ON HARD AND LAWN COURT

Taranaki Daily News, 1 November 1929, Page 5

ON HARD AND LAWN COURT

TARANAKI TENNIS ACTIVITIES

PROVINCIAL TOURNAMENT DATES.

FIXTURES FOR HOLIDAY SEASON.

The following applications for dates for championship, and handicap tournaments have, beedi! approved by the Now Zealand Lawn Tennis .Association ■ Marlborough, at Blenheim. —December 25, 26 and. 27. North Otago, at Oamaru— December 25. 26 and. 27. - • Southland, at Invercargill.—December 25, 26 and 27. Mid-Canterbury' Sub-Association, at Ashburton—December 26, and 28. ' Auckland Championships, at Auckland. —December 26, 27<and 28. Auckland Handicaps, at Auckland. — December -28 and following days. -

■ Canterbury, •at Christchurch.—December 26, 27- and 28. Poverty-Bay and East Coast, at Gisborne. —'December 26, 27,- 28 and 30. South Canterbury, at Timaru.—January 1,2 and 3. Wanganui-North .Island Championships, at -Wanganui.—January 1,2, 3 and 4.

Waikato East Sub-Association—Janu-ary 1. 2, 3 and 4. ■ Manawatu, at Palmerston North — January 6. 7, 8 and 9. Taranaki, at New Plymouth. —January 7,8, 9, 10 and -11. Wairarapa, at Masterton. —January 22, 23. 24 and 2'5. ■ • ■

Wellington, at -Wellington.—January 22, 23, 24 and 25.-

Hawke's Bay, at Dannevirke. —January 25, 27, 28 and 29. New Zealand Championships, at Wei-' lington, —January 27, 28, 29, 30 and 31, and February 1. Auckland (outer suburban), at Auckland. —January .25, 29 and February L Maori, at Gisborne. —-March 5,6, 7 and 8.

Canterbury-South Island Championships, at Christchurch. —Easter. . North Auckland, at Whangarci.—Easter.

Otago, at Dunedin. —Easter. Waikato; at Hamilton.- —Easter. Thames Valley, at Thames. —Easter. The following dates have been fixed for club tournaments: —Rotorua, December 25, 26 and -27;. Hastings, December 25, 26, 27. and 28; Hawera, December 26, 27, 28 and 30; St. John’s (Wanganui), Easter. TARANAKI CHAMPIONSHIPS. According to an announcement made by Dr. G. Home, president of the New Plymouth Club } at-the-opening on Saturday, the Taranaki provincial tournament is to be conducted on the club’s lawns in the second week of January. Last season the provincial championships were held about the same time and followed on the New Zealand championships, which were held in Auckland before and- after the New Year. The Taranaki.,tournament was followed by the North Island championships at Wangaiiui and on that, account many of the players visited the three fixtures, so that Taranaki was provided with ex-, hibitions of tennis by a galaxy of 'Dominion stars which it could never have hoped for otherwise. This season the Dominion championships are not being held until the end of the month, and though the North Island tournament, at the beginning of January may induce a. number of players to journey to New Plymouth for the fixture following, Taranaki cannot hope for such an array of talent as competed last season, for the majority of the top-notchers are sure to find a greater attraction in the Dominion contests. At the last tournament most of the titles went to players from outside - Taranaki, with the exception of the men’s doubles, won by A. G. Wallace (Waverley) and G. Wills (Hawera). but next January more of the championships will possibly remain in Taranaki hands.

. The. Labour Day week-end was a strenuous one for players throughout the province, with official openings of clubs on the Saturday and with tournaments of "different descriptions on the holiday. The New Plymouth and Park (Hawera) • clubs held their openings on Saturday, and the Inglewood Club'on Labour Day. The usual tournament was not held at New Plymouth and the day proved equally enjoyable and not too strenuous for the first day of the season. • A yankee' tournament was conducted by the Park Club and a president . versus secretary match was, played, at Inglewood. On Labour Day yankee tournaments - were held by the Waiwaka and Pukekura Park Clubs in New Plymouth. ' '

DOMINION TOURNEY AT MIRAMAR

The 40th annual New Zealand championships are tn be held on the Miramar courts at Wellington on January 2T, 28, 29, 31 and February 1. The national championships have not been held in Wellington since 1919, the first New Zealand championships held after the Great War. Then four days were sufficient and the games were played on six grass courts, but things have ■, changed since. There are many more competitors now, and more days as well as courts are required for the tournament. The engagement of a coach for Taranaki was mentioned by Mr. R. H. Leece at the annual meeting of the Taranaki Association when he proposed a management committee of club delegates. A scheme that might possibly be followed in Taranaki is that inaugurated in Auckland this year. The Auckland Association is making arrangements to form coaching squads of' players who will visit the schools and undertake elementary coaching in classes and also play exhibition matches. Such a scheme might be rather difficult of fulfilment in Taranaki, but there is no reason why it should not be considered. The number of clubs affiliated to the Taranaki Association was 25 when the last annual meeting was held, and the number will soon be increased by one when the affiliation of the Ureuui Club is put in order by the next meeting of the management committee. The total playing membership is approaching 1400. It is interesting to note that on the last figures supplied by the New Zealand Association there are 27,062 affiliated members. In 1923 the number stood at 10,584, an increase in six years of 16,478. Visits to New Zealand from some of the world’s best tennis players are possible this season. Jean Borotra, the “■bounding Basque,” is . practically certain. to visit Australia on business and no doubt will be induced to introduce

into his business engagements a little tennis here and there. He is almost sure to come to New Zealand, but when cannot be stated. It is also possible that “big Bill” Tilden, accompanied by Wilbur F. Coen, a young protege of his, will be in the south this season and may be persuaded to visit the Dominion.