CROQUET

New Zealand Times, Volume LIII, Issue 12363, 5 February 1926, Page 11

CROQUET

TOURNAMENT JOTTINGS JJNTER-CLUB MATCHES (By “ROQUET.”) The Dominion tournament, held iu ft'ellington tor the first time, is now a thing of the past, and the results >r the championships, prove that amongst the men Mr A. Ross. of Christchurch, is the premier player of New Zealand, and Mrs C. Watkins, holds the ladies' championship. The former won the open championship, beating Miss liesketh (Auckland) in the final game. Ross piavtu good croquet in the first game, making an allround break wiih one ball, and a nineball break with the other, his opponent only making sis points before he pegged out. In the second game, the Auckland lady took the lead by making 9 points straight away, then Ross made a break of six. Miss Hesketh got in some good long shots, and won :he game with 18 points to spare. Each player now being one game in, it was necessary to play the third, which Ross won 26— 2. He gave his opponent no chances whatever, she having only long shots continually. Ross gathered the balls together for break play, and scored eleven points, and laid for the next turn, when he played perfect break croquet, each ball going to the required direction, with uncnnnr precision. After making a break of eleven points he peeled the bails through the rover hoop and pegged out. At the conclusion of the game, fcir Francis Wemyss congratulated Mr Ross upon the excellent croquet he had played, and stated that he could not have believed it possible that such good croquet could have been played upon such a tricky lawn, and with such a gusty wind "as was blowing “at the time. Ho also said that the standard of Mr Ross’s play would compare favourably with what he had seen in championships in England. Mrs C. Watkins i£ a member of the Hastings Oluh, and Ims in previous tournaments been associated with Mr H. P. Skat ton in the doubles events. She has proved her right to be regarded as the New Zealand lady champion by beating Mrs R. Leech in the semi-final, and Mis* He*kcth in the final of the championship event. Mrs Watkins has an excellent stance, plays with a graceful ease, which is much admired, and lets her mallet (which is a particularly heavy one). do all the Work. Partnered witn Mrs Pitcaithly, Mrs Watkins wa9 also successful in carrying off the champion doubles, beating A. Ross and Mrs Johnson (Christchurch) in the finals. In this game Ross opened play by making 8 hoops, then almost wired his opponents at the first hoop and iaid a drive for Mrs Johnson. Mrs Pitcaithly aimed for the target laid by the southern player and hit the halls, parted them, tried for the first hoop with her partner, but laid in tho centre. Ross hit in, and again nearlv wired the Hawke’s Bay players’ balls at the first hoop. Mrs Watkins was successful this time m getting the opponents’ balls, and made a break of four points, which with the previous break was the only one made during the game, scoring being only at the rate of one or two points at a time. Eventually all the players were for the penultimate, and some ccood long shooting ensued. Mrs Pitcaithly, being the first to make the rover hoop, when having parted the opponents she laid a jverfect drive for her partner. Blue missed them, but ran on towards black. Mrs Watkins made the last hoop, and deeming discretion the better part of valour, .separated her adversaries, and laid wired “ om t/hem. ready to peg out, which fehe did m the ne*fc turn. This was a most interesting game to watch, each team vteing with each other in tactics and wiring Mrs C Watkins met Mrs R. Leech ftne local champion) in tho semi-final . t 5. h rs k life of the ladies’ championship, and proved that not onlv is i e a good player, but is a good pport iho Noticing that the local player eras about "o make the wrong hoop, she.told her of the error, which in a Jemi-final might easily have cost her the event Needless to say her opponent recognised this sporting action, one which very few players would have don 3; as the balls would have been in favour of -he visiting plaver had a foul been committed. The score was in Mrs Watkins's favour by ten. vu j- was the winner of '-I* £ andlca P angles, in the finals of vhich event she was opposed to Mrs ditcaitbly her partner in the champion and handicap doubles. Tn the semi-final of the second life, u , Leech m .ot Mrs Smith (Christchurch) and it resulted in a most exciting game the players running neck and neck at times the scores being 12-all. 18-all and 24-all. The four balls being rovers Mrs Smith pegged out one ball leaving Mrs Leech’s halls widely parted, then laid to peg out the remaining ball, but Mrs Leech got in a long shot from one end of the ' preen, removed Mrs Smith’s ball from the vicinity of peg. .and la ; d a drive for the next turn (which Mrs Smith missed) and pegged out, winning by onlv one point, 26—25. Mrs R. Leech had a very strenuous time, as she played into four semifinals. and took part in over thirty games, onlv to miss some of the finals by a few points. Of the local ladies she played the most consistently of all, and her Jong shooting was much admired. Sir Frances and Ladv Wemyss (England) were successful in the handicap doubles beating Mesdnmes Stone and Magill (Wellington). Mrs Magill laid in the centre of the rover hoop, from which she was misjVtaced by a beautiful shot of Ladv wemyss, who made the rover hoop off tier opponent's ball and pegged out. The Wellington players never getting in attain to use their half bisque. I Additional interest, was lent to the tourney hv the inclusion, as competitors, of Sir Frances and Lady Wemyss. and Mrs Laurie (England), and their tactics, and style of play proved most educational. It was noticeable that Sir Frances Wemyss * invariably roquetled his ball to the boundary in almost every shot wherers locally, players indulge in roqnettes of a few feet or more, then take gff to the direction desired^

THE NORTH ISLAND TOURNAMENT This tournament which starts on February 16th, will, for the first time be held in New Plymouth, and a ‘ftumhor of local players, are making Oe trip, to compete in it.. Amongst them are Mesdames McDowell, Lowery, Wat-kin. Stone. h». McKenzie, Wilkinson. Gowinc. Weller (Masterton), Fnirhurn. Miss Lempfort, and Colonel Hume (Nelson.) A noticeable absentee is Mrs Yt. Leech, who is unable to participate in the tourney. This is much to ho regretted, as her tactics and methods in the game arc most instructive, and of much value to croquet enthusiasts. SOCIAL The Foathcrston Club. so well %nown in croquet circles, for its great

hospitality, entertained the Karori Chib on Tuesday, the Tipper Hutt Club yesterday, and the Ngaroma Club (Petone) is visiting Featherston next Wednesday. INTER-CLUB MATCHES B grade: Waimarie 52, Kelhnrn 52' (by default); St. Augustine’s 47 j Ngaroma 42; Island Bay 28,