CROQUET FOR THE SEASON

Taranaki Daily News, 10 November 1932, Page 10

CROQUET FOR THE SEASON

NORTH TARANAKI PLAY

“LIFT” SHOT LAW ADDITION.

AROUND THE DIFFERENT CLUBS.

(By

“Hoop.”)

The second day of the croquet competitions in North Taranaki fell yesterday and players were favoured with fine weather and splendid greens. The results of the .day’s play are contained in another column. “Lift” Shot Law.

With inter-club and other competitions under way, players should he acquainted with the addition to law 44 which deals with the “lift” shot. If a player or his partner has pegged out a ball he is not then entitled to a lift. A.case in point arose at Wellington last week when a player pegged out her ball and left her partner’s ball near the peg for her to do likewise in her next turn. But the opponent hit the ball and made several hoops including “four back.” In a subsequent turn, the solo player, in error, lifted hex - ball to baulk in th© impression that she was entitled to do so. However, that privilege had been forfeited when her partner had pegged out her own ball. It is important that players should know the rules of the game and captains of the clubs would be well advised to call their players together and explain the additions to the laws before inter-club matches have been proceeded with very far. Play at Kawaroa.

With no inter-club matches on November 2, the members of the Kawaroa club decided to have all-day play with a draw for an A and B on handicap. Owing to rain in the morning, play was postponed until 2 p.m. when the lawns were full and good play was enjoyed. Members are already anxious to start their ladder matches. Progressive croquet has (again been started for half-an-. hour on each Thursday afternoon and each player’s aggregate score is kept. The player with the highest score at the end of the season will hold the trophy for the year. ■ New Plymouth Club.

Members of the New Plymouth club were entertained at afternoon tea on Saturday by Miss Pavitt (president) and Mrs. Griffin (vice-president). In recognition of her years of faithful service to the club, Mrs.. Curtis was unanL mously elected a life member. The popular handicap doubles event has been commenced at the New Plymouth club and the first round is to be eoncluded by November 19. The reserve surrounding the New Plymouth lawns has been wonderfully improved and credit is due to the East End Reserve committee for their efforts in this direction. At Pukekura Park.

Club matches are being concentrated on at the Pukekura Park greens, both the Hill Cup and Honor Buttons being competed for. Mrs. L. Bellringer has again been successful, playing and beating Mrs. Short in both competitions. In the Hill Cup Mrs. Walton beat Mrs. Goss, Mrs. Burke beat Mrs. Robertson, and Miss Musker beat Mrs. Dickson. Playing in the Honor Buttons, Mrs. Saunders beat Mrs. Robertson. Sensation in England.

One of the sensations in,the croquet world in England was the defeat of Miss D. D. Steel by N. Oddie in the open championship at Lewes. Oddle defeated Miss Steel in the first round in two straight games. In tho first one he had a margin of 13 points to his credit and in the second Miss Steel only.had one point to her credit. Oddie is a scratch player and Miss Steel is minus 3. Play throughout the tournament was of a very high standard, one performer with eight bisques making a habit of “triple peels.” A noticeable feature was the number of youthful players who had entered for the. tournament, several of them forsaking the tennis racquet for the croquet mallet. In one event the finalists were surely May and December adversaries —the latter was 58 years older than his young opponent. Cost of Croquet in England.

Croquet is a fairly expensive game in England. To become a member of the Rahelagh club one is required to pay a £42 entrance fee and a yearly subscription of £ll Us. If the same expenses were required of players in the Dominion it is feared that the number of croquet players would be few and far between. At Ranelagh, however, there are compensations. Their Majesties and other Royalties may often be seen strolling about the grounds and, after the day’s play, the wins and losses may be thoroughly discussed around the cocktail bar. Such pleasures do not come the way of New Zealand players and some visitors from overseas have been known to comment on the fact that there were no facilities for the celebration of a good win. In England, too, sweeps are run on most big events and bets made on the chances of. “Mr. A” and “Mrs. B.” On the other hand croquet in New Zealand has many liberties denied tho English player. In England if a player is still in several events of a tournament when the final stages are being entered, the player is asked from which event he or she will withdraw as the course of th® tournament cannot bo delayed. This is unusual in New Zealand. In England the handicap events are frequently started at 1-back, which gives the player only six hoops and the peg to score. Such an innovation would be unpopular in New Zealand.

Friendly Games Aranged. t On Wednesday friendly games will be played by West End and New Plymouth seniors on the West End lawns while the intermediate members of each club will meet at New Plymouth. The Fitzroy and Kawaroa members meet on the same day at Kawaroa. West End Gala Day.

Several croquet games new to _ New Plymouth and • Taranaki will be introduced at the gala day arranged by the West End club for November 30. The gala days are too favourably known to require any recommendation. Personal Items.

Mrs. Chivers is visiting Hamilton. Mrs. Vickers has returned to New Plymouth after an enjoyable holiday in Auckland and Thames. Mrs. F. J- Morris returned from Hawera at the beginning of the week. Mrs. F. Hoskin (Pukekura Park), who met with a serious accident some time ago, is now about again. Coming Events.

Wairarapa tournament, Featherstone, November 29.

Canterbury tournament, Christchurch, December 26.

North Island championships, Palmerston Ndrth, January 3. South Island championships, Invercargill, January 3. Dominion championships, Lower Hutt, January 13, '