TENNIS

Southland Times, Issue 20664, 20 April 1929, Page 8

TENNIS

THE SEASON ENDS

ENTHUSIASTIC SMOKE CONCERT

PRESENTATION OF TROPHIES

Representatives of town tennis clubs, and of many country’ clubs and sub-associa-tions gathered in the Federal Tearooms last eve-ning where a smoke concert was held to mark the close of the 1928-29 season) Opportunity was taken during the evening to present the trophies won in the Invercargill inter-club competitions. The president of the Southland Tennis Association (Mr B. W. Hewat) presided. After the president had welcomed those present and expressed gratification at the fact that many had come in from the country to attend the function, a short toast list was honoured.

Following the Loyal. Toast, Mr lan Jack proposed the toast of the Southland Tennis Association. After tracing the various activities of the association throughout the year, Mr Jack assured members of the executive that all the rank and file were well satisfied, with the way their interests had been looked after. He commended the action of the association in fulfilling the obligation to the North Otago Association and sending a team of enthusiastic young players to Oamaru despite the fact that many of the senior players were unable to make the trip. There was no doubt that the Southland Association was out to do its best for tennis in the province. He knew that all members of the association regretted that it had not . been possible to include the ladies in the function that evening, but they , could rest assured that the men realized they had shared equally in the success of last season.

The president (Mr B. W. Hewat) replied. In the course of his remarks he eulogized the services rendered to the association by the secretary (Mr J. C. Prain) and the treasurer (Mr W. Rea). The executive had been kept busy looking after the competitions in Invercargill, the sub-association representative matches and the inter-pro-vincial matches.. From the fact that there was no serious criticism he concluded that the association had done its duty satisfactorily. The Sub-Associations. In proposing the toast of the Sub-Asso-ciations, Mr H. K. Sumpter said that it should always be the aim of the Southland Association to foster tennis in the country equally as in the town. In many sports there was an inclination to make the parent body an organization which placed Invercargill’s claims always first. He trusted the Southland Tennis Association would never take a parochial view, but would work in co-operation with all sub-associa-tions for the good of the game in the province. While much had been done in the past season to foster country tennis, much more could have been done, and next Reason the executive of the Southland Association should spur itself to greater efforts. It was gratifying to know that representative matches had been played by Invercargill teams with Eastern District and Central District, and that a Town v. Country match had been played at Invercargill. It was unfortunate that it had not been possible to-complete arrangements to play matches with Western District and Northern District. If possible, these subassociations should be offered matches early next season. There were in the country districts many promising players and many fine sportsmen. As the standard of play in the country improved the Southland selectors would find that they had a very valuable source from which to draw for the provincial representative team. Already subassociation players had gained places in the Southland team and he ventured to prophesy that each year more and more town players would find themselves displaced by country' representatives. Mr Mason, president of the Central District Sub-Association, who replied to the toast, assured the association on behalf of his executive and the other sub-associations of Southland that the work of the parent body was fully' appreciated. Presentation of Trophies, < The club trophies won during the season were then presented by the president. Invercargill scooped the pool, winning the Senior Shield, the Junior Shield, and the Baird Cup for the knock-out competition. The captains of the A and B grade teams (Messrs H. K. Sumpter and I. Jack) received the trophies. Mr B. C. Galloway, the donor of the Galloway Cup for competition among the leading men in Southland, then presented his handsome trophy to the winner, H. K. Sumpter, as well as a solid silver miniature to the same player for winning the trophy in 1928. He was also generous enough to donate a miniature to the runner-up, George Lindsay. The toast of the winners of trophies was then proposed by Mr W. Rea, who warmlypraised the excellent showing made by' the Georgetown and Kennington Clubs on their first appearance in the competitions. He congratulated the Invercargill Club on its well merited success, also Mr Sumpter on having again won the Galloway Cup and on having brought back the Slazenger Cup to Southland.

The “Donors of Trophies” was then proposed by Mr Prain who warmly thanked Messrs Galloway and Baird for the cups they had given as. well as the donors of the two shields, Messrs J. L. McG. Watson, J. A. Doig, C. S. Longuet and Dr. Macdonald.

It had been the intention of those present to subscribe to a cup for presentation to the ladies of Southland for a competition on the lines of the Galloway Cup. This was to be done as a compensation for the the fact that it had not been possible to include the ladies in the function that evening.

Mr B. C. Galloway, who replied to the toast of donors of trophies, forestalled the action of the plaj'ers present by stating that he would donate a cup for competition among the top ladies on condition that next year’s wind up function included them as well as the men.

Mr Galloway was cheered to the echo for his extremely generous offer and was not allowed to continue his remarks until the company sang “For He’s a Jolly Good Fellow.”

In proposing the toast of “The Ladies,” Mr L. R. Lopdell voiced the regret of all that it was not possible to invite'them to a smoke concert. He eulogized their assistance to tennis during the season. Mr G. Lindsay caused much amusement in his reply. A very warm vote of thanks was accorded the performers, Messrs O. Rice, Johnson, Tilley, Lindsay, Leopold, and ,G. Henry, whose items were exceptionally fine.