LAWN TENNIS.

Waikato Times, Volume 110, Issue 18395, 31 July 1931, Page 11

LAWN TENNIS.

WAIKATO ASSOCIATION. 1 f ANNUAL MEETING. YEAR’S ACTIVITIES REVIEWED. The annual meeting of the Waikato Lawn Tennis Association was held at the Rugby Union Rooms last evening. Mr W. G. Fabling, president, presided over a good attendance of delegates from various parts of the Waikato. ■The annual report presented by the president, Mr W. G. Fabling, 'Stated that although passing through a a stage of depression the growth and popularity of the game had not been noticeably affected. In the district of the Association sub-associations and clubs had pnjoyed a measure of prosperity, been able to maintain their membership and to met their obligations to the governing body. Reference to the 'balance sheet would show that during the past season their financial position had improved and they should be able to commence the new season with a substantial credit balance. ' Practloally all outstanding affiliation fees had been collected and all accounts paid. During the season the treasurer had completed the Incorporation of the Association. Representative Matches. Last season it had been found impossible to carry out the full programme of representative matches. The banner competition w»as played and continues to be one of our most popular fixtures. The final match between the Hamilton Club and Waikato East was decided on the 'Hamilton Club’s courts and resulted in a victory for the Hamilton Club’s team. Matches arranged with Auckland and Thames had to be abandoned, the former owing to the late date of the 'fixture, and 'the latter owing to an alteration of dates and the Inability of Thames at the last minute to raise a team. Owing to club fixtures, and postponements from time to time, the Town and Country match was not played; this seems a pity as it has always been one of our most popular matohes. It seems very desirable that representative matohes should be played, and it might be a recommendation to the incoming executive to go into the matter, particularly the arranging of dates and the Importance of adhering to these-dates. It would probably be of assistance to the committee If the sub-associations would furnish the Association with a list of their outside matches. Easter Tournament. The Association's Easter tournament was held as usual on the Hamilton Club’s courts and was a most successful fixture —financially and otherwise. Record entries were received, both Auckland and our own districts being well represented. The Waikato entries have increased year by year, and it is most gratifying to the committee to note this increasing interest In the tournament. In both senior and Junior championship eWpits a high standard of play was maintained. Unfortunately owing to the weather conditions on" the concluding day of the tournament some of the final matches had to be postponed and were finished in Hamilton on a subsequent date. The Auckland players in the 'finals made a special trip through to compete and the thanks of the Association arc due lo these players for their sustained interest in the tournament. G. Brough, a member of the Hamilton

Club, won the singles championship after a spirited contest with Harrison of Auokland, the match extending to to the full five sets. The doubles event was won / by Messrs McCx-aoken and. Boach after a great fight with the other finalists, Messrs Seymour and Stevenson. McCracken played very sound and at times briliant tennis, and was ably supported by his partner, Roaoh, who has recently graduated from the junior rank, and is a piaver of great promise with an exoellent equipment of strokes.- The final of the combined championship was -played in Auckland and was .won by, Harrison and Miss McCrae. The ladies’ singles w'as won by Miss ■Potter, of Parnell Club,- Auckland. In the final Miss Potter outclassed her, opponent, Miss Newell, her pace, precision and versatility being quite up to championship standard.. • The junior championship was won by D. Livingstone, a member of the AVaipa West sub-association. From the early rounds Livingstone showed superiority In pace and aggressiveness and in the Anal match - with Clow-, of Cambridge, lie won in straight sets .with comparative ease. Clow appeared quite unable to contend with the pace set by his opponent and only in rare moments gave glimpses of his -true form. Both Livingstone and Clow are most promising juniors and very little below' the present senior standard of play. One of the most attractive in the tournament was the boy Matuschka—a diminutive lad of tender years, w r lio possessed a double-hand-ed, backhand stroke accurate and severe and well concealed. He rattled through round after round and scored notable victoi-les over .several vvell-seasoned opponents. He is a most promising junior. The courts were in splendid condition and the arrangements, generally, excellent. On account of the number of the enti-les combined with w’et weather, the match committee had a strenuous time and the committee wish to expressly-thank Messrs McCracken and Cox for their splendid organised efforts throughout the tournament. Junior Tennis. -

Last season the New Zealand -Lawn Tennis Association continued the campaign in support of junior tfennis. A sub-committee was appointed with instructions to frame regulations for the organisation and encouragement ol junior tenni-s. 1 Recommendations of a constructive i character were submitted to the general committee and modified by amendments were finally adopted. Now that the scheme has been adopted we are in duty -bound to support it and to so arrange our finances that we will be'in a position to meet the additional levy. It is quite obvious that the New' Zealand Lawm Tennis Association could not possibly, adopt any scheme for the organisation and improvement of junior tennis without the consideration-of financial to carry out their proposals. We are in a position to state that the junior cause is a live wire in our district, that in conjunction with the Association the clubs recognise their responsibilities in the oause and have done much to assist t and encourage the juniors in their, ■club areas. Anthony Wilding Memorial ChaHertge Shield. At the end of the season the Newgs| Zealand Lawn Tennis cided on a revision of the Wikouig Challenge Shield coinpetition,.,,Mxparently with the object of ,s.tiiiialating interest in the competition and dividing associations Into groups in order to ensure -an even grade -of competitions and play of championship standard. The following groups were decided upon:—Group 1: North Auckland, Thames Valley, AVaikato. ‘Group 2: Auckland. ' .’Group 3: Taranaki, Wanganui, and Ma'nawatu. Group 4; Poverty ißay, East Coast, Hawke s Bay and AVairarapa. Group 5: AVellington. Group C: -Marlborough, Nelson, AVest Coast. Group 7: Canterbury. Group 8: South Canterbury, North Otago, Otago, and Southland. Group 9: New Zealand Maori. The area in each group is to be that controlled by the district association or associations contained in that group. Finally I wish to thank the officers and members of the committee for their co-operation and -support during the past season and trust that the coming season will be one of further prosperity. \ ■The Association wishes to -thank the Hamilton Club for the use of its courts for the Easter tournament andj matches during the season. lii the ; ; -past the Association has had the use , of these oourts on 1 the -most generousj terms and now' that our financial position has improved we feel that we 1 should come to -an arrangement with’, the -Hamilton Club to pay a fixed annual rental for court, accommoda-; ti0 ln S ’remarldng upon -the membership of the different affiliated bodies, Mr E. A. Cox showed there had been a slight shrinkage, the total _ decrease | being 176. It was pointed out by the | chairman that the present member- - ship could bo considered highly satis factory, taking into account the difficulty of the times. A happy feature of the reading of the balance sheet was that the association was starting the season with a credit balance of £6O, being an increase of-.^ 1 some £SO over that of the previous year. Eleotlon of Officers. The election of officers for the ensuing year resulted as follows:—Patron, -Mri S. B. Sims; president, Mr W.. G. Fabling; vice-presidents, Messrs F. Sw'alne and D. Seymour and presidents of sun-associations; treasurer, Mr E. A. Cox; management committee, Messrs V. G. Alexander, F. McCullagh, A. E. McCracken, H. D. Samson,'A. W. E. Bragg, M. Rosie and A. AV. D. Paterson. Mr L. Champion was elected auditor. The appointment of a secretai’y was left to the management committee. The delegates to the New Zealand Association were Messrs E McCari'oll, ,S. Eiclielboum, L. Ilemery and Prof F. Wilson, were re-elected. Junior Play Levy. For the purpose of providing a fund for stimulating junior play the New Zealand Association had decided upon a small Increase In the levy already Imposed. Country delegates took objection to the increase, pointing out that the present levy was high enough for the country clubs. It was eventually decided that the Waikato Association should bear the brunt of the increase this year and-that, the matter, should be held over for the next annual, general meeting. Appreciation Expressed. For his valuable w-ork In bringing about the incorporation of the Association Mr E. A. Cox was accorded a vote of tiianks and a small honorarium was unanimously voted to him. A motion was carried expressing appreciation to the Hamilton Club for the use of fis courts.