LAWN TENNIS TITLES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26349, 2 January 1947, Page 2

LAWN TENNIS TITLES

Play in the Canterbury championships must have brought home to the New Zealand Lawn Tennis Championship Seeding Committee the injustice done to Otago and Southland players by their disregard of the South Island title-holders. Overlooked by the New Zealand Association, the South Island champion pair, Miss M. Kerr and Mrs J. Adams, eliminated Mrs Hatherley and Miss Poole, who are seeded fourth without recent performances and upon past reputation, in straight sets, and then went on to win the final of the Canterbury Championship Ladies’ Doubles by beating the third seeded pair in the National Championships, Misses Altwood and Burrell. The time has arrived when the New Zealand Association should give more consideration to lawn tennis players south of Christchurch, and it is to be hoped that there will be no repetition of such a happening as that mentioned. In the Mixed Doubles semi-final, Robson and Miss Kerr took McKenzie and Mrs McVay to three sets, while Robson and Bold gave a good performance before accepting defeat from McKenzie and Edwards 7—5, 6—4, in the men’s doubles final. Robson was eliminated in the semi-final singles by R. Patterson, of Canterbury, who has returned to his top pre-war form. Apart from a lack of confidence in his forehand, Robson played good tennis throughout, giving one of his best performances in defeating J. Howe, of Wellington, who it will be remembered took a set from Bromwich when the Australian was at the top of his form in Wellington in 1940. The only other Otago result available was the defeat of J. Patterson 6—3, 6—4, by the Outstanding Aucklander, J. Barry. From reports to hand, while McKenzie still appears to be the outstanding performer among the men, Miss Beverley’s crown is much less secure as her defeat in the Canterbury championships by Mrs Hart shows.

OTAGO ROWERS AT TIMARU Rowing history was made at Timaru last Saturday when the first regatta in the port’s history was held on Caroline Bay The regatta was organised by the Timaru Rowing Club, which since the war has gained rapidly v strength, and was attended by crews from Kaiapoi, Christchurch, and Otago. The home club, probably as the result of lack of competition did not figure prominently in the places, but the southern contingent and tne Christchurch crews provided some first-class racing. North End won the Maiden Fours and the Youths’ Double Sculls, and’came second to Avon.i: the Senior Fours by a length, gaining further seconds in the Youths’ Fours and Junior Fours, and a third in the Maiden Double Sculls. Otago won the Junior Fours, and was second in the Maiden Double Sculls, and the Junior Sculls, and third in the Senior Double Sculls. Queen’s Drive, the other Otago club represented, secured third placings in the Junior Double Scuhs and the Junior Fours. The success of the Timaru venture proves that there is ample room in the South Island for the expansion of rowing activities wherever suitable water is available and suflacient enthusiasm to promote a regatta is present.