rend the rule; hook:’’ ,If the rules’were discussed by the committee,-and any 'differ-, ence noted; -and a memorandum- written on - the /blackboard in the club’s (pavilion,, much, unnecessary inconvenience in some of the games would -be,avoided unusual situation, or point,- arises, THE CRUSH SHOT. A shot Upon which there is. a variety of opinion , is the oruph .shot, and where any doubts exists at all about the, relative positions of: the ball and the wire; add umpire should be called before any attempt is made to play. Some -playere have the idea that if . the ball is not

touching the -wire it is quite alright and the hoop can he attempted, but such is not the, case, a ball can be quite an inch or two off the wire and yet only a crush shot can force it -through the hoop.

THE WELLINGTON TOURNAMENT. This tournament wfll t tart on February sth, and entries close on January 81st.. The programme this year ha* been restricted to the events tor which trophies aro held, with the.addition of the handicap singles. This course has been deemed necessary owing to the. fact that it would manifestly be uhfqir to the Kelßfim Club to monopolise its lawns for two tournaments in Die One Season, the North Island one having just been concluded, so the Kelburn Club is giving the use of three of -their lawns (out of the five), Karori two, Wellington twu, and on these the provincial tournament will be held. VISITORS FROM ENGLAND.

Mrs Wheeler (England) and her son, Captain Wheeler, have hath joined the Kelburn Croquet Club during their so- > j ourn in Wellington. They intend visit* mg Rotorua during. the progress of the oroquet tournament there. CHAMPIONSHIP MEETING PLAT OPENED AT CHRISTCHURCH. Per Press Association. CHRISTCHURCH, January 20- . The _ eleventh New Zealand croquet championship opened at the United Club’s lawns to-day, with large entries from all parts of the Dominion. The president, Mr T. F. Chambers, stated that it was the meet distinguished gathering of experts ever; assembled in New Zealand. Results r+HANDICAP DOUBLES. . First Round. j Mrs Oambrill and W. J. Robertson (Palmerston North) defeated Mrs 43. E.* Wood and Mrs Summers (St. -Albans),-2G-7. '1 - ■Mrs McDowell (Kelburn) and Mrs F. Wilkinson (Ngaroma) defeated Miss E. Crawshaw and Mrs' Watkins (St. Albans),-26-ii. • ' Mrs C. Watkins and Heetor P. Stratton (Hastings) defeated Mrs J. Borthwick and Mrs Medina' (United), 26—20, Mrs B. A. Smith and Mrs J. P. Mad* dr.en (United) defeated Mrs G. W. C. Smithson and Mrs T. 1 H. Roskruge (United), 20—9. Mrs JG. A.. Johnson and H. J. Williams (Sumner) defeated Mrs Menhir© (Dunedin) and E. G. Rawnsley (United), 26—25. Miss M. Hesketh (Auckland) and H, A. Penn (United) defeated Mrs C. A. Legg and Mrs J. W. Beanlknd (Bdgeware), 26-17. ■ Mrs B. G. Rawnsley and S. McCullough (United) defeated Mrs WarJU. and Mrs Evltt (Auckland), 21—li. ' „ Second Round. Mrs J. P. Meddten and Mrs E. A. Smith (United) defeated Mrs B. A* Johnson andH. J. -Williams (Sumner), 26—21. ' ' WANUICAP SINGLES. 1 Section-A.—First Round. W. *T, Robertson; (Palmerston North)defeated 1 S. R. Holmes (United), 26-J6. Warin-(Auckland) defeated E. A. Johnson (Sumner), . . ■ Mrs J. B. Borthwick (United) defeated Miss Hesketh. (Auckland), 26—16. ' - ■. Mrs McClurg (United) defeated Mw Evitt (Auckland), 26—17. Second Round. , 1 j- H. J. Williams.: (Sumner) ..defeated Mrs B , Tiffin . {Auokla-nd), 26-10. . A. G. F.' Ross (United) defeated P.-W. Mil (United), 96-rll. . . Mis. Legg (Edgeware) defeated Miss Gerard) (United), 26—17. - > ; Mrs J, W, Beahland (Edgeware) , defeated Mrs: F, J* Good (Linwood), 28—13. Mrs G. Murray-Aynsley (United) dei feated- Mrs Campbell (Palmerston North), 26—23. Mrs E, G. Rawnsley (United) -defeated Mrs Ganard (Auckland), 26—5. * . 1 Miss . Blake (Napier) . defeated Mrs Barnes (United), 26—17. • . Mrs' Hern (Dunedin) defeated. Mrs C. Watkihs ’(Hastings), 26-20. Third Round. A. G. F. Rdss (United) defeated Mrs G. Murray-Aynjsley (United), 26—6 Section B.—Pim Round. MrejG. Copper (Edgeware) defeated-Mrs PaSstnore (phnedin), 26—21. i •Mrs Snell (Linwood) defeated Mrs I. Wilson (Sumner), 86—1 B. .) Mrs Lee - (Sumner) defeated Mrs Kilner (Linwood), :26—20. ' ' • Mrs Bonnington (United) defeated -Mrs Robertson (Palmerston North),'26—l3. Mrs 1 Gambrill. (Palmerston '-North), de- : feated. Miss Harris (Sumner), 28—6. ■ Second Round. Sirs Gascoigne (Dunedin) -defeated Mw Booth (Sumner), 26— 15. > Mrs Briokell (Dunedin) defeated Mrs Dalton (Edgeware), 26—7.