TENNIS IN THE PROVINCE

Taranaki Daily News, 7 November 1930, Page 5

TENNIS IN THE PROVINCE

ACTIVITIES 'J# THE SOUTH; ■ , Z",Z'..,. J i — ' ; » OFFICIAL OPENINGS PERFORMED. THE TARANAKI CHAMPIONSHIPS. J *' ; (By ‘‘Half-Volley.") . With the opening of the New Plymouth Lawn Tennis Club to-morrow lawn, tennis activities, with’ the exception of the Fitzr.oy Club which opens on November I‘s, will be in full swing for the season throughout Taranaki. In < New Plymouth last Saturday the Rotokare Club held itl official opening in the presence of about 90 piayers, including members ;<»f the cluo and visitors from the NeW Plymouth, Waiwaka, Pukeknra Park', Fitzroy, Woodleigh and Waitara Clubs. . The five grass courts were in splendid order and despite a slight breeze the/playing condition? were most favourable. The president, Mr. H. Bennett, welcomed the visitors and called upon Mr< Gilbert to hit the first ball over the net to indicate the com- < mencement of the club's activities for the 1930-31 season. Throughout the afternoon friendly time-limit games were capably controlled by the club captain (Mr. P; Stewart) and Messrs Gil- '■ bert and Nixon. Ih Hawera;-laat Saturday lawn tennis enthusiasts found plenty of scope for their activities as the opening ceremonies of three clubs (Haw er King ■Edward Park and Methodist) were performed. Ideal weather conditions for tennis prevailed and a largei attendance of. players was in evidence at all the courts, which were ; n good order for so early in the season. Mr. H. G. Dickie, MJp., performed the ceremony at the Hawera Club’s courts in the absence of hie brother, Mr. C. D. Dickie, who is pAtron of the club. In doing so he complimented the club upon its courts and appointments and wished members -a successful season. During the afternoon a Yankee tournament was conducted,) the winner of the men’s section being K. Macfarlane and the run-ner-up the Rev. J. Watson. Mrs. R. P. Baigent won the ladies’ section and '■ Misses F. Murray and B. Rawson tied forzeecond place, j ’ .-'A Yankee tournament yas also conducted ’.at the opening of the Park •Club’s courts •in which about 50 players’ participated. After a. number of Well contested games Miss J- Hicks won the first prize in the ladies’ action and Afiss A. Hicks the second. In the men’s -eection the first prize was won by F. 'Bernard and the second by F. Bell. The/courts of the Elthhin Lawn Tennis'Club were in splendid condition f r the formal opening of the season last weekt The president (Mr. A. Pi/tra) welcomed a large number of members and ,visitors and wished the club asccessful season. ’ In doing so he anticipated that-the membership of the club would be considerably, increased this ■ ‘ year. ‘ • / ’ ' , • ' . After two ■'postponements on account of bad weather the official opening of the Kaponga Tennis . Club, took ‘ place last week in the presence of a large number of visitors from neighbouring clubs. After a welcome had been extended to visitors by the president, Mr. J. Bolger, the courts were declared open . for play.: ?. A Yankee tournament wae conducted during: the z afternoon, the winners being Mrs. J.. Bolger .and R. .' McCarthy. , ' i-.: ; ■ Ideal tennis conditions prevailed at the opening of the Patea Tennis Club when visitors and: players throughout the district attended and were welcomed by. the president (Mr. W. F. Shield). The first ball was played by Mrs. W. F. Shield, after which a tournament was conducted, the winners being Miss’ L. Carey, and Mr. A. C. Thompson.

SOUTH TARANAKI COMPETITIONS At ra ‘ recent • meeting ,in Hawera of delegates from the Hawera, King Edward (Hawera), Stratford, Methodist (Stratford), Batea, Eltham, Manaia, Waverley and Kaponga Tennis Clubs, it was decided to set up a committee to conduct a series of inter-club matches in South Taranaki throughout the coming season. As a result of this decision the - will commence on November, 15 and will comprise both A and B grade teams. The value of inter-club competition cannot be emphasised. too strongly as it creates a keenness among the younger players which otherwise is inclined to .be lacking. The social ’ benefits to' be, gained by. friendlyrivalry between teams is another factor which must be taken into consideration as it enables' players to make the acquaintance' of members of other clubs whom they are not likely to meet otherwise. In a circular just issued by the. president of the New Plymouth Club (Dr. G. Home) it is pleasing to see that the committee has decided to help the junior and younger members by providing competitions for them during the seasop. The lead given by the South Taranaki Clubs is one that the clubs in the north might do well to follow. There are five major clubs in New Plymouth, one at Waitara and another in Inglewood. Although the half holiday question may prove a slight obstacle, nevertheless it should be possible to conduct weekly competitions between these clubs successfully. In view of the fact that a deputation from the Taranaki Lawn Tennis Association approached the committee of the New/Plymouth Liwn Tennis Club with an offer of £25 as a subsidy and any profit if the club would reconsider its lecisioa not to conduct the provincial championship • tournament this year a - h .ecial nieeting of members of the New Plymouth Club is to be held on Monday night, when the matter is to- be further discussed. It is hoped that a large number, will be present so that the general feeling of the club may be obtained. WORLD’S RANGING LIST. The 'veil-known English tennis critic, A. Wallis Myers, has compiled the following world’s ranking list for the 1930 reason:— 1— 11. Cochet (Rrance). ' 2— T. Tilden (U.S A.). 3— J. Berotra (France). 4— J. Doeg (U.S.A.). 5— F. X. Shields (U.S.A.). G—W. A. Allison (U.S.A.). -7—G. Lott (U.S.A.). 8— Baron de Morpurgo (Italy). 9— C. Boussus (France,. 10— H. W. Austin (.England). As a comparison the following list by W. T. Tilden makes interesting reading:— 1— Jean Borotra (France). 2— Henri Cochet (France). ■ 3—Wilmer Allison (U.S.A.). 4— John Doeg (U.S.A.). 5 — George Lott (U.S.A.). 6— H. Timmer (Holland). 7— Baron de Morpurgo (Italy). 8— G. L. Rogers (Ireland). 9— H. Hopman (Australia). 10 — E. F. Moon (Australia). 1— Mrs. Helen Willsdtfoody (U.S.A.). 2— Fraulein Cilly Aussem (Germany). 3— Miss Elizabeth Ryan (U.S.A.). 4 — Mrs. P. Holcroft-Watson (England) 5— Miss Helen Jacobs (U.S.A.). 6 — Mlle. S. Mathieu (France). 7— Senorita L. de Alvarez (Spain). 8— Miss Betty Nuthall (England), p—Joan Ridley iEmzlaad).,

10—Miss Phyllis Mudford (England). It will be noticed, however, that Tilden does not include himself in the list, and owing to insufficient data has omitted J. Van Ryn (U.S.A.), C. Boussus (France), Miss Joan Fry (England) and Miss Paula Resnick. In the former list A. Wallis Myers has included five American players, while Tilden has included only three. It will also.be seen that Australia is not represented in the list compiled by A. Wallis Myers.