TENNIS IN THE PROVINCE

Taranaki Daily News, 16 October 1930, Page 7

TENNIS IN THE PROVINCE

REVIEW OF PAST SEASON

MATCHES PLAYED DURING YEAR.

ASSOCIATION’S ANNUAL REPORT.

The operations of the Taranaki Lawn Tennis Association during the past sea-

son are reviewed in the report to be presented at the annual general meeting of the association in ..New Plymouth next Thursday evening. The number of affiliated clubs in the association is npw 26, .stated the report, with a total playing membership of 1318. This represented an increase of one chib and-a decrease of 10 players on last year’s figures. The list of affiliated clubs was;—Alton, Eitlmm. Fitzroy •(N.P.), Hawem, Inglewood, Kupouga, King Edward Park (Hawera), Mauaia, Mangatoki. Mokau, New Plymouth, Optinake, Park (N.P.), Patep., Rotokare (N.P.), Sportsdale. (Stratford), St; Joseph’s , (El th am), . Stratford,.'. Stratford .Methodist, Tonga pom tu, • Uranin, I/Jlffti,.. Waitara, Wa jwaka? -' (N.P.). WayergW Woodleigh (N.P;). : "■ ’ i The Taranaki championships' were held | on the New Plymouth club’s courts on January 7 to January It. The tournament proved 'successful' and the tennis was of a very good standard. The thank's of the-, association were due to, the New Plymouth club for the use of its courts for. the tournament. Detailed results' ’ were:—Men’s . . championship singles,’J.-C. Charters; ladies’ championship singles, Mrs. W. Melddy; ladies’ championship doubles, Mrs.. Melody and Miss . Andrew;' girls’ championship singles, Miss Jean Ward; men’s; charm pionship doubles, Charters and A- 0. Stedman';- combined- chatnpionship doubles, Miss D. Nicholls and T; RhodegWilliams; boys’ championship singles, A. Dickie., ' J.

The Hawera club held its annual tournament December 26 to December 30, 1029, and maintained the success of previous years. During the season negotiations for matches were made withj the Wellington and Auckland associations, but unfortunately no games eventuated owing to the difficulty of arranging suitable dates. In the original itinerary of the New. South Wales team’s tour Taranaki was not included,/but the tour was extended and at very short notice a match was offered the association. Owing to counter-attractions' on the date suggested, it was decided .that it'was not wise to play the match up’der the conditions decreed by the New Zealand Association. The association was challenged by Wanganui foy the Christie Cup, .and the match-was played at Hawera on-March 8, 1930. Wanganui proved too strong and won by 18 matches to 6. The following represented the association C. B. Webster, A. H. J. B. McPherson, C. H. Stroinbom, G- Wills, L. Berg, Misses Gave, Ballantyne, Pease, Simpson, Taylor and Jean Ward. Only one north v. south match was played during the season. The match.arranged for December. 7; 1929, had to/be abandoned -on account-of rain. Ou January 25, at the courts of the King Edward Park Club, Hawera,. South beat North by 17J matches to IGA. Although the ranking ladders were in existence for the whole of the season the number of matches played was comparatively small. The management committee would like to sec more games played for the ladder positions, as in addition to assisting the selectors it gave the players essential match practice. The Waitara club successfully defended the Soffe Cup on three occasions, by defeating New Plymouth Park by 12 sets 149 games to 12 sets 135 games, Inglewood by 17 sets to t, and Rotokare by 14 sets to 10. During tUc year the management committee circularised ttoe various clubs with a view to enlisting their aid in the establishment of association courts, but the response from the clubs was poor; those clubs that did reply stated they had their own financial troubles and were not in a position to give any material assistance to the scheme. From inquiries made by the management com-. mittCfi it appeared that at present the establishment of association courts is impracticable in J.aranaki. The incorporation of the association was completed early in the season and / the new rules printed and forwarded to the various clubs and delegates. From the financial statement it would be noted' that the association entered the new season with a credit balance of £35 ss. Id., as compared with £26 15s. lOd. for the past season. The difference was due to the fact that no grant had vet been made to the New Plymouth club for the use of its courts for the provincial tournament, as had been the case in previous years. The statement of receipts and expenditure showed receipts amounting to. £92 19 s. 6d. Overdue subscriptions i amounted to £2 18s. Gd., and stjbscrip-

tions for the 1929-30 season to £5B 19s, The gate takings from the Christie Cup match amounted to £2 17s. The chief payments were New Zealand Lawn Tennis Association subscription £l6 165., Christie Cup expenses_ £l2 95., incorporation expenses £6 17s. Gd. The bank balance-sheet was £35 55., the profit; on the year’s working being £8 10s. The association’s assets were ,£45 15s. 7d., with no liabilities.