Fifth Day—Friday.

Otago Witness, Issue 2651, 4 January 1905, Page 29

Fifth Day— Friday.

The championship tournament was concluded at Carisbrook on Friday, the weather again being very fine, though a strong southwest wind proved rather. bafHing to the playeis. A start was to have been made at 9.30 a.m., "but owing to the absence of Lycett, who was left in the two uncompleted events, ii was fully susi hour before tbe first game was commenced 1 . In the semi-final in the Combined Handicap Doubles Lycett and Miss Powdiell oaught Borrows and Miss Nicholson at 46, and the game was again even at 59. From there Lycett and his partner went ahead, and finished up 70 to their opponents 66. Lycett and Miss Powdrell then met Ward and Miss Van Staveren in the final, and started off by placing six strokes to their 'credit before the latter pair scored. At 51 they caught Ward and Miss Van Staveren, and won by a majority of 13 points. In the earlier part of the game Miss Van Staveren, was defending the back line very successfully, while Ward was busy at the net, where he met with varying success. Ward put in some good services, and the chief feature in Lycett' s play was his placing. Later Lycett was getting "too -many chances at the net, and was punishing pretty wall everything that came within his reach, the wind making it exceedingly difficult to effect any passing shots down the side line with any degree of accuracy, by way of avoiding him. Miss Van Staveren, towards the latter end of the game, rather fell off in her play, her weakest point being her back-harded returns, the ball invariably finct ing its way into the net. The final between Bauchop and Lycett for the Men's First Grade Handicap Singles did not prove particularly interesting. It was chiefly a succession of long returns to the back line, witn an occasional bit of play at the net, and there was no dash in it. Lycett now and again did a bit of placing, but there was really nothing worthy of comment so far as the play was concerned. Lycett caught Bauchop (rec. 32) at 56, and the two kept pretty close together, aud were within a point or two of each other for some little time before the winning stroke wa-s made by Lycett. With regard to the winning of the banner, which was decided on the championship games, Wellington scored 10 points, Hawke's Bay 5§ points, Christchurch 3 points, Victoria, 2i points, and Otago nil. Wellington therefore holds the colours, the gift of Miss H. M. Gorrie, of Wellington, till the next championship meeting. Wellington and Canterbury have won the banner three times each. The following are the results of Friday's play : — MEN'S HANDICAP SINGLES. Fihst Grade. Seventy points: advantage gam«s. First prize trophy, value £2 2s ; second trophy, value £1 Is. Final. E. Lycett (Victoria; owe 6) beat K. Bauchop (Dunedin; rec. 32), 76 — 89. COMBINED HANDICAP DOUBLES. Seventy points; advantage game. Prizes trophies, value £1 Is each Fourth Bound. Lycett and Miss Powdrell beat White and Mi3s Jeffreys, 70 — 64. Semi-Final. Lycett and Miss Powdrell beat Borrows and Ulsg Nicholson, 70 — '"a.

Final. T R. Lycett (Victoria) and Miss Powdrell (Tarana<ki; scr) beat Ward (Oamaru) and Miss Van Staveren (Wellington ; rec. 20), 70—57. Mr W. T. Monkman, president of the association, m presenting the trophies won, said he thought the tournament had been a successful one, and with that the weather had had much to do. The success was also partly attributable to visiting players competing in such numbers, and some had come from a considerable distance. They had been somewhat disappointed at a number of capable players not being able to compete, but were sincerely grateful to those who ha-d come from a distance to take part in the tournament, and gratified to know that they had received a very good share of the honours. On behalf of tile Otago Association, which embraced a considerable portion of the competitors, he offered his hearty congratulations to those winners who had come from a distance. The play had been of a very high order indeed, and it had been a pleasure to witness such tennis as had been played by Miss Nunneley, Mr Parker, and Mr Ljcett. — (Applause.) It must be a source of congratulation to Miss Nunneley and Mr Parker to know that they had more than held their own with such players as Miss Powdrell and Mr Lycett. Miss Nunneley' s record of the successive championships was exceptional. He would not venture to predict as to Miss Nunneley's future successors, as Miss Powdrell had to be reckoned with. Mr Parker had won the championship three times in succession. They had been hoping he would meet Mr Lycett next year, but they heard with regret that Mr Lycett would not then be in the colony. He regretted to see so few trophies going to O.tago players, but our climate was not so suitable to outdoor games as that of other places. Before oalling. upon the winners to receive their trophies he would like to thank all those who had assisted in carrying out the tournament, particularly Mr Goldie, who had given very valuable aid indeed. He desired also to thank those gentlemen who had umpired, Mr Brittain, and their energetic secretary (Mr Irvine). He wished to make acknowledgment to Mr Parker, who had undertaken the handicapping, *nd they were indebted to the press for giving publicity to the tournament and for full and accurate reports of the games. He aiso desired to mention the name of Mr Mills, the caretaker, who had kept the courts in good order. The trophies were then presented, the winners of the Single-handed Championships being loudly cheered on coming forward; all the others meeting with a very hearty reception at the hands of those gathered about. Mr G. N. Goldie (secretary of the New Zpiland Association) said they should, congratulate Otago upon the way the meeting had been conducted. Mr Irvine and Mr Monkman had worked pretty well from daylight to dark to give players' pleasure. It had been a labour of love to them no doribt, but it had been a hard task. He would like competitors to remember in future that if they did not press so hard to play when they were not wanted to play, and played when they were wanted to play, they wpuld get on better with their championship meetings. He was sure the standard of play was equal to what had been seen during the past few years. \ None could wish to see a better fisal than had been witnessed in the Combined Championship tlreprevious day. It was unfortunate that Several - crack players had not attended the meeting, their absence being due to the fact that they . could not get away. . He called-for three cheers for the Otago Lawn. Tennis Association, coupled with the names of Mr Monkman (the president)., Mr Irvine (the .secretary), and the other officials. — (Hearty cheers.) Mr Dagger, he would, like to mention, had worked as "hard as anybody to bring the tournament to a successful issue. Mr Monkman, in briefly replying, said their experience had been a pleasant one, and if there had been any shortcomings he was sure they would be overlooked. — (Applause.)