CROQUET TOURNAMENT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25428, 8 January 1944, Page 8

CROQUET TOURNAMENT

SOUTH ISLAND CHAMPIONSHIP The South Island croquet tournament, in which 46 competitors are participating, was continued yesterday on the Watea and Leith lawns, which were in excellent order after a shower of rain. The most interesting match at Watea was that between Miss Bell (Christchurch) and Mrs Buchler (Punga), in the Open Championship. Miss Bell was the winner, the score being 26—23, 21—26, 26—15. The first game was very even, and in the second Miss Bell peeled the first hoop and went on to make a break of 10. After a good deal of in-and-out play, Mrs Buchler ran out the winner by 26—21. Miss

The most interesting match at Watea was that between Miss Bell (Christchurch) and Mrs Buchler (Punga), in the Open Championship. Miss Bell was the winner, the score being 26—23, 21—26, 26—15. The first game was very even, and in the second Miss Bell peeled the first hoop and went on to make a break of 10. After a good deal of in-and-out play, Mrs Buchler ran out the winner by 26—21. Miss Bell had the better of the play in the third game. •

Perhaps the most spectacular match during the day was that in the Handicap Doubles in which Mrs Knox (Watea) and Mrs McCracken (West Coast) beat Mrs Treadgold (Taieri) and Colonel Beamish (Christchurch) by 26 Eoints to 20. Colonel Beamish made a reak of nine, a performance which was later repeated by Mrs Knox, and the pair eventually ran out the winners after an excellent game.

Fifty matches have been played in the two days of the tournament. The results of yesterday’s matches were as follows:—

Women’s Championship Singles

Mrs Palmer (Christchurch) 26 beat Mrs Grant (Christchurch) 16; Mrs Buchler (Punga) 26 beat Mrs O'Neill (Gore) 22: Mrs Holmes (Southland) 26 beat Mrs Kellaway (Christchurch) 10; Mrs .McCracken (West Coast) 23 beat Mrs Moodie (Punga) 15; Mrs Grant (Christchurch) 26 beat Mrs Newall (St. Clair) nil; Mrs Burgess (Gore) 26 beat Mrs Whitfield (Christchurch) 23; Mrs Lattimer (Balclutha) 26 beat Mrs Forrester (Leith) 24.

South Island Open Championship

Mrs Holmes (Southland) beat Mrs Pepper (Christchurch), 5—26, 26—26, 26—13; Miss Bell (Christchurch) beat Mrs Buchler (Punga), 28—23, 21—26, 26—15.

Handicap Doubles

First Round (continued). —Mesdames Knox (Watea) and McCracken (West Coast) 26 beat Mrs Treadgold (Taieri) and Colonel Beamish (Christchurch) 20; Mesdames Forrester and Knewstubb- (Leith)- 26 beat Mrs Moodio (Punga) and Miss Bremner (Temuka) 17; Mrs Whitfield and Miss Bell (Christchurch) 26 beat' Mesdames Chapman (Watea) and Palmer (Christchurch) 20; Mr and Mrs Metcaif (Logan Park) 26 beat Mesdames Kellaway and Bonar (Christchurch) 24. Second Round.-r Mesdames Grant and Middleton (Christchurch) 26 beat Mesdames Anderson and Robertson (Watea) 2; Mesdames McDonald and Neill (Punga) 26 beat Mesdames Rhodes (Leith) and Newall (St. Clair) 17.

Third Round.—Mesdames Brown and Chambers (Christchurch) 26 beat Mesdames Pepper and Stockdale (Christchurch) 20.

Handicap Singles

Miss E. Bremner (Temuka) 26 beat Mrs Wilson (Watea) 22; Mrs Neill (Punga) 26 beat Mrs Burgess (Gore) 7; Colonel Beamish (Christchurch) beat Mrs Lattimer (Gore); Mrs Millin (Punga) 26 beat Mrs Middleton (Christchurch) 12; Mrs Neill (Punga) 26 beat Miss Bremner (Temuka) 25; Mrs Brown (Christchurch) 26 beat Mrs Edwards (St. Clair) 20; Mrs Stockdale (Christchurch) 26 beat Mrs Munro (Leith) 10; Colonel Beamish (Christchurch) 26 beat Mrs Stockdale (Christchurch) 18.

Level Singles

Mrs Munro (Leith) 26 beat Mrs Neill (Punga) 23; Mr Metcalf (Logan Park) 26 beat Miss Hercus (Punga) 22; Mrs Newall (St. Clair) 26 beat Mrs Bonar (Christchurch) 12. Draw for To-day

Watea.—9 a.m.: Mesdames Lattimer and Henry v. Mesdames McCracken and Knox! Mesdames Anderson and Robertson v. Mesdames O’Neill and Pettigrew: Miss Bell and Mrs Whitfield v. Mesdames Forrester and Knewstubb Mrs Metcalf v: Mrs Holmes. 11 a.m.: Mrs McDonald v. Mr Metcalf; Mrs Chapman v. Mrs Stockdale.

Leith.—9 a.m.: Mrs Palmer and Colonel Beamish v. Mesdames Rhodes and Newall; Miss Hercus v. Mrs Bonar; Mrs Neill v. Miss E. Bremner. 11 a.m.: Mrs Newall v. Mrs Munro.