GORE CROQUET CLUB

Southland Times, Issue 22361, 28 June 1934, Page 4

GORE CROQUET CLUB

ANNUAL MEETING. The annual' meeting of the Gore Croquet Club was held last evening when Mrs R. W. McCreath presided over an attendance of 14 members. Annual Report. The membership of the club comprises a total of 30 members. It would, however, be an advantage to have a few more members as the cost of upkeep of the extensive playing area is a heavy annual expense, and in order that the club may be kept in a sound financial position an effort should be made to increase the membership. The inter-club matches arranged by the Southland Croquet Association created the usual keen interest, and a number of closely-contested games resulted. The senior competition for the Fleming Shield and the junior competition for the association rose bowl were annexed by the club. This is very gratifying and the players are to be congratulated. A number of club competitions were held throughout the season, and t he games, which were followed with interest, resulted:,— Club Championship (McDougall Cup): Mrs R. J. Telfer; runner-up, Mrs G. McLeod. Senior Handicap Singles: Mrs R. J. Telfer. Senior Handicap Doubles: Mrs A. T. Pettigrew and Mr A. H. W. Aitken. B Grade (open): Mrs H. R. Robertson; runner-up, Mrs V. Gerken. B Grade Handicap Singles: Mrs J. Ritchie. B Grade Handicap Doubles: Mrs V. Gerken and Mrs H. Barnett.

A number of players took part in the annual tournament held at Invercargill at the end of January last, every competitor playing excellent croquet. Mrs R. J. Telfer won the Southland championship and is the first holder of the nandsome new cup kindly donated by the trustees of the Southland Sports Trust. Mrs G. McLeod won the senior handicap singles. Mesdames Brown and Pettigrew won the champion doubles, and Mrs McCreath and Mr Norman McCreath won the handicap doubles. In the B grade Mrs H. R. Robertson put up a very good performance by winning both the cmen and handicap singles, and Mesdames J. Ritchie and V. Gerken won the open doubles.

The president (Mrs R. W. McCreath) entertained all the successful competitors at an afternoon on the lawns, when one and all had a most enjoyable time. The South Island tournament was held at Ashburton this year, the success of which was marred by very bad weather. Mrs A. H. W. Aitken and Messrs R. W. and N. D. McCreath competed at this tournament, and it is pleasing to record that Mr R. W. McCreath won the South Island senior handicap singles and Mr N. D. McCreath the junior handicap singles. Mesdames J. Brown, A. T. Pettigrew, A. B. Caverhill, J. Ritchie and V. Gerken took part in the Otago championships. Mrs Caverhill, partnered with Mrs J. S. Wilson, of Invercargill, was runner-up in the senior handicap doubles, and Mesdames Ritchie and Gerken played very well in the B section. The club is indebted to all these players, and we have much pleasure in extending to them our congratulations. As in former years, a very successful little tournament was held at Easter. The entries in the various events were not large, but as beautiful weather was experienced the fixture was most enjoyable. Mrs V. Burgess was successful in the handicap singles and Mrs Caverhill and Mr Aitken were the handicap double winners.

The corners of all the lawns have been top-dressed, and the whole of the playing area has had a good sprinkling, of manure. The committee wishes to place on record its thanks and appreciation to the greenkeeper, Mr Badman, who works so untiring to keep the playing area in good order. The thanks of the club are specially due to Mrs J. Brown for a donation of Christmas cake, Mrs V. Burgess for donation of a lamp shade, and to Mrs A. A. Mac Gibbon for the use of her home for a card evening, and to all members who assisted with special trophies for the club competitions. Thanks are also due to our honorary auditor, Mr W. D. Shelton, and the Press.

The balance-sheet shows a credit balance for the season. The annual report and balance-sheet were adopted. Office-bearers were elected as follows Patron, Mr A. 11. Aitken; president, Mrs A. T. Pettigrew; vice-presi-dents, Mesdames Wallis and Mac Gibbon; secretary, Mrs O. L. Telfer; committee, Mesdames R. W. McCreath, J. Brown, G. McLeod, Neale, H. R. Robertson, J. Ritchie and A. V. Caverhill: club captain, Mrs G. McLeod; greens’ committee, Mesdames Pettigrew, Telfer and McLeod.

The subscription was fixed at £2. and for new members £l.

Hie fixing of the date of opening day was left in the hands of the committee.