TENNIS NOTES.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 19807, 26 November 1919, Page 2

TENNIS NOTES.

abound the clubs.

Although there has not been much beard of the proposed association courts during the past few weeks, the, subcommittee appointed by the Canterbury Lawn Tennis Association has been iii• vestigaling (he matter thoroughly, and mil present its report for consideration at a representative meeting of tennis players lo be held in tbo Y.M.Q.A next Wednesday. It is to bo hoped that there will he a, largo attendance of players from all clubs present af the meeting, and that a full and tree discussion will take place, for it is only by the interchange of ideas that the best results can he obtained. There aro many phases of the question which require consideration, but tho chief and most important matter is the raising of tho money for tho purpose. It is, of course, easy fo talk of laying down 20 or <lO court's, but talk is uo use unless it is backed by sound finance, and if the enthusiasts aro wise they will concentrate first of all on means of raising money for the purpose. 'Then there, is the question of asphalt versus grass; it looks as though a compromise will have to be agreed upon, whereby half of the courts will bo laid down in asphalt am! half in grass. Tho question of locality is also worthy of serious discussion, particularly (he suggestion that it may be possible fo obtain a portion of j.aneester Park for tlio purpose. The need of association courts should be obvious to every tennis player in Christchurch who is anxious to see the game advance, and it behoves as many players as possible to turn up at the meeting and sot the ball rolling, so (hat a, campaign may bo started at ouce for tho purpose of raising money.

The intorchib competition was resumerl lust Saturday afternoon in ideal weather. when St A Hums defeated Canterbury Col logo by o2 to Mo, and Opnwa defeated South Christchurch by 17 to •30, Addington baring a bye. 'ln the St Albaps-Canterbury College muieh it. was noticeable that most of the players had been playing on the, grass this season and were not in their host form for uspba.lt play. In fact it appears as though there is going to be a difficulty to keep the older and more expert players off the grass during the summer, and it is obvious that provision must he made at the association courts for grass players. It cannot ba said that the interclub has aroused a great deal of enthusiasm this season, which is disappointing considering the general prospects of tic clubs. To keep the standard of play high competition between the dubs is very necessary, but strange to say, tennis players are perhaps the most conservative of nil participators in outdoor sports.

There arc prospects that before long a. movement will bn made to establish a new tennis club in'Christchurch with grass instead of asphalt courts- The United Club is at present overcrowded, and it is not advisable that it should bo extended by the addition of more courts. What is needed is a. new club, in another part of the city with about half ii. dozen courts, and although this may seem a big undertaking, the venture is not beyond tho van go of possibility. Further, if there were another grass club in Christchurch inter-club matches could be played with United, which is now impossible owing to there being only tho one grass club in _Christchurch. This city lags far behind the North Island towns in the matter of grass courts, and any movement fm the establishment of a new club should receive ample, support. Perhaps the time may come when some of our asphalt courts may be dug up and grass courts put down in their places.

THE DAVTS OUT*. A Rood deal of interest is being taken in the Davis Cup contests, which will bo played l in Svdnev on January lU. 11 ami 11, 1920. The last time this valuable trophy was competed lor was in 19.14, when Brookes and AA tiding (Australasia.) defeated M’Laughliu and AVilLiams (America) at Forest Hill, near New York. In the singles M’Langhlin defeated both Wilding and Brookes, but tboso players evened np by bloth heating Williams. In 'the doubles Bundy played with M/Laughlin, but they were defeated by the Australasian players, who thus won the coveted world's championship. Owing to the risk of loss through suhmarines the cup was not brought out to Australia until recently, but it is now in Sydney or Melbourne, where it will remain until Australasia loses the championship. The position at the present time is that Franco. Belgium, South Africa and 1 * Ibo British Isles have challenged Australia, for the cnp. America did not issue a challenge because, they did not consider it fair owing to the loss of Wilding. Australia asked them to reconsider this decision, but America is still withholding a. challenge. So far the contest has progressed, by Franco defeating Belgium, England defeating South Africa, ami England defeating France. England thus secured the right to challenge, the holders, and a loam is now mi. ns way out to Australia.. Iho team, consists of Lieutenant-Colonel Ivingscote, .Arthur Lowe, A. .I 1 ,. Beamish and Woosna.ni. Norman Brookes says of this team than “it is the host'that could have been selected and Australia will find it jolly hard to beat them.'” The Australian team has not yet been picked, but it may bo taken as certain that Brookes and T’atrcrson will play in the. doubles and most likely in the singles as well. Brookes was champion tennis player of England while, them but Balturson challenged him and won in three straight sets. The reason for Brookes’? failure was said to lie. due to him not having bad time to practise sufficiently. Brookes was a prominent Y.M.Q.A. worker in England during the war, and Patterson was a lieutenant in the A.I.F.

In it • recent interview Nonuan Brookes, who has just returned te Australia, mentioned that the. conditions under which the Davis Cup j s contested wore the subject nf a prolonged dip. mission at an international meeting of

representatives of associations of tennis play ei’s hold in Paris this yoa.r. The American representatives suggested it was unfair that the “ cup should renin in longer than one year in any country,, and that each year it should he contested for in different countries, and that the same conditions should apply to the world's individual, championship, contested lor annually at Wimbledon, England.” This suggestion was not considered satisfactory by the International Association, so that the conditions remain as before—the Davis Cup to ho contested for in the country of the holders, and tiro world’s individual championship at Wimbledon. "However, ' said Mr Brookes, '‘’when m America .1 suggested to the loading associations there that a. wa.v out of the present difficulty would he for the Davis Cup to be played at present in the country of the- holder, to he followed by the world’s individual championship contest. Thai idea met with considerable acceptance in America, and it should he considered by the Australasian Association.”

Should Australia succeed in retaining the Davis Chip this year, we may expect a strong team from America, nextyear. Tile leading nlnvcrs in America are determined to make a hold hid to win the enp in IteiO. remarked Mr Norman Brookes reeentlv.

ADDIXfiTOX CEO. Hie Addington (flub lias just coin* nieneed a handicap tournament. For tile ladies’ doubles eight entries have been received, for the men’s doubles twelve, and for the. combined doubles 111 teen entries. The. tournament commenced last Saturday, and a number o 1 ’ games were pkfyed with various results, some very surprising. The tourimmcntMs being conducted strictly on Bawn lomiis Association rules, similar to those adopted at the. Easier lournnmont, the idea, hoi no: to a,cf)ua,int members with the mode of handicapping and counting scores. So lur tho linnc.mapping has proved very satisfactory, and on Saturday a largo number of players were on the courts. One Mousing feature of this club is the largo number of returned soldiers who nro again taking a keen interest in the game ; also tho number of vnung players who are coining on. ’Hus season promises to he the most successful tn the history of the chib. Next Fatur(laN,fbo following team will represent Addington against Ottawa, in the interclub competition:— -Messrs Munningß, Lerbndgo. Fame lough ami Potter, and tho games will be played on the home.” coiirla. r lho Wednesday evening practice games arc becoming increasingly popular and some of the keenest players are frequently seen on the courts for morning practice.

Tn most of the tennis clubs in Christchurch at present competitions are in progress, and secretaries and others are invited to send notes of these, matches and all other matters of interest in connection with their club for publieation in this column. It would ho a good idea for the committees to appoint one of their number as Press corespondent, for it is mainly through pnhlicity that tennis will advance, as it should advance. Notes should be addressed to " Onlooker,” ” Star ” OfficeONLOOKER.