LAWN TENNIS

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18576, 26 September 1928, Page 12

LAWN TENNIS

NEWS FROM ALL THE COURTS.

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M. TILLMAN.

G. OUivw“Server,” tennis writer for the “N.Z. Referee,” has this appreciation -of G. OUivier, who is writing a series of articles for the “Star”;— * One of the outstanding pieces of news recently was that contained in a report that G. Ollivier, the present i New Zealand champion, was turning professional and would most likely be employed by the Canterbury Lawn : Tennis Association as a coach. Ollivier has created a New Zealand record for the number of times the same player has won the men's singles championship. He. won the title in 1910, 1914, 1919, 1922, 1924, 1925, 1927. He won the men's doubles championship in 1912, 1914, 1919, 1922. and the mixed doubles championship in 1912, 1913, 1921. The knowledge of the game that Ollivier possesses is second to none of anybody in the Dominion, and he has the advantage of being an expert in the production of all strokes. Many a player is indebted to Ollivier’s advice and performance for a considerable improvement in his play. Even to play against him in a match was an unforgettable experience, so full was it of the best teaching. His game was based on solid foundation without frills or fancies. A keen tennis brain directed the strategy which was carried out by strokes correct and of fluent ease. When going at top he was the essence of concentration, and he was never flurried, or hurried his shots, and he very seldom netted. He was always in position. He varied length, pace, and direction, with the greatest skill. By the simplest and most direct methods he called the tune which the opponent was compelled to dance to. He should make a great teacher and render incalculable service to Canterbury. X 3 H Junior Tennis. Mr W. J. Melody, the well-known Wellington player and the organiser and coach of junior tennis there, has launched a scheme in a letter to the Wellington “Dominion” which will have a far-reaching effect. He starts out by stating that J. C. Peacock, captain of our 1928 Davis Cup team, won the New Zealand Singles Championship twentyseven years ago. and that G. Ollivier, the present holder of the title, won the event seventeen years ago. He also points out that Peacock and Fisher and Wallace ■ and Dickie, who are all still in the first flight, won the doubles championship twenty-seven and twentyone years ago respectively. Mr Melody then says of the poor encouragement given to juniors to-day: “The body responsible for woeful lack of organised effort is the N.Z.L.T-A., in spite of the fact that the membership of affiliated associations has increased from 10,000 in 1913 to 26,000 in 1928.” Mr Melody's scheme is as follows:.Tn every tournament authorised each year by the N.Z.L.T.A., provision to be made for at least, one junior event, and that in May, 1929, and thenceforth every two years, a junior lawn tennis championship of New Zealand shall be held in Wellington, the entries to be limited to 32 of each sex, each player to have two “lives” and to receive a medal. Players to be billeted in Wellington. The N.Z.L.TA. to grant a subsidy of £1 a player, and.the association from whence they, are nominated to contribute £2 a player. Mr Melody makes other suggestions:—That the association draw up a junior ranking list. That clubs .give free membership to any promising- boy or girl living near the courts. That “father and son” and “father and daughter” tournaments be held. Mr Melody concludes liis appeal:— “The essence of the scheme is distribution; distribution of responsibility, distribution of sacrifice. From Dargaville to the Bluff, from the primary school player to the champion, from the ‘wayback’ secretary to the Dominion executive, all are involved; all must unselfishly co-operate if the great cause of junior tennis is to be advanced.” It. is hoped that the C.L.TA. will give this subject their best attention. K *.* The New Zealand Team. It is interesting to speculate on who will secure the coveted places in the New Zealand team to play the Englishmen in the test match next month. The placings of the national ranking list are G. Ollivier, E. Bartleet, D France, I. A. Seay and C. Malfroy. These were the best players of last year, but what their form will be so early in the season is not known. The team will have to be picked on form, and elimination trials are hardly possible. G. Ollivier should be in good trim, tie has been playing twice a week during the winter, one afternoon at Avonside on the asphalt and the other afternoon on en-tout-cas. Bartleet has probably been playing golf during the winter. He usually does, so, unless he has been getting in some practice, be will be rather rough. D. France has been playing tennis and Badminton so will be m nick. Seay is a golfer. Still he has had a few games and was hitting freely at practice on Dominion Dav. It is not known yet under what system the match will be played. It may be that a different pair from the singles players will contest the doubles. This was done against the Frenchmen, when Knott and Sturt played in the doubles. Under this arTangement, more players get experience. If the singles players are used in the doubles, then probably Ollivier will pair with Seay and Bartleet with France. Bartleet would probably pair up well with France, but the combination has never previously been tried. For the South Island match, which is expected to be allotted to Christchurch, and for which S. M’Dougall, R. Browning and G. Ollivier are the selectors, the team will probably be G. Ollivier, I. Seay, C. Angas, and W. Bray. Brav, on the strength of his eight wins *of the Otago championship, can hardly be overlooked; he will make the team more representative. Bray gave Seay a good fight last time they met, taking the first set 'at something like 12-10. Bray also has beaten Patterson. Gianville beat Bray in the Exhibition championship meeting. “Dan” is playing a good game at present and* is in great form. Probably if a series of elimination games were played, Glanville would get the fourth place. K. Walker, as far as is known, is playing golf, and T W. Patterson is likewise a golf fan this year. A well-known tennis enthusiast said of Canterbury men's chances: “If Ollivier is playing up to his championship form and Seay up to his form in February, and Angas plays above himself, then the South Island will have three wins.” 2* The Badness of Cuthbert Brown. “I do not like tennis.” said Cuthbert Brown. “Up till a- fortnight ago JL could read about Tilden and Lacoste with a detached interest, the same as I read about Tunney and Heeriey. I was interested. That was all. Now my attitude is changed. As I said before, I dislike the game.” "Why? Because tennis is effeminate? Yes. I know a man lias to be lit.to play, and all that, sort of thing,

but the effeminate part is the feminines that play it. If women play, it is effeminate, isn’t that logic? I say it is. “I. get my holidays in September, when no one else does. I can’t go anywhere and the first day of my holiday I was sitting in our boardinghouse sun porch when a girl called Mabel Jones, who is staying with the landlady—a niece or something—came breezily in and said, ‘lsn’t it a delightful morning for a game of tennis?’ “Now mostly I’m honest, but this girl was pretty and here was me with nothing to do and all day to do it, so I said evasively, “ ‘lt’s a good day for tennis and a good day for the beach, and a good day for the hills, too.' She laughed delightedly*. Pretty teeth, too. “ ‘I knew you could play tennis. I told Mrs Hicks that you walked just like Mr Ollivier. Why not give me a set this morning?’ “ ‘I have no racquet.’ “ ‘l’ll lend you one.’ “I pondered. I do play tennis, but not very well. Anyhow any man should beat a girl—especially a midget like her. “After the first set she said, ‘You don’t play very well, do you?’ and that remark stung me. It fair got my goat. The next set I also lost,-but the third I-determined to win. T tore all over the court till the perspiration formed pool? wherever I stood. I ran into the fence twice and skinned my nose, and once I fell down and marked my freshly laundered trousers. Still I was undaunted. There’s a proud spirit burns in. us Browns’s. We re last-ditchers. I determined to beat that girl or bust. “By super-human play I brought the score to five-all. I was that tired that the girl and the net and everything was a blurred image. I tottered as I stood- I staggered as I ran, but that unconquerable soul of mine still held sway. “‘Five all* and ‘forty-thirty,’ and my serve. The girl put back a short one. How I raced for it. How I ran. At the finish I must have been running at about a hundred miles an hour, and then I don’t know what happened, whether I tripped or what, but the next second I hit the net—fell over it —spun round the wire till it broke, and then finished up with yards of net wound round me. “When I came to she was looking curiously at me through the holes. “ ‘lt’s my point,” she said, ‘you touched the net.’ “I gave in and put in the rest of my holiday in bed. And tennis—l hate the very name.” How Helen Wills Got her Name. Miss Helen Wills relates:—“l was fifteen,” she says, “playing in my first tournament at Forest Hills, when a newspaper man gave me the-name, and it has stuck ever since. I was surprised when I analysed the term, and realised its meaning. It seems that the name Poker Face indicates that there is never a change in expression. I was surprised, for would not changes of feeling, and I am certain that I had them, be answered by changes of expression? Evidently not. Perhaps it is because, when I play, I become entirely absorbed in the game. It may be a form of concentration. It must be this, as I know that I am not entirely without feeling upon the court. I love the feel of hitting the ball hard, the pleasures of a rally. It is these things that make tennis the delightful game that it is.” She also gives the secret of adjusting a bandeau: “The secret of preparing a good head band for tennis is this: Take a long piece of chiffon, cut it into a strip about two yards in length, and about five inches in width, then press one end tightly to your head, and wind firmly until you can tuck the remaining end snugly under the bandeau at the back of the head. Barrington Club. The Barrington Club is looking forward to a good year. The annual meeting was most enthusiastic. Mr R. L. Rickerby is this year's president, Mr P. Hand secretary, and Mr D. Lane treasurer. The four courts are in good order and the membership is now close to one hundred. Two cups have recently been presented, one by Mr S. Good for the men’s handicap singles and the other, a men’s championship cup, a very massive trophy, was given by Mr H. C. Lane. The first name to go oil will be that of G. Chambers, who is this year’s winner. Miss L. Johnston won the ladies’ event.. It is much regretted that this lady is leaving the club. Another leading iadv, Mrs Gill, has gone to reside in the country, and has resigned her membership. Opening day is fixed for October 6, and the committee are anxious to present all the trophies on that day. The men’s singles handicap has been won by D. Lane, but the ladies’ handicap singles is not finished. 2£ Si Si Where Are They Now? Recently I was handed the programme of the 1900 New Zealand championship meeting. Twenty-eight years ago, nearly twenty-nine. And of the names there only a few of them are familiar today. \V. Goss was there—a learner. He played in the second grade handicap event. It was either his first or second year at the game. A. Borrows, although champion of Otago, was receiving “three-sixths” with R. D. Harman and H. A. Parker, N.Z. champions, on “owe 15 3-6” and F. M. B. Fisher and J. C. Peacock both on “owe 15.” The latter pair were one of New Zealand’s really great combinations. The two understood each other’s play, and teamed well. In the second grade handicap event were T. W. Lewis on “rec. 15 3-6” and C. M. Ollivier, cousin of G. Ollivier, “rec. 3-6.” The other names are forgotten except in some cases where sons are to-day making good. E. Russell won the event from R. Nunneley, brother of the lady champion. The first, grade handicaps event was won by young Anthony Wilding “rec. 15” from A. Borrows. The men’s doubles was won by a pair, with the quaint combination of descriptive names, White and Broad. E. Waters and L. Saxon were runrutrs-up, and other pairs to get close were M. E. Denniston and R. Nunneley, G. W. Bishop and A. W. Bickerton. The combined doubles went to D. Craig and Miss M. Williams. Rm ashing It would be interesting to hold a race with our tennis players as competitors and see who could run backwards, sav ten yards, in the shortest time. The secret of smashing is in the ability to run backwards quickly, it always seems as though the ability to get back is allied with ability to smash. Borotra did not merely smash sitters, but he smashed everything that went into the air. E. Boddy, who puts away anything overhead without fall, moves nearly a.s fast backwards as forwards. In suburban circles. A. M’Keown is the best man overhead. « ss j* The English Terrain view of next month’s visit to Christchurch of the English team, the following placings are of interest. D. M. Greig, the English Davis Cup

player, put E. Higgs first on the national ranking list, J. Gregory third, H. W. Austin fifth, I. G. Collins tenth. F. R. Burrow, official referee at Wimbledon, put Higgs first, Gregory third, Austin fourth, and Collins twelfth. Hamilton Price has Higgs first, Gregory second, Austin fourth and does not place Collins. Powell Blackmore. another authority, puts Higgs first, Gregory fourth, Austin '-‘fifth and Collins tenth. From these placings, it will be seen that the first three of the visiting team, Higgs, Gregory and Austin, are undoubtedly representative of England’s best, and it will be a great chance to see how our players compare.