TENNIS MATCHES BEGIN TODAY

Southland Times, Issue 23332, 16 October 1937, Page 18

TENNIS MATCHES BEGIN TODAY

Big Entries Make Early Start Necessary,

(By

BACK-HAND)

Results of matches should be left at the office of The Southland Times on Saturday evening after play to ensure their publication in Monday’s issue. Because of the restriction of hours, it is not now possible for the staff to handle results on Sundays. The entries for this season’s competitions show further progress of the game, there being an increase of two teams over those entered for last year’s competitions. A total of 39 teams will be engaged in the four grades and a full season is in view for all players In the senior A competition, eight teams are engaged, in the senior B nine, in the intermediate 10, and in the C grade 12.

Because of the big entries it is necessary to make an early start with -the competitions and play in senior B and C grade begins today. There will be no competition matches at the Labour Day week-end, and the senior A and C grade competitions will begin on September 30. The prospects for the season in Southland are bright. Most city clubs report a good increase in membership and a remarkable keenness of members. Already some good practice has been secured by the leading players, many of whom kept themselves fit with badminton during the winter months. There is not, therefore, likely to be so great a lag in form in the opening part of the season as there was a few years ago. The country districts also are in a flourishing condition and it is almost certain that a bigger number of players will be engaged in tennis this season than ever before.

The first challenge for the Adam Hamilton Shield, for competition between sub-associations, has been received by Eastern already and a match with Northern, the holder, will be played in the near future. The promptness with which this challenge has been entered shows healthy keenness in the Eastern District. The arrival in Southland of Roy Howe, who has been added to the coaching committee of the association, should strengthen the game in the district. He is expected to rank fairly high on the Southland ladder and should be a decided acquisition as a coach in view of his extensive experience.

Not the least interesting feature in a very promising season is the prospect of a visit to Invercargill of three leading Australian players, Bromwich, Huxley and Schwartz. Arrangements are at present for these players to visit New Zealand towards the end of the season and the Southland Association has been promised that Invercargill will be included in the tour, the probable date being late in March. NEW BOOK ON TENNIS

A new volume of the Modern Sports series, published by J. M. Dent and Sons, and edited by Mr Howard Marshall, deals with the game of lawn tennis. Mr L. A. Godfree and Captain H. B. T. Wakelam, , the joint authors, are both admirably equipped for the instructional task to which they set their hands, and the result is a thoroughly sound and authoritative book that should be of distinct value to budding champions. Mr Godfree won the men’s doubles at Wimbledon with Randolph Lycett in 1923. and the mixed doubles with his wife (formerly Miss Kathleen McKane) in 1926. Captain Wakelam is not only a capable player himself, but for many years he has broadcast running commentaries for the 8.8. C. from Wimbledon. The book they have produced covers every aspect of the game from mechanics to tactics; it discusses equipment and dress, with some notes on women’s clothes by Miss Dorothy Round (now Mrs King); and it deals with history records, laws, and administration. Finally, it is well printed and illustrat-

ed, special value attaching to a series of photographs of the fundamental strokes of the game taken in slow motion action pictures. “Remember, you have never finished learning,” the authors say in one place. From their book the beginner or the more advanced student of the game will be able to learn a great deal. MISS DOROTHY BUNDY

A girl of 20, whose mother, then Miss May Sutton, won the Wimbledon singles championships in 1905 and 1907, was selected as a member of the United States Wightman Cup team this year. Miss Dorothy Bundy, ranked eighth in the United States, supplanted Miss Grace W. Wheeler, the fourth ranking player, but the day after her Selection Miss Wheeler defeated her in an Eastern tournament. Her father, Mr Thomas C. Bundy, was a Davis Cup player in 1912, and partner of the famous “California Comet,” M. E. McLoughlin. “Miss Bundy’s best stroke is a forehand drive which she sends over the net with all the strength of a man. She is a delightful player to watch, full of energy and colour. Her selection for the Wightman Cup team was due to her magnificent play against Mlle. Jedrzejowska during two Eastern American tournaments in which Miss Bundy arrived at the semi-finals, but finally lost to the Polish star.” EASTERN SOUTHLAND NOTES (By SLICE) Judging by the entries received at the annual meeting of the Eastern sub-association, the competitions this season are going to be more interesting than last year. Another pleasing feature is that weekly matches are to be played instead of fortnightly matches, which last season were tried and found unsuccessful. Most of the clubs have held their opening days, and ladder matches begin this week, with a view to finding the strongest teams before the matches begin on October 30.

Gore A will be strong in men this year, particularly by the acquisition of two well-known players, L. T. Cockerill (a Southland representative and formerly of Invercargill Club) and P. Welsh (formerly of Edendale). Their women players should be up to last year’s strength. So far as has been ascertained, Citizens A will remain at about the same strength as last season, and as this club was joint winner with Wyndham its chances of winning again must be bright. Their men should be D. S. McCloud, D. M. McCloud, C. Mason and I. Gardiner or F. Hutton and the top women will again be MisS K. Jopp and Miss M. Anderson.

It is particularly pleasing to see the Wyndham Club entering two A grade teams, instead of an A and a B grade team. Wyndham’s men last season were very strong and several additions to the strength of both the men’s and women’s teams justify the club’s action D. F. Scott and Mrs Scott (formerly of Auckland), Miss Z. Trainor and Mrs E. A. Woodward are all too strong for B grade, and it appears highly probable that L. G. Townsend, who played cricket last season will again play. Then, during the University holidays the club will also have the services of C. Baird, one of Southland’s most promising young players. However, for the first few matches, the men’s teams will be: No. 1, C. A. Sharp, L. G. Townsend, A. T. Strang, J. Henderson; No. 2. D. F. Scott, C. W. Rout, E. S. Macfarlane, and J. C. Heath. Edendale will be greatly weakened through P. Welsh’s removal to Gore, and file top players now will be Mr and Mrs W. Irvine, jun. St. Andrew’s has wisely decided to enter in the A grade competition. After being foremost among the B teams for several seasons, it should acquit itself with credit in the higher grade. It is understood that Mataura also will play A grade, making a total of six teams.