THE TENNIS SEASON

Taranaki Daily News, 8 November 1935, Page 12

THE TENNIS SEASON

COACHING PLAN FAILS . CLUB ACTION .NECESSARY (By “Rally.”) It is unfortunate that the Taranaki Lawn Tennis Association’s attempts to obtain the services of A. N. Campbell, Wanganui, for professional coaching have failed because Campbell is not available. The result means, .of course, that the scheme will have to be dropped this ■A year, for it as unlikely that many clubs, ' at a cost of about £7, will accept Campbell's offer for week-end coaching. One or two clubs, notably Hawera and Stratford, are likely to do so, but most North Taranaki clubs will ptobably carry on without the coaching. The failure of the association’s attempts to sectire a coach .gives senior players in all Taranaki clubs the opportunity of showing their enthusiasm by coaching juniors in their clubs. The jgawera "club has passed a resolution requesting the senior players to -do so, and other clubs, ■ including Inglewood, have shown the same enthusiasm. If the clubs’ schemes are carried through the juniors should 6 benefit almost 'as much as with professional coaching. t& ® „

’ If - tennis players, showed their enthusiasm for, annual coaching schemes it ' wouldt.be worth the while of the association to consider taking the earliest steps for next year.'Coaches may be unable to give definite answers when approached, but the earlier a decision is arrived at '’the better, and steps should be taken before , the end bf the season to have a moach definitely appointed for 1936-37. o’

The abnormal weathe; in Taranaki this summer—if the season can be called that—has hindered tehnis considerably \ and ’few players have shown anything like form. The conditions have particularly. hindered grass court clubs. Too long a delay at the start of the season is liable to wreck any player’s dreams

of reaching Perry’s standard after three months’ play. ■ ■ ■ * # ~•# « Wet weather with hardly a break since the opening of the season put tennis out of the question at Stratford. The Stratford club members may begin ladder games this week as the committee has made the ladder open to challenge, and it is expected to have the men’s and women’s Walter Cup competitions under way before the end of the month with a view to disposing of two rounds before the end of the year. It has been practically decided to secure the services, of a professional coach during February, and keen members have already ’ agreed to take advantage of the coach’s visit. Petrie Shield Matches. The Petrie Shield tennis competition for teams front Central Taranaki clubs will not begin till January. Country clubs enter, teams, in the competition and ds country players have little leisure between now and January it is impossible to start the competition before then. Country Tennis. Tennis has established itself as one of the leading summer sports in Central Taranaki country districts. A few years ago country tennis courts were mostly privately owned; now even the smaller centres have at least one court, several have two and the more ambitious clubs have considered laying down a third. The game hag the advantage where country people are concerned that it can be played at odd times to coincide with what/spare time L available and a country player may enjoy it fully without having to be a member of a team. Table tennis in England has shown an amazing increase in popularity since the world championships were held there last year. It is no longer looked s upon as “ping pong,” and the competition for the Swathling Cup, described as the Davis Cup of the game, has persuadca hundreds to take up the sport in earnest Leagues have been founded throughout the country, comprising as many as 51 clubs. The present world lawn tennis champion, Fred Perry,' graduated to the outdoor game from table tennis.