OTAGO LAWN TENNIS ASSOCIATION.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19277, 15 September 1924, Page 3

OTAGO LAWN TENNIS ASSOCIATION.

The annual meeting of t the Otago Lawn Tennis Association was hold in the secretary’s board room, Empire Buildings, on Friday night, the president (Mr 11. S. .tnack) occupying the chair. There was a large attendance of delegates, 'the annual report stated, inter alia, that tho committee was gratified with the increasing interest in the game of lawn tennis, Throughout, the season the players had been favoured with ideal weather. The need of courts had been the cause of keeping numbers of players out ot the game, but it was pleasing to know that several new contests would be available during tho coming year. r J he various club competitions had been closely c °fi" tested, and the committee congratulated the following clubs on winning the banners for the past season—viz.; A Grade, Moaiia ; B Grade, Balmaccwen; C Grade, Cosy Doll. One of tho most important events of tho past year was the visit of the South Wales team. Unfortunately, this visit was made during tho holiday season, when a largo number of tennis players were out of town. Tho matches which were played on the Moana courts attracted a lar«o attendance, and resulted in a win for the visitors. Mr G. Clark was to be congratulated on securing a win against W. E. Pike while S. G. M'Dougall and (jr. I. Black beat Reid and Poulton (boro South Wales) in the doubles. _ It was again pleasing to report tho increasing interest in tennis amongst the schools, arid In this connection great credit was due to Mr B. B. Couston. as it was chiefiv owin" to his indefatigable efforts and enthusiasm that the game had become so popular among young players. Ino annual schools’ tournament attracted a record entry and some excellent tennis was s.iown The Easter tournament attracted a large entry, and it was again necessary to utilise outside courts to enable it to be concluded in the time at the comnnteo’s disposal. Great credit was due to (nose who were responsible for managing the tournament. The following were the winners of the various events: Mens Championship Singles. Mr W. Bray : Men s Championship Doubles, Messrs Duthio and Guy Radies’ Championship Singles, Miss M'Laren; Mixed Championship Doubles, Mr S. N. Brown and Miss M‘Laren: Men s Handicap Doubles, Messrs A. M Donald and Fraser-, Ladies’ Handicap Singles Miss Finch; Mixed Handicap Doubles, Mr Sumpter and Miss MT.aren; Ladies Handicap Doubles, Misses Hart and fodd ; Mens Handicap Singles. Mr D. M‘Donald. Ihe annua! representative match between Otago and Canterbury was played at Christchurch last February, and resulted in a win for Canterbury. A match was also played against South Canterbury, when victory rested wdth tho Otago players. Ihe annual representative match against Southland was played in Dunedin, resulting a win for Otago. A team of Dunedin lawn tennis players toured the Goldfields during the season, and played several matches. This tour proved most enjoyable, and the visit of town players to the country districts was much appreciated by the country players. It was hoped that durihg the coming season similar tours would be arranged, as they wore of groat benefit to the country players. A Yankee tournament also provided some excellent tennis. The winners were Mr O. E. Cooke and Miss Hey wood, who had tho honour of being the first to hold the cup kihdly presented to the association by Mr A. M’Millan for this annua! tournament. The committee inaugurated ra.nking lists for men’s singles, men’s doubles, and ladies’ singles, which created keen competition for positions on the ladders set up. Tho balance sheet showed that the debenture account had been reduced by £IOO during the past year. The question of more up-to-date courts had, however, to be faced in tho near future, while the upkeep of uie present courts meant a Heavy expense each year. The committee suggested to tho incoming committee that in place of A Grade matches it might bo advisable to hold more Yankee tournaments ’ during the season. In moving the adoption of the report the chairman referred to the need of more extensive courts, and said that the association’s tournament had been a financial failure, simply because it had not been possible to concentrate play on one set of courts. If the association possessed more courts tho players and spectators would not be scattered about as was the case at present. The Exhibition Company desired to have lawn tennis courts on the Exhibition Grounds, but it was a moot point whether the association could get suitable ground. He could not pass over the report without referring to the association’s indebtedness to Mr B. B. Couston for his enthusiastic interest in junior tennis. —(Hear, hoar.) Junior tennis was catered for in Otago better than was the case anywhere in New' Zealand, and perhaps Australia. Mr Black expressed the hope that Mr Couston would long be able to continue his good work among the young players. The association' was proud of the fact that Miss M‘baron had been runner-up In the Ladies’ Championship of New Zealand, which showed that tennis in Otago was not quite so poor as some people believed. The suggested visit of French and English teams would do much to stimulate tho game in Otago. In conclusion Mr Black urged all the clubs to increase interest in the game, and to assist the association in every way possible. Mr H. W. Hunter seconded the motion, and the report was adopted without d>jcussion. The election of officers resulted as follows: —President, Mr K. R. Black; vicepresidents—Messrs S. Angell, J. 11. Meek, C. J. Bayne, and Dr ,T. Fitzgerald; committee —Messrs J. M'Dougall, S. N. Brown, R. Sheriff, G. Clark, E. D. Duthie, A. E. M‘Adam, A. M'Millan, G. T. Black, and G. Carter; vice-president of the New Zealand Lawn Tennis Association, Mr R. S. Black; delegates to the New Zealand Lawn Tennis Association-—Messrs U. Park, H. Graves, T. Gray, E. B. W. Smyth, and B. B. Couston; secretary, Mr E. S. Wilson; auditor, Mr W. Bray. It was decided that the season be declared open as from September 0, and that the first official matches take the form of a combined Yankee tournament to be hold on Saturday, October 4. The secretary was instructed to write to the clubs requesting them to supply before September 20 the names and addresses of all members (graded in order of merit as far as possible), denoting those who wished to take part in matches, and stating th« number of teams and grades they intended entering in.