TENNIS.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LVIII, Issue 14396, 31 December 1910, Page 8

TENNIS.

(By “Volley.”)

FORTHCOMING TOURNAMENTS. Mun&ivatu Championships and Handicaps.—Palmerston North, January 2,3, ami 4. Pahiatna Championships and Handicaps.—Pahiatna, January 2 and 3. ■Wellington Provincial Championships.— Masterton, January 21. 23, and 24. Masterton Handicaps. Masterton, January 21, 23, and 24. Dannevirkc Championships and Handicaps.—Dannevirko, January 21, 23, and 24. Taranaki Championships and Handicaps.—New Plymouth, January 26, 27, and 28.

In ladder matches at Fitzroy this week A. Am bury succcssfullly defended the title of top man against Lints, the score being Lints was not quite up to form, while Ambury played a good v gamo. For third position P. C. Ambury boat L. C. MTsaao, CO—4J. As 3. J. Smith lias now joined the _ suburban club, all the men players wilK drop one place, Smith playing in the premier position.

With the inclusion of the last-named and also Harry Bromlinore, who was placed scratch in the B Grade singles at the Blenheim tournament, the Fitzroy eight is considerably strengthened. Without A. Ambury and .Brondmore the team more than held its own against its old Stratford rivals, W.Y.M.1., on Tuesday last. Last week’s Sydney Referee says: “Mr. 11. A. Parker left for New Zealand to compote in the championships to bo played at Blenheim, a town on the north of the South Island. Parker’s strongest opponent is Swnnston, who is quite good enough to. perhaps, beat Parker if the latter is in form. If out of, form, Parker will go down for certain.”

Swanston apparently did not play at the championship ‘meeting, although Peacock was too good for Parker in the semi-final. As this match ran into four sets, some comment .. should Jdo interesting. As decided at the New Zealand meeting this week, the various championships of the Dominion now stand;— Men’s Singles (former champion, A. Wilding).—J. C. Peacock.

Ladies’ Singles .(former champion Miss L. Powdrcll).—Miss Travers. Men’s Doubles (.former champions Peacock and Fisher). —J. C. Peacock and F. M. B. Fisher. Ladies’ Doubles (former champions, Misses Powdrcll and A. Gray).— Misses Travers and Wcllwood. Combined Doubles (former champions, Miss Nunnelly and A. Wilding).— Miss Wcliwood and H. A. Parker. The Press' Association representative, at Blenheim is,not nearly so prompt or accurate as lie might ho. I remember only too well how much care had to be taken to see that every match was properly sent when the championships were decided hero some three years ago. However, tho correct results must come sooner or later, and next week’s notes should bo brimful of interest, A visit to tho Park Club’s courts in tho Recreation Grounds reveals that tho club has worked wonders in the short timo which has elapsed since the idea was first mooted of establishing tennis and croquet courts on a weed-infested and overgrown portion of the public park. The courts are delightfully situated, within a mile of the Post Office, and just above tho big lake in tho Recreation Grounds. They front the Carrington Hoad. There are five courts in all four for tennis and ono for croquet. Tho four are in fairly good order for the first year, seeing that they wore grassed out so late in the present season. Tho croquet lawn is not so good, so for a while tho ladies with their mallets will have one of tho tennis lawns. Another area has just been levelled and sown, and S tliis, too, will probably. ho used by the croquet players. All the tennis courts arc now enclosed with wire netting twelve feet high, wired on iron standards, and the croquet lawn will he fenced with sixfeet netting. A neat little clubhouse, with verandah, lias just been erected, opening but on tho new lawn. This comprises dressing-rooms for ladies and gentlemen, the usual offices, an open clnbroom, a small room (o he used by the ladies for storing their afternoon tea appurtenances, and a toolhousc for the caretaker.

The chib is not cramped for room, and a good promenade, already partly planted with native shrubs, has been made alongside the tennis courts, and outside tho wire netting. On the other side there is tho fringe of. tho trees in tho Recreation Grounds. Tho courts are to be opened next Tuesday afternoon by the president of tho club (Mr. R. Cock), and an invitation has been extended (per medium of tho secretaries) to tho various' chibs to ho represented. _ Tho committee expects that there will ho quite a large gathering of the general public on tho courts on this occasion, because the courts are made in a public park, and represent good work done in the common interest by beautifving' and utilising the grounds. Club members are notified that the period in which the snbpcrintions are payable" at the loivcr rate will expire cq the opening day. After that the full membership foes (3us and 20s) will bo charged.