TENNIS TOURNEY AT TIMARU CONCLUDED.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18960, 6 January 1930, Page 6

TENNIS TOURNEY AT TIMARU CONCLUDED.

WILL BE PLAYED ON GRASS NEXT YEAR. The South Canterbury Lawn Tennis Association’s New Year tourney was concluded on the Timaru courts on Saturday, when there were only two- events to l»e decided, the combined doubles championship and the women’s handicap singles. The weathei- was bright and fine, but a strong nor’-wester made conditions rather difficult for the players. There was a fairly large gallery of spectators. The combined doubles championship resulted in a decisive win for W. G. Robertson and Miss M. Gibson (Timaru), who defeated Dr W. R. Fea and Miss D. Hart, also of Timaru, 6-0, 6-1. A good match was anticipated, but Robertson and Miss Gibson dominated the play from the net and the high tosses sent up by Dr Fea and Miss Hart proved futile in the wind. The match occupied only a little over a quarter of an hour. In the handicap singles, Miss E. Melvin, Invercargill (scr), beat Miss A. Sheriff, also of Invei-cargill (owe 15 1-6), 9-3. Miss Melvin, who did not appear much troubled by the wind, took full advantage of her handicap and won easily, leading throughout the match. In presenting the cups. Dr W. R. Fea, president of the association, said that the tournament just concluded would be the last on the Timaru courts, as it was hoped that next year it would be held at Maori Park, where there were twelve new grass courts. It was anticipated that entries would be received from all parts of New Zealand when the New Year tournament was held on the grass courts. The cups were awarded as follows: Mitchell Cup, for women’s singles championship—Miss M. Gibson (Timaru). Cramond Challenge Cup. for men’s singles championship—S. G. M’Dougall (Dunedin). Fulton Cup, for men’s doubles championship—W. G. Robertson and G. Sumpter. In the first exhibition match Geoff Ollivier, seven times singles champion of New Zealand, and N. S. Cramond beat G. R. Innes Jones and G. L. Mackay, 6-4, 7-5. The feature of the game was the fine forehand driving by Ollivier and Mackay. The wind interfered considerably with the play. In a second doubles exhibition match, Ollivier and Dr W. R. Fea defeated W. G. Robertson and Warne Pearse, 9-6. In a singles match, Ollivier beat Robertson, 6-4, 6-2. In both games Ollivier’s superior courtcraft proved too much for his opponents.