CROQUET ASSOCIATION

Taranaki Daily News, 13 July 1933, Page 14

CROQUET ASSOCIATION

ANNUAL NORTH MEETING CREDIT ON YEAR’S WORKING. GAME MAKES GOOD PROGRESS. A credit of £ll Hs. 7d. on the year’s working was revealed at the annual meeting of the Taranaki Croquet Association at New Plymouth yesterday, when Mr. F. L. Hartnell presided over an attendance of about 30. ’ Although’ the attendance showed a distinct improvement on last year the president stressed’the wish that still more associates should attend the annual meetings. While no claim could be made that the year had been l one of record successes, good progress had been made, especially in view of the prevailing economic conditions. Continuing his review of the yeai, Mi. Hartnell mentioned the generosity the Fitzrpy and Kawaroa clubs “donating the Pellew Shield and the- Bennett Cun to the association for -competition among the clubs. At the beginning, of the last season all town clubs had opened on the same day, which was m an economy measure. AlUagreedjhat the inter-club matches had been responsible for splendid spirit among the competing players, while the', run of good father had made the competitions-most enjoyable from every point of view.

SEASON’S TROPHY WINNERS. ' Congratulations were extended to the New Plymouth club for winning tlie Bennett Cup, the West End club for annexing the Association Vase, and the KawaS “ub for its success in, the Pellew Shield ■ competition; The silver buttons of the New Zealand Council went .to Miss J Beal (Kawaroa), champion of champions, Mrs.- L. Bellringer (Pukekura Park), 8 grade, and Mrs. Hollows (Central) ’ C grade, - who were to be congratulated upon their improvement. If tfiey continued to improve they jrould be brilliant croquet players in the future. The Dr. Home Rosebowl had been won by the West End club. . . * The large number of friendly matches had been a pleasing feature of the playing season, continued Mr. Hartnell. In no other, year of the associations history had so many such matches been played; Another good aspect of the season was the fact that many associates had competed in outside tournaments. It Was only by playing, with the best players of other centres that a player s game could be rapidly improved. Two contests had been staged between the six best players , of the two Taranaki associations, both the north and the south representatives scoring wins. Referring to the annual tournament, Mr. Hartnell expressed the hope that its success had further enhanced the popularity of the fixture. An innovation ati the last tournament was that the cater- | ing was carried out by. the clubs, which retained any profit, and he expressed gratitude. to those who had assisted to make the tournament the success it was. STATEMENT OF ACCOUNTS. Tn paying a tribute to the Press for the part played in popularising croquet Mr. Hartnell referred in particular to the interest created by the capable notes appearing weekly under the nom-de-plume of “Hoop.” In conclusion he extended his thanks to the vice-presidents, secretary and council for able assistance and splendid work. The statement of accounts showed a balance of £66 Is. Id., the credit on the year’s working being £ll Hs. 7d. Mr. Hartnell explained that a portion of the credit was undoubtedly due to gifts, but the credit was more than could be . shown by some larger associations. A i profit of £5 9s. 7d. had been made on ' the tournament, and that was satisfac- ■ tory considering that catering proceeds > had gone to the clubs concerned instead i of to the association. There were no t liabilities. The value of trophies had in- ; creased by £lO, the donation of the i Bennett Cup and Pellew Shield having swelled that total. Regarding donations,

it was explained that Mrs. A. S. Clark and an anonymous donor had. given £3 and £5 16s. respectively towards the purchase of an association trophy. It was decided to hold the future annual meetings during June instead of July. :' ' ," , The meeting decided to recommend to the council that a tournament be held as übual. Officers for the year were elected as follow:—Patron, Dr. G. Home; president, Mr. F. L. Hartnell; vice-presidents, Mrs. A. H. Codd and Miss G. Pavitt; handicapper and referee,. Mr. Hartnell; local* handicappers, Mesdames A. S. Clark, E. Tingcy and R. Burke; secretary, Mrs. A. S. Clark.’ '