Lawn Tennis.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLVIII, Issue 18, 30 October 1912, Page 10

Lawn Tennis.

WELLINGTON.

(By

ROMULUS.)

preliminary List of Tournaments. |KW’ ZEALAND CHAMPIONSHIPS Hustings, 26th, 27th, nn<l 28th DeeemLef. (M'STKALASIAN CHAMPIONSHIPS Hastings, Ittlth aml .’’lst December anil Ist January. JIASTINGS ('LI B CHAMPIONSHIPS AND JIANbK’APS Hastings, to follow Aus tralasian Meeting. I‘AIIIATPA CIJ’B CHAMPIONSHIPS AND HANDICAPS Pahiatua, Ist and 2nd January. MANAWATC <IIA vi PIONSH IPS AND HANDICAPS Palmerston North, 20th and 22nd January. JIWVKE’S BAY CHAMPIONSHIPS ANO PANNEVI-KK-E CLVB’S HANDICAPS I»annvvirkv, middle of January. V \li: \U APA OPEN (’ll AM PIONSH IPS AND MASTERTON CLUBS HANDICAPS Masterton, middle of January. NOTE The above dates may not be absolutely correct, but are as near as can be ascertained <unofficially) at present. This Season's Provincial Championships. IN answer to applications from two (•(Hint rv clubs —'Pahiatua And Palmerston North—for the conduct of the Welli igton Provincial Championships the Association has circularQsed the followirg mik clubs, to ascertain if they will undertake tc» run off the championships (on certain conditions): Feilding, Musterton, Orona, Pahiatua, I’almeriHton North, and Terrace Knd.

The conditions are: — (1) The club ‘to guarantee the W.P.L.T.A., £2O; (2) the _\<ssocia l ion to provide (a ) Jo dozen balls, (l») challenge rose bowl lor ladies* singles champion, -(cl challenge cup for men's tinglco champion, (d) six guineas in al! for trophies for the three doublet championship-. (men's, ladies’, and combined). If these clubs are anxious to hold tournaments with the Provincial Championships on the programme, the Association should have- no difficulty in delegating the events to one of them. In return for £2O, the Association v ill .-apply 15 dozen halls (value about .£ll o '), and - G guinea# far arophies, and £l7 10/, in addition to ►the ( hallrnge Cups. No club running the meeting could possibly do so under I£2o. providing 15 dozen balls were use I and trophies provided for every event, foo . that it should be a good bargain from the chib’.-. j»«»int of. view. Six guineas for the three doubles is not exactly ’ia-.hing out/- and the club -may feet < unstrained t«» add Additional trophies, making the value.of first prizes at least two guinea-. !<» each player, and not per pair. Thio despite the fact that the value -of th*- trophies surely never has «n,i elfect upon <• player in deciding whether t<» cuter for a tournament or not. W'h-.-n th - clubs referred to have replied, the An-vocialion will decide upon vshieh oiler i<» accept. Masterton sue-->iu 1 1\ ran the meeting in 1911, I’alm-cr-don North is central, white Pahiatua

has always held a good tournament, and has undeniable claims for consideration (especially in view of the fact that tho club has already applied!. General Nates.

The Thorndon and Muritai Clubs had fixed their opening function for Saturday. and providing the weather held good, these two clubs will be officially under way ere these notes appear in print. Lyall Bay Club, does not open until 9th November, owing to iioncompletiooi of its new courts. The team to represent Australasia in the Challenge Round of the Davis Cup at Melbourne on 28th, 29th and 30th November is certain to be selected from N. K. Brookes (Victoria), A. W. Dunlop (Victoria), K. AV. Heath (Victoria), A. B. Jones (New South Wales), G. Ollivier (New Zealand), 11. Rice (New South Wales).

At its meeting on Tuesday night last week Hug Public Works Committee of the Karori Borough Council' decided to offer four grass courts on the Recreation (.round to the W.V.X/.T.A. in response to. the latter's application therefor. The only point at issue was the question of Sunday tennis, and the Council decided, by a substantial majority, to permit this. 11 is understood the rental is £3 10/ per court for the season, the Council to keep same in order, while the Association finds nets, umpires’ chairs, etc., and has also an option to take a lease of further courts at same figure.

Entries for the New Zealand and Australasian Championships at Hastings close on 17th December, but full particulars will be circulated this week. As was the case with the last championships held in Christchurch, Mr. A. J. I’etherick (secretary) will superintend preparations for the Tournament on behalf of tho N.Z.L.T.A., and is due in Hastings' on 19th December. Although last Saturday was sei down ■as opening day for the Interelub Competitions, no matches could be played, in view of the difficulty encountered by the W.l-.L.T.A. in securing courts. However, a start will be made next Saturday’ (2nd November), when the difficulty will be obviated to some extent. In addition ■to the four courts secured on the Karori Park, the Day’s Bay courts may be available after all, in view of negotiations for purchase of the Ferry Co.’s ■steamers by the Eastbourne. Borough Council having been broken off.

MISCELLANEOUS.

Norman Brookes—An Appreciation. S. N. Doust writes in appreciation of Norman Brookes in “Sport and Pastime in Australia,” stating: “Because his ground shots were not executed with the same elegant style of the Dohertys, nor his overhead work of the same force, he was considered to be good at only two points of the game- serving and low volleying. But what could be better than Brookes' return of the service? He

takes the ball on the rise. Standing well inside the base-line, even to the fastest American service. he very seldom fails to get the ball over the net, and into such an awkward position that he is at once the attacking party. His service, we know, is world renowned, and he seldom makes a double fault, although the second service' is as fast as the first. His despised smashing, although not severe, is always difficult to recover in a single, and it is fatal to keep on lobbing unless you are prepared to run miles. As a low volleyer he Jias no equal. His generalship and temperament are perfect. He never misses the easy’ shots. He is active on the court without seeming effort. < He is gifted with a wonderful sense of anticipation, which, added to liis accuracy' and uneering judgment, make him, in my' opinion, the best player in the world.” Evidently’ Mr. Doust takes the broadminded view that there is more than one way of producing strong and proper effects. Norman Brookes is a lawn tennis genius, who has worked out his own game in accordance with the methods that suit him best.

Close of the English Season. Judging from reports of tournaments held near the close of the English tennis season the weather seems to have quite lost its equilibrium. One after another tournaments wore hampered by the rain. Owing to the River AVye rising 14 feet the whole eighteen courts at a tournament in Herefordshire were covered to a depth of eighteen inches in less than twenty’ minutes. Is it any’ wonder that there w'a.s a stampede of players ? The following clippings give some idea of the trouble of players and committees alike. Wear SKIS at lawn tennis and defy the muddy’ surface. First prize at any tournament guaranteed by their aid. Found in the mud ; the temper lost by a player at Folkestone. Will be returned on payment of advertisement charge. Box 100 L.T. and 8., 353 Strand. Well-known player wishes to dispose of 6 rackets, all new this year. Frames in good condition. No reasonable offer refused. J.f'.P. c/o L.T. and 8., 353 Strand. For sale : life belts as now worn at tournaments (enthusiastic testimonial from T. M. MxVRxGxRDxTx). Safety combined with warmth. .Made in all club colours. Jones and Smith, Minories, E.C. Tournament secretary’ is prepared to

dispose of lawn tennis balls (only used once —slightly soiled) at 4d a gross. Dustm'en place note. Box 5, L.T. and 8., 353 btrand. ~ The latest combined racket and landing net useful in all circumstances. M. R. L. VVHxT.x writes as follows :—-‘‘Following through with my’ fatuous forehand drive at the ——'■ —- tournament, I not only’ won the stroke, but secured a fine specimen of the genus Tiddley-Brat which weighs (at present) J an ounce, Your great invention thus allows me to indulge in both my’ favourite pastimes at once.” All prices and weights from Fisher and Lobb, 121 u, Flood Street, W. -—“ Spectator.”