LAWN TENNIS.

Waikato Times, Volume 118, Issue 19639, 27 July 1935, Page 10

LAWN TENNIS.

WAIKATO ASSOCIATION.

LAST SEASON REVIEWED. STRENGTH OF PLAYERS. ■ f ;» ; •■ • ' ' ' • Tennis in the "Waikato has a particularly good season, states the annual report of the Waikato iLavvn Tennis Association to he presented at the annual meeting in Hamilton on Wednesday. The long spell of dry ■weather was much enjoyed by players and as a result of 'continued play the standard was much improved. The number of players finder the Jurisdiction of the Association had in? creased- to 2105 which makes the Association the fourth' largest in New Zealand. Internal competition was keen .amongst members of the Association, tho Banner competition being fought out ip two zones. The finalists were •Hamilton Club and Waikato East Sub. Association, Hamilton Club proving •victorious in the final played at Malamata. A Town v. Country match was played In Hamilton early in Januarv and proved most enjoyable. Forty-eight .-of the Association’s leading players met in a competition which was won toy Town toy 26 sets to 15. It is hoped this will toe an annual fixture in the future.

lnter-provinclal Matches.

Inter-provincial matches were played: against .Taranaki and Auckland, topth of which teams visited Hamilton apd , Taranaki for. the first time. Hie "Waikato representatives were successful in winning both matches, due principally to the younger players. By doing so-the Association may toe regarded as‘one of the strongest in Nov\ Zealand at the present time. ; Both Taranaki and Auckland have been most .appreciative of\ the hospitality shown them. matches will probably be played next season. An innovation was made this year beholding the annual Waikato tournament at the end of January, immediately after the conclusion of the N.ew Zealand championships, instead of at Easter as previpusly., As a result of numerous players from the chafn- ’ pionshlps competing, as well as many of the 1 leading Waikato players, the play was of, a higher standard than ever 'before at a "Waikato- tournament.

•. Results of Championships. • '- • '■* * * X V a The following, were the winners of the events: —Men’s singles,’R. A. Ewin, Australia; men’s doubles, R. A. Ewin and R. Lees; ladles’singles, Miss J. Mueller; ladies’ doubles, Misses J., Mueller and P/ Sorby. Mr Ewin was, at the time, making's tour of New Zealand under (he auspices of the New Zealand Lawn Tennis Association. Two -fine silver cups were donated by Messrs A. G. Spalding and Bros., for the best tooy and girl players In the tournament. The first holders are R. Matuschka and Margaret Beverley. Serious consideration should he given 'as'to the advisability of continuing to hold the tournament at a date earlier than Easter. The main consideration is the weather and it m.ay toe pointed out that whilst this year’s tournament was staged in gloriously fine weather, Easter was particularly wet. Furthermore, it is an advantage that "the tournament be held -at the height of the season instead of at the end when players are beginning to turn their attention to other sports. The main disadvantage is that a number of players are debarred from entering by their work. This fact probably accounted for a reduction of 10 in the number of entries, To 84. This, and the difficult limes, making competitors more careful in the number of events entered for, is responsible for a deficit "being shown on the tournament.

Exhibition Matohes. / On the concluding'day of the tournament exhibition matches were played toy Messrs F. J. 'Perry (England), R. \. Ewin, Kay (Australia), Bedford (Wellington), A. W. Sims and D. Livingstone (Hamilton) and Misses J. Mueller and Margaret Beverley (Waikato). Approximately 1000 people were present at this exhibition at which some of the best tennis ever witnessed in the Waikato was played. The Association was fortunate in toeing- able to arrange this match as Hamilton was the only town outside the centres where Perry was seen and the only town In the North Island exoept Auolcland where Ewin and Kay played. .... , A Waikato hard 'court championship tournament was held for the first time this year, being staged at 'Cambridge at Easter under the control of the Cambridge Lawn Tennis SubAssociation. The, Association, in view of its present strength of players, had great hopes -of challenging for the Wilding Shield apd the Nunncley Casket, but was prevented by lack of funds. At present the Association numbers some of.the host players in New Zealand amongst , its members. Miss Ncssie Beverley .is ranked second on the New" Zealand .ranking list and is also a New Zealand -doubles champion and Auckland lady champion. Miss Margaret. Beverley is New Zealand s intermediate and girl •champion and Auckland girl champion, whilst Mr 'D. Livingstone is an Auckland doubles champion. Lease of Courts. •"Conferences were field with the Auckland Association to discuss the question of amalgamation, butthcconiiniUee decided that the reasons advanced by the Auckland Association were not sufficiently -cogent to justify «ny action being taken in Ihc matter. At the end of the season the Association was asked by the. Hamillon Club and the Hamilton Domain Board to take over the lease of the Hamillon grass courts. Whilst the Association would very much have liked considering doing so, tooth in its own interests and to assist players, tho committee decided that the financial position was not nearly sufficiently strong to enable it to lake on such a liability. It is quite apparent that Ihc income of the Association is insufficient, to enable itto carry out properly its functions Tho Association has entertained during the year Messrs Perry, Kay and Ewin, Mr E. Hickson, president of the New Zealand Association, .Mr Melody of the New Zealand Association and the presidents and officers of the ~nd and Taranaki Associations.