ANNUAL MEETING.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16942, 17 January 1923, Page 2

ANNUAL MEETING.

ELLESMERE COUNTY TROTTING CLUB. There wa? a large attendance at tho annual meeting of the Ellesmere County Trot tinp Club, which, was held at Locston on Monday night. Mr P. Delargey presidBeforn the business was proceeded with tho president, referred to the death of Mr R. Patterson, an enthusiastic member of the club, and vote of condolence was carried in silence. Tho annual report stated that the club had experienced a. very successful year financially and otherwise. There had been some excellent sport, on the day of the club's annual race meeting. Last winter a deputation had journeyed to ■Wellington in regard to a totalisator permit. The club's request, had not been granted, but there were hopes that the permit would be forthcoming in the not distant future. Thanks was duo to the president, of the Canterbury Owners' and Breeders' Association, and the Hon Sir Heaton Rhodes, for the support given tho deputation. Hearty thanks were duo to all who had assisted the club. The balance-sheet showed a. credit, balance in hand of Js29 7s. which would he increased to about £4O when certain outstanding amounts were handed in. The president and other members commented upon the satisfactory position of the club. The action of the president and secretaryin applying for Saturday. April 21, as the date for the annual race meeting, was approved be- the meeting. Officers were elected us follows: Patron, Hon Sir Heaton Rhodes, K.R.K.; president, Mr Trie M'Gill; vice-presidents. Mr P. Delargey. Captain Tahu Rhodes, Messrs AV. .1. Lemon. J. Nixon, J. H. Prosser. AV. .7. Doyle. A. Quigley. AV. Scott, R. T. M'Millan. AV. Lochhead, F. O. Andrews, and S. Johnston: committee, Messrs R. (J. M'Clure, A. E. AVithell. Bern M’Evedy. P. B. Clausen. R. T. Buchanan, d. P. M’Evedy. H. Gardiner. R. Wallace, G. Nairn. E. G. Wright. W. J. Woods. M. Brown. D. Millar. G. Haonaford. S. J. AVickliffe, W. H. Abbott. F. Rowell. G. Ridden. T. G. Harper, A. B. M’Evedy, G. M ’ll wraith. T. E. Prosser. L: Prosser. AV. C. Sbilt-on. S M. Jackman. T, Grosser. C. G. Fisher: judge, Mr A. DickroD: timekeepers, Messrs W, S Mitchell and J. H. Prosser; handicapper, Mr F. C. Thomae; clerk of scales. Mr W. Scott; clerk of course. Mr M Nottingham; starter, Mr J. R. Tompkins; hon vet surgeon. Mr A. Taylor. F.8.0.V.&.; surgeons. Dra B. Volckman and T. J. Ick-Hewfne; hon secretary. Mr F. E. Kesteven; hon treasurer, Mr S. Johnston. Messrs P. Delargey. W. J. Woods. R. T. M’Millan, Johnston, and the president were appointed a programme committee. Mr Delargey suggested that the yards sj-stem of starting ehould he adopted. An honorarium of ten guineas was voted to the hon secretary (Mr F. E. Kesteven), and members spoke in appreciative terms of his services to the club. A hearty vote of thanks was also accorded the Ellesmere Pipe and Brass Bands.

, strong personality and determination, hacked L> forceful strokes, with splendid finish and her cl work, make her a formidable opponent. Mrs Lasoclles plays a. wondorlul backhand quite imi orthodox, hut tremendously effective, with a severe drag on :t. Her volleying is strong, hut her forehand, which her pace enables, her to protect to a certain extent, i* vulnerable. Mias Cray is one of the most fascinating players of the party, with a beautifully free tyle, a flip orivo, well covered up. and with great pace. Strong in all departments, including lobbing, she drew much applause from the gallery. Mi SB Lloyd is more ot the steady or- '• der. sound, and combining in her play a careful study of her opponents’ weakr esses, which she exploits on every Form at the second meeting was all ai sen, says " Huka ” in the “ Fveiling Post, ” referring to the Hawke’s Lay tournament. Some pla>ers a.pared t’o come on whilst others appeared to go off. This has caused cornI ment on t.he selections made for the New Zealand teams, but it has to bo remembered that the teams were picked on the true form shown at the New Zealand meeting. Teams cannot be t hanged every time there is a boil-over. The Hawke’s Bay Association and the Hastings Tennis Chib should make a, ‘■ubstantial profit over the meeting. It j i.- to he hoped that they do. Next year will see the old faces gathered togathered together again at the New Zealand meeting in the South Island, and from opinions declared Mnrlbor'ough is the fancied spot. It is more central than most places, barring Wellington. and the young plovers who were I locked Inst year through short leave, may be able to attend. It is time they got at it, ns the big events are waiting there to be lifted by .youthful tigour, provided it has a little brains behind it. Reviewing the men’s play at the New ! Zealand championships at Hastings, the Auckland 1 * Herald ” writer says . One can only express regret that on the men's side it has not only not improved, but is actually deteriorating. Ollivier, Laurenson, Sim and Peoc'oek are certainly not within fifteen ot their game of previous years, and one can only hope that the season’s practice Avill restore their full armoury oi strokes, which have thrilled tho spectators in past year. There were good rallies, which called forth applause, but the absence of thrill was most noticeable. Enterprise was wantj ir.g in many games, especially in the Ollivier versus Sims’ contest. The latter seemed to be endeavouring to wear out the back of the backhand corner of the court, so persistently did lie attack there, but his net play was neglected, and his delicately executed drop shots were completely absent. It was a peculiar feature of the game that Ollivier only took the net when hard pressed, as he invariably evened up the score when he. took the risks, and on those, occasions his display tvas most finished. His easy stroke execu tion and soundness in all departments of the game marks bis play as the best lor young players to model themselves upon. His win in the final was a triumph for good timing. Laurenson who, of course, was never a great I stroke player, but relies on his activj itv and eye. hacked by splendid smashing, was not so attractive as in past years, his smash often being faulty, i even when it scored. The writer reI members many a tlrr-ill when Laurenson got on to a toss, hut faulty timing, o Hack of length, often marred his work at this tournament. Tt. was pleasing, however, to sec Peacock and W alInce in something like their old form. The latter, especially, pleased the pub In- immensely by the manner in which lie always went for bis shot, and f'or the sporty, yet unostentatious manner in which be quietly prompted the umpire when a ball, doubtful to the latter, was seen by himself to be against him. Perhaps the frequent vfists of the Davis Cup players to Auckland have led ns to expect an enterprising game on the part of our men, but certainly tennis will nut improve until they aie prepared to hit for aces when opportunity occurs, instead of waiting for a break down on the part of tlieir opponent. Force your opponent into errors by al! means, but by pace or placement, not by machine-like regularity. One player especially, of whom a good deal had been heard, was expert in this latter respect, and pulled his opponent's game down whenever ho played, hut his own success can only reach a limited standard. Of the Aucklanders, Robson, Griffiths, and Page Miowed fair form. There is no doubt that the lateness in opening our courts on grass hampers the form of the northern players, and Robson especially, with (he variety of shots to work up, needs ■j tournament or two before he produces his best. His serving was undoubtedly the best at the tournament, and he repeatedly scored aces with his bullet service. One should take n grain of salt with American comments on coming champions, but the following paragraph is interesting : Miss Helen Willis, the 10-year-old C alifornian girl, has been upsetting i the women’s tennis firmament by sudI i.'culy popping out as the brightest star in all its galaxy. Miss "Wills is picked by all the experts in tennis as n coming champion of shampions V\ ithout doubt, in another year she will eclipse the great French champion, Mcllle. Lenglen, as she will surely eclipse Mrs Mallory and other American racket experts. When Miss Wills was ( 13 and was playing at home as a member of the Girls’ Tennis Club, of Berkeley. California, she won the girls’ national tennis championship. She heat. -Miss Virginia Carpenter, of Philadelphia, in straight sets, 63, 6—3. Last year, on her second trip East, she was runner-up to Mrs Mallory in the national championships. Helen is a big girl for her age, big-limbed ajsd powerful. She has a. wrist that a man could b© proud of. Yet she is only 16 and looks and dresses the part of a. i6-year-old school girl. She. wears a middy blouse, short skirt, white stockings, white shoes, and a large white eye-shade that, she designed and made herself, and which she looks upon with the pride of an invontoi. Miss W ills’» technique is superior to that of any 'other girl or woman player. She is nearly faultless in her baseline game, net. and overhead, as well as in ground ♦•Lvokes. Her technique is superior to that of Mrs Mallory, who has mastered < niy a strong baseline game. She should win from Mrs Mallorv when they meet again, as she has all the shuts.