LAWN TENNIS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 12777, 22 October 1919, Page 2

LAWN TENNIS.

AMONGST THE CLUBS. Perfect weather prevailed last Saturday afternoon when the opening ceremonies were performed in a number of the tenuis courts in and around Christchurch. The season has now been commenced in practically all of the clubs, and the prospects can be regarded as being very bright indeed- Now that the war is over there is every indication of a prosperous time for tennis clubs, and the game is growing in favour to such an extent that, new clubs are being formed every year. During the war period many or the clubs discontinued their competitions, but these will be revived with renewed enthusiasm and energy. All of the clubs report a. big number of new members, and with the soldier players back again there is a possibility of something like congestion prevailing at the courts on Saturday afternoons. The Canterbury Lawn Tennis Association has decided to revive the interclub matches, which will be commenced next Saturday. Owing to the congested state of the clubs’ courts it has been found impossible to play the ladies’ matches on Saturdays, but if sufficient 'support is obtained the association will arrange a competition for either evenings or some other afternoon in the week than Saturdays. Until the meeting of the association is hold tonight it will not be known what its intentions arc regarding tiio ladies' competition, but there appears to be every probability of suitable arrangement's being made. Unfortunately tho;;© has not been a great deal of enthusiasm shown by the clubs in the matter of entering teams for the men's matches, but it is hoped that at least eightteams will be entered, and that a good, competition will result. The reason' - ’ why the clubs arc not evincing much keenness in the matter appears to ho that their membership in most cases is so large that they do not feel disposed to give up the courts to the association on Saturday afternoons for inter-club matches. For this reason, alone, two of the leading clubs, United and Ar onside, are not entering teams for the “ A ” Grade matches. Unless some deficit© action in the direction of forming association courts is taken before long the association may find it difficult to secure courts for inter-club matches. For many years past there has been talk of association courts, but very little has been done. A good deal of data, has been collected and several proposed grounds art? under consideration ; but as yet the association has not felt disposed to take the plunge- Jt must be admitted that it is a big step to take, for to fulfil requirements something like twenty courts will be necessary, and these will cost a lot of money. But there are a lot of clubs in Canterbury and a big number of people, other than tennis players, who would be willing to support the project. If concerted action were taken by all the chibs affiliated to the association, a good sum of money could ho raised. Mr G. L. Berry, secretary- of the Avonside Club, states that ho can practically guarantee to obtain £IOO from bis club for the purpose, and most likely other clubs would contribute in like proportion. It is understood that the association intends to go carefully into the matter this season, because it is recognised that such courts are not a luxury, but an absolute necessity. ; Tennis, it may be said, ditters from practically all other outdoor sports in that it does not depend for its success upon interclub competitions. Without competitions, football, cricket, hockey and other clubs would soon fall to pieces, but the reverse is the case with tennis. Tennis players may he divided into three cla-sscs—those who are keen to be champions; those who play merely for the pleasure of the game; and those who play merely because it is good exercise. Of these the first are in the minority in most clubs, and the difficulty has been to arouse sufficient enthusiasm to persuade members even to take part in club competitions. But with association courts a new interest will be created, and there should be greater keenness to take part in the competitions. The .social advantages of tennis are particularly good, but a .greater endeavour must bo made for the cultivation of interclub competitions. One matter to which the association should give consideration at once is the revival of interprovincial matches. Since 1915 none of these matches have been held, but now that the war is over, there is no reason why they should not be arranged straight away. Otago to very keen to make a start, and a match between Canterbury and Otago, it arranged, should lead to other intcrprovincin! matches being held soon afterwards. Another thing is chat such matches bring the game before the public, which is always a good thing. The Opawa Club intends to hold a club tournament on Labour Day, when ladies’, men’s and combined doubles will be played. The tournament will commence at 11 a.m . and a good day’s enjoyment is expected, between sixty and seventy entries having already been received by Mr Tv.. W. Maples, the secretary. Arrangements are also in train for Inviting about twenty or thirty soldier patients front the Orthopaedic Hospital, to be the guests of the. ’dub at the tournament. Airs Davie, of Fendalton, is going to look after their comfort and see that they enjoy themselves. Misses E. Bowron and A. Menzies are the, guiding spirits in connection with the arrangements for the tournament. Bv the way, the Opawa dub has decided to enter one team for the “ A ” grade competitions and two for the lt B” grade, also two teams for the ladies’ competitions if tho association proposes to hold them on a week-day afternoon, other than Saturdays. The writer of this column would bo pleased if secretaries of tennis clubs, in and around Christchurch, would send him notes of any matters of interest in connection with their clubs, for publication in this column on Wednesdays. —ONLOOKER.