CROQUET

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22716, 31 October 1935, Page 5

CROQUET

By Clips.

[Club secretaries and captains are invited to send in items of interest for insertion in this column. Inquiries relating to rules will be answered as far as possible. AH correspondence must reach this office not later than Tuesday of each week.] COMING TOURNAMENTS November 12.—Wairarapa Championships (Masterton). November 26.—Hawke's Bay Championships (Hastings). • . December 26. —Canterbury Championships (Christchurch). January 7.—South Island Championships (Timaru). . January B.—North Island Championships . (Hastings). January 22.—New Zealand Championships (Palmerston North). February 3.—South Auckland Tournament (Rotorua). February 4. —Southland Association Tournament (Invereargill). February 4.-—Wellington Tournament (Wellington). February 11—Manawatu Tournament (Palmerston North). February 18— Otago Championships. February 20.—Wanganui Championships. February 24. —West Coast Championships (Greymouth). February 25.—Southern Hawkes Bay Championships (Dannevirke). February 27.—South Canterbury Tournament (Timaru). March' 4.—New Zealand Gold and Silver Mallets (Christchurch). March 10. —Taranaki Championships (New Plymouth). March 19.—New Zealand Gold and Silver Medals (New Plymouth). OPENING AT BALMACEWEN The last of the town clubs to open was Balmacewen, the function being held in conjunction with the bowling section of that club on Saturday last, when, though the weather was fine in the afternoon, the lawns were too soft for play. Mr Wilson, in the absence of the club president, Mr M'Carthur, said that the Bowling Club was pleased to have a croquet section under its wing. Both sections worked happily together for the good of the club. He was also pleased to welcome the president of the Croquet Association, Mrs Dalgleish, with other visitors from sister clubs. Mrs Dalgleish was presented with a bouquet of beautiful tulips by Mrs Moss, croquet secretary. Mrs Dalgleish thanked the members for the kindly thoughts conveyed by the bouquet, and said she was pleased indeed to be present at the opening of this, the pioneer club of Dunedin. The lawns were not fullsized, but, as the membership was well maintained, and members seemed keen, she urged them to enter for ■ interclub matches. With the number in a team reduced to four, small clubs such as Balmacewen, could now put in a team without undue strain on its members. In conclusion, she wished the club a happy and successful season. Mr Wilson then ran the fir6t hoop and declared the lawns open for the season. Afternoon tea was served in the pavilion, after which a happy hour was spent in community "Singing and musical items. •'GOOD SEED" The suggestion made at Balmacewen opening by Mrs Dalgliesh, president of the Otago Croquet Association, was evidently met with a ready response, as almost immediately members commenced discussing the pros and cons of the matter, with the result" that • they have decided -to enter a team for interclub matches this season. Balmacewen played,' I think, in the first year of interclubs in Dunedin, but dropped out some three seasons ago. It'is, therefore, gratifying to see the club again coming, into its own, and " Clips " wishes the players success in their matches. REMINDERS Club secretaries are reminded that entries for interclub matches will be closed to-morrow with the secretary, Mrs J. M'Donald, Victoria road, St. Clair. Logan Park's gala day is on November 7 at 2.30 p.m. ■■"- Interclub matches will be commenced 1 on November 12. Play will start at 1 10 a.m. sharp. '~' Clubs meeting Taieri are" advised ,to get in touch with thai club's secretary '(Mrs Walls), as owing to'the train time table arrangements will have ,to be made. As stated in this column last season (iii reply to an inquiry.) the match regulations do not permit postponements, except in eases of wet weather. These ; rules were not strictly adhered to last year, but at one of the special meetings" of delegates this year the association pre-' hident stated that the'rules would be adhered to for the incoming season. This seenis only reasonable, as the drawing up of the schedule of matches is no small job for the Match Committee, and why set out a plan of. matches if it is to be upset, i because a club has not its full or chosen team? Postponements for such a cause usually lead to dissatisfaction for the reason that, though clubs may "mutually" agree to postpone a match to another date, when it comes to that date perhaps the team which was ready and prepared to play on the set day, finds itself unable to field its full team,meaning ■ putting in a weaker player or further postponement. . INTERCLUB MATCHES The .question -of starting the interclub matches earlier-than the second week in November has been mentioned . casually from time to time,' and it is a question that might be considered seriously for future seasons. In Dunedin clubs, perhaps, do not get a start quite as early as in" the North Island, but most of them are 1 opened by the third week in October. Then, of course we all say we want a bit of practice, but is this necessary? Would it not be as well to get right into the matches, say, at least by the first week in November? Wellington interclubs started on Tuesday of this week, in spite of the fact that none of the .clubs opened lief ore the first week in October—and tome as -lnt'fl as Friday last. : LEITH CLUB TOURNEY As the lawns were heavy, from weekend rain, the mixed tourney arranged by tiie Leith CUub was not commenced until mid-day. The weather was then ideal, and play was kept going until 5.30, when Mrs R. Watson and Miss L. Clayton emerged as winners. The Match Committee, Mesdames Simpson, Watson and Mitchell, had arranged play so that juniors cot as much play as seniors—i.e., each ball being played in turn, not as it lay to advantage, causing a great deal of inn. Matches were run to time, and the tou'rney was a thoroughly, successful anil enjoyable one PLAYERS' EQUIPMENT A. croquet player is fortunate that all the equipment she needs is a mallet and lawn' shoes. Many players still play in shoes with low heels. Even so, a low. heel on a soft lawn can cause quite a hole, and if all players wear heels a lawu can soon become badly marked. In " Hints Worth Remembering," by Cyril J. Miller, of Victoria, one of the world's leading players, the first is "See that your shoes are fiat soled." Throughout England and Australia (except in out-of-the-way districts) flat-soled shoes are insisted on, and. after all, like the yard line, it is only a matter of custom. YARD LINE MARKING "In Order," asks if there is any definite rule that lawng are his season to be marked with one line only, and is (here a universal ruling? So far as '•' Clips " is aware there is no definite rule, cither here or anywhere else. In the Croquet Annual, both in England and New Zealand, the two lines are shown in the plan, and it is stated underneath that only the outer one need be marked. Practice in England.and Australia has evidently proved that the one line marking is the better method, and a trial is being given to this method in most New Zealand towns. The local executive ha s decided to try out the " one line " on the association courts, and if it does not prove a success in the first month or two, the inner line can easily bo put in. However, "Clips' a"rees'wiih " In Order " that there should be one method or the other tried "out on all lawns, as two markings in the one town is not satisfactory when players go from home to play. For those clubs who have' adopted the one line there is sometimes a little confusion about the corner." In the north a yard square is measured and a dab of white put exactly on the corner, this eaves argument.