CROQUET.

Otago Witness, Issue 3805, 15 February 1927, Page 53

CROQUET.

OTAGO CHAMPIONSHIPS. FIRST DAY’S PLAY. Under excellent playing conditions—ideal greens and an entire absence of wind—the Otago croquet championships were commenced on the Punga green on Wednesday morning, and play was con- j tinned throughout the day. In opening the tournament Mr J. Al'DonaH extended a hearty welcome to the visitors, and expressed the hope that the.v would have a thoroughly enjoyable week’s sport. . Mr Al'Donald pointed out that the entries, which numbered 109 in all, were a record for the championships, and the numbers showed the growing popularity of the sport, a sport which had the advantage of giving health and happiness to a large number of ladies who, perhaps, could not take advantage of other outside games. Friendships were always formed in such tournaments as that which was about to commence, and Mr M’Donald had no hesitation in saying that the present tournament would forge another link in the chain of friendships previously formed and would strengthen the links already in existecse. Mr J. A. Gascoigne expressed the hope that the tournament would consist of a series of keen games, and also added a few words of welcome to the’ visitors from Christchurch, Alexandra, Gore, and Invercargill,

After the president of the Punga Club (Mrs R. W. Brickell) had explained the rules under which the tournament was to be conducted, the green was opened. The. following are the detailed results of the day’s play:— CHAMPIONSHIP DOUBLES. First Round. Mrs M'Creath and Miss Durham (Gore) beat Alesdames Osborne and Walling-Jones (Punga), 26-—23. Alesdames Manhire and Horn (Punga) beat Alesdames Gascoigne and Passmore (Punga), 26 —-24. Alesdames Buehler and Flynn (Punga) beat Alesdames Brickell and Dixon (Punga), 26—16. A GRADE. HANDICAP DOUBLES. First Round. Alesdames Swann and Nisbet (Balmacewen) beat Alesdames Patterson and Spence (Punga), 26—15. Alesdames Horn and Rigby (Punga) beat Alesdames Wesney and Wilson (Invercargill), 26—13. Alesdames Alanhire and Buckland (Punga) beat Airs Glover and Aliss Jones (Punga), 26—8. Mesdames Bridgman and Buehler (Punga) beat Alesdames Dixon and Allen (Punga), 26 —18. Alesdames Wacher (St. Clair) and Cooper (Christchurch) beat Alesdames Rivers and Dunean (Alexandra), 26—6. Alesdames Flynn and Lavender (Punga) beat Airs Alillin and Aliss Phinn (Balmacewen), 26 —-7. Second Round. Alesdames Cooper and Wacher beat Alesdames Al'Creath and Blaikie (Gore), 26—10. HANDICAP SINGLES. First Round. Airs Blaikie (Gore) beat Mrs Al'Naughton (St. Clair), 26 —18. B GRADE. HANDICAP DOUBLES, First Round. Alesdames Scofield and Ferguson (Balmacewen) beat Alesdames Ruff and Chapman Alexandra), 26—24. This was one of the keenest matches of the day. All four players were on the stick and contested it closely for almost 20 minutes, and/ showed promise of developing into really fine players. Alesdames White and Christopher (St. Clair) bear Alesdames Al’Donald (Balmaeewen) and Alitehell (Leith), 26—16. Final. Alesdames White and Christopher beat Alesdames Scofield and Ferguson, 26—12. ~ HANDICAP SINGLES. Airs Al'Donald (Balmaeewen) beat Airs Long (Leith), 26—18. — NEARING COMPLETION. The Otago croquet championships were continued on the Punga green on Saturday, when the games were advanced a further stage. The greens were again in excellent order, and in the afternoon, when the final of tho A grade handicap doubles was played, they were both fast and true. In this game Mesdames Manhire and Bucks land defeated Alesdames Horn and Rigby after a fine game in which the winners played perfect croquet, each of the pair, playing her own game throughout. Mrs Horn started off by making a good break of 7 points, Lut. unfortunately, her partner seemed to have lost her usual form and was unable to get going. Alesdames Horn and Alanhire are both holders of championships, while Mesdames Buckland and Rigby are both junior players, so that the pairs were evenly matched. The tournament will be continued to-day,, when the outstanding games should be the finals of the Championship Singles and the Handicap Singles. To-morrow the tourna* ment will be brought to a close by a s-arden party on the. Punga Club’s lawns, at which" the presentation of prizes will be made, and several novelty competitions will be played. The following arg the results of Saturday’s games:

CHAAIPIONSHIP First Draw.—First Round. Mrs Buckler beat Mrs Osborne. 26 —14. Mrs M'Creath beat Mrs Gascoigne, 26— 20. Airs Dixon beat Airs Allen, 26—21. Second Round. Mrs Passmore beat Miss Durham, 26— 23. Second Draw. —First Round. Mrs Walling-Jones beat Mrs Allen, 26—17. Second Round. Airs Osborne beat Miss Durham, 26 —25., A GRADE. HANDICAP SINGLES. Second Round. Mrs Allen beat Airs Flynn, 26 —18. Mrs Blaikie beat Airs Passmore. 26 —19. Mrs Horn beat Mrs Dixon, 26—14., Third Round. Airs Osborne beat Airs Mullin, 26—1 U Airs Cooper beat Mrs Allen, 26—25. Mrs Horn beat Mrs Buckland. 26—18. Airs Blaikie beat Mrs Gascoigne, 26—410. Semi-Finals. Mrs Osborne beat Mrs Blaikie, 26—15. Airs Horn beat Mrs Cooper. 26 —21. HANDICAP DOUBLES. Semi-Final. Alesdames Horn and Rigby beat Mesdames Cooper and Wacher, 26—21. Final. Alesdames Alanhire and Buckland beat Mesdames Horn and Rigby. 26—15.