LAWN TENNIS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2456, 17 April 1901, Page 52

LAWN TENNIS.

Some 10 years ago a weiid content look place between a distinguished Irish lawn tennis player and an opponent to whom, in ordinary circumstances, he could give enormous odds, ©n this occasion m lieu of the UFtial odds he undertook to play him with a soda water bottle instead of a racket. The match proved infinitely more exciting to look at than it appears on paper. The accuracy of the wielder pf the soda water bottle was something extraordinary, and in the end he won fairly easily. The experiment watf* also interesting as showing the impossibility of handicapping a player of the. highest class and a fifth-rate performer. But though this match had something to recommend it, the same cannot be said of a ridiculous contest which took place in the early days of lawn tennis at Brighton. In this match one of the players rode a pony which was shod with leather shoes for the occasion, and is said to have appeared to take a personal interest in the affair, while his opponent, a lifeguardsman, was arrayed in the full panoply of the uniform of that corps in heavy marching order. They played tha best of fne sets, and the mounted player won by three sets to two, his opponent at the end being abpolutely exhausted. A Wellington telegram st"tes that some events of the "Wellington Lawn Tennis Association's championship and handicap tournament arc conclude 1 ?. Besults — Chammonship Singles, Laishley beat Gore , Men's Handicap Singles, Wilding (Christchurch) beat Brailsford (Npwtown) ; Men's Handicap Doubles, Toohill and West .beat Smith and Yoiiiig; Ladies' Singles, Miss Marchant beat Miss Kelly, Combined Doubles, Brailsford and Miss Sh?.w beat Burns and Miss Van Staveren. A Wellington telegram ptates that with the exception of one match the Provincial Lawn Tennis Association's championships are concluded. The results are: — Men's Championship Doubles, C. F. Adams and F. Laishley (Thorndon) beat H. M. C4ore and G. F. Smvthe (Thorndon) ; Ladies' Championship Singles. Mrs Payne (Wantranui) beat Miss Gore (Thorndon) ; Ladies' Championship Doubles. Mrs Marchbanks and Mi=s Gore (Thorndon) beat Misses Cave and Newcombe (Wanganui) ; Combined Doubles. G. F. Smythe and Mrs Holmes (Thorndon) boat C. F. Adams (Thorndon) and Miss, Ca\e (Wanganui).