LAWN TENNIS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19373, 8 January 1925, Page 4

LAWN TENNIS.

Bt Smash. Otago may regard with pardonable pride tho showing the province has made at tho etw Zealand championship meeting. To send three representatives and share in three championships is no moan achievement, and cordial congratulations to Miss Jean M'Laren (who, with Andrews, of Palmerston North, won the combined doubles championship, and with Mrs Melody the ladies’ doubles championship) and E. li. W. Smyth (winner with Fotheringham of the men’s doubles championship) are the order of the day. Add to this the fact that both Miss M'Laren and Miss Ballantyne reached the semi-final of the ladies’ singles championship, and regard the circumstance that in Auckland torritox-y Otago’s small group scored three banner points to Auckland's two, and you have an effective reply to tho pessimist who asks. “Can any good thing come out of Otago?” Down hero we find some little satisfaction also in the fact that Mrs Melody, the singles champion, made her start in tennis with tho Roslyn Club in Dunedin. As Miss Anderson she first came under notice, while still in her teens, for the fine support she gave hor olubmato, Young, at one of Otago’s Easter tournaments a good few years ago. Miss Ballantyne, although she did not secure honours, put up a distinctly meritorious performance in tho singles championship. She defeated tho holder, Miss Spiers, in straight sets (6 —4, 7 —5), and gave the new champion an anxious time in the semifinal, the sots running to 6—4, 7—6. Smyth showed excellent' form at tho tournament. In the doubles ho and Kotheringham lost only one sot. although they faced such formidable pairs as Peacock and Sims, Franco brothers, and Ollivier and Seay, 'the last named,_ who contested the final, were the only pair to get a set, winning the first 6—4. In the singles he beat Robson ,n straight sets and ran Sims to five sets. Next to 11, A. Parker. G, Ollivier has been champion of Now Zealand on mor© occasions than any player. Parker was champion on six occasions. Ollivier now holds the distinction for the fifth time. The late A. F. Wilding was thrice champion of Ntow Zealand. It is evident that Ollivier can still reproduce a high standard of play, and that at tho top of his form ho is superior to anyone in Now Zealand. The following table shows tho winner ofthe Ladies’ Championship Singles to date: 3?2-~ Miss Huice. IMS.—Miss K. M. Nnn--1887. —Mi„s E. Hannan. neley. I? ‘ Gordon. 1004.—Miss K. It. Non1889.—Mies E. Gordon. nolcy. J - Rces ‘ 1905.—Miss K. M. Him1881.—Miss N. Douslln. nnley. WO2-—Miss J. Rees. 1908.—Miss K. M. Nnn18j3.—Miss M. F- Spalm, neley. 1884.—Miss K. Hitch- 1007,—Miss K. M. Nnnmgs. neley. 1805.—Miss K. M. Nun- 1008.—Miss Lucy Paw-n-day- ilre.ll. 1808.—Miss K. M. Nnn- 1800.—Miss Lucy Fewneley. rlrrll. 1807. Miss K. M. Nnn- 1810.—Miss Eva Travers neley. 1911.—Miss P. A. 1808. Miss K, M. Nun- Stewart. njky- 1012.—Mias A. Gray. 18U9. Miss K. M, Nnn- 101.1,—Miss A. Gray, neley. 1014.—Mias A. Gray. 1900. Miss K. M. Nnn- IftM.—Mrs L. C. Horlces neley. 1020.—Miss N. Curtis 1901. —Miss K. M. Nun- 1021.—Mias N. Curtis, neley. 1922.—Mi w Lance. 1902. Miss K. M. Kim- 1020.—Miss M. Spiers, neley. 1024.—Mrs Melody. The following are tho winners of the Men’s Championship Doubles to date: 1888. —P. C. and M. Fcnwickc. 1887. —R. T). Harman ami F. Wilding. 1888. —R. H. Hannan and F. Wilding. 1880. M. Fenwicko and J. F. Jardinc. ]Boo.—Ti. T). Harman and F. Wilding. 1801.—M. Fenwicko and A. F. began. 1892. —lt. Jl. Harman and F. Wilding. 1893. —J. M. Marshall and P. Marshall. 1804. —R. J). Harman and F. Wilding. 1805. —R. r>. Harman and 1). Collins. 1806—H. A. Parker and C. Gore. 1897.—H. A. Parker and C. Gore. 1808.—C. 0. Cox and J. N. Collins. 1800.—0. C. Cox and J. N. OolKna. 1900. —H. A. Parker and J. O. Peacock. 1901. —J. C. Peacock and F. At. B. Fisher. 1902. J. 0. Peacock end P. M. B. Fisher. 1900.—H. A. Parker and P. Lafshley. 190-I.—H. A. Porker and R. W. Lycett. 1005.—H. A. Parker and R. N. K. Swanston. 1906. —H. A. Parker and C. C. Cox. 1908.—H. A. Parker and 0. 0. Cox. 1907. —O. J. Dickie and A. J. Wallace, 1008. —H. A. Parker and Plan Foust. 1009. —F. M. B. Fisher and J. C. Peacock. 1910.—P. M. B. Fisher and J. C. Peacock. 1911—N. B. Brookes and A. W. Dunlop. 1912. —O. Ollivier and W. Goss. 1913. A. J. Wallace and C. J. Dickie. 1914. 0. Ollivier and F. S. Wilding. 1919. G-. OBivier and P. S. Wilding. 1920. W. T. Tilden and W. M. Johnston. 1021.—W. Goss and P. G. Greenwood. 1922. —J. T. Tanrenson and G. Ollivier. 1923. —E. L. Enrtleet and H. L. Rohson. 1924—W. A. Fotheringham and E. B. W. Smyth. ■ The following are tho winners of tho Ladies’ Championship Doubles to date: 1888.—Mrs Way and Miss Lance. 1887. Misses E. Harman and E. Gordon. 1888. —Mieses Hitohings and E. Gordon. 1889. —Misses Hitohings and B Gordon 1890. —Misses Hitohings and E. Gordon. 1891. —Mieses E. Harman and Roes. 1892. —No contest. 1893. —Mrs Chapman and Miss Nicholson. 1894. Misses C. Lean and E. Black. 1895. —Misses Nimnelev and Trimneli. 1896. —Misses Nmmeley and Trimneli 1897. —Misses Nunneley and Kennedy. 1898. Misses Nunneley and 0. Lean. 1899. —Hisses Nmmeley and Harman. 1900. —Misses Nnnnelcy and C. Fean. 1901. —Misses Nnnneley ami Van Asch. 1902. —Misses Nunneley and Gorrie. 1903. —Misses E. F. and M. A. Gorrie. 1904. —Misses Nicholson and Jamieson. 1905. —Misses L. Powdrell and A. Campbell. 1908. —Misses Nnnneley and K. Baker. 1907. —Misses Nunneley and K. Baker 1908. —Misses L. Powdrell and A. Gray. 1909. —Misses 1,. Powdrell and A. Gray. 1910. —Misses K. Travers and It. WeUwood. 1911. —Misses A. Gray and E. Travers. 1912. —Misses A. Gray and E. Travers. 1913. —Misses A. Gray and E. M. Baird. 1914. —Misses A. Gray and E. M. Baird. 1919. —Mrs Hodges anil Miss M. MscFarlane. 1920. —Mrs Hodges and Miss M. M-acFarlane. 1921. —Mrs W. J. Melody and Mias Curtis--1922-—Misses Lance and Lloyd. 1923. —Mrs W. J. Melody and Miss J. M'Laren, 1924. —Mrs W. J. Melody and Miss J. M'Laren. The following are tho winners of tho Mixed Championship Doubles to date: 1886. Miss Hitohings and Hudson. 1887. —No contest. 1888. Miss Gordon and Wilding. 1889 to 1898. —No contest. 1899. —Miss Nunneley and Fisher. 1900. —Miss Nunneley and Fisher. 1901. —Miss Nunneley and Fisher. 1902. —Miss Nnnneley and Parker. 1903. —Miss Nunneley and Parker. 1904. —Miss Nnnneley and Parker. 1905. —Miss Nunneley and Parker. 1908.—Miss L. Powdrell and A. P. Wilding, 1907. —Miss L. powdrell and H. A. Parker. 1908. —Miss Nnnneley and A. F. Wilding. 1909. Miss Nunneley and- A. F. Wilding. 1910. —Miss It, Wellwood, and H. A. Parker. 1911. —Miss E. Travers and Fisher. 1912'.—Miss N. Hartgili and G. Ollivier. 1913. —Miss M. Steele and G. Ollivier.' 1914. —Miss E. M. Baird and W. Goss. 1919. —Miss M. MaeFarlano and E. W. Griffiths. 1920. —Miss Ourtis and Dr P. E. Allison. 1921. —Miss Curtis and G. Ollivier. 1922. —Miss Lance and A. W. Sims, 1923. —Mrs Scott Watson and E. L. Bartleet. 1924. —Miss J. M’Laren and E. D. Andrews. Several Otago players competed In a South Canterbury tourney, but had to be content with bringing home one championship, Guy and Fulton winning the Aten’s Doubles with ease except in their match against Patterson and Browning. In this the Otago men lost the first set (the only one they lost) throughout the doubles contest to Patterson and Browning, 7 —9, annexing the other two, 6—2, 7 —5. Pour games was the highest number scored against them in any other set, and that occurred but once. In the final against Dennehy and Oxford (an ex-Kaituna player of some prowess) they got home, 6—3, 6—2, 6—o. In the Singles Championship Gny had the misfortune to meet the ultimate champion. Captain Walker, in the first round, and after a strenous tussle lost 6—2, 4—6, B—-10. Walker is a former holder of the Hawke’s Bay Championship, who has recently taken up residence in Christchurch. The tournament at Timarn brought to light tho talented lad, D. C. Johnston, holder of the South Canterbury School singles championship. He has only recently left school. In the second round of the open singles he defeated Browning in straight sets, and then accounted for Cawley with the loss of four games. In the fourth round he put out Fairbrother, and further proved his consistency by defeating N. Cramond, 6—3, O—J,0 —J, in the semi-finals. In the final he met Captain Walker, of Christchurch, to whom ho lowei’ed his colours after a five-set struggle, lasting for over two and a-half hours. He was the surprise of the tournament, especially as he could not find a place in the South Canterbux*y team for Dunedin. He has a great sweeping drive, which he uses all the lime without much variety, and the fact that he beat Browning, of Christchurch, in the first round gave him a great deal of confidence. Tho North Otago ton-moment, as usual, attracted a fair contingent of Dunedin players. In the championship singles G. Sumpter beat J. Fulton after a strenuous tussle, 4—6, B—6, 6—2, but went down to Boddy, 6—4, 6—2, who in turn had to accept defeat at the bauds of W. Shorriff,