N.Z. Maori Tennis Championships

Te Ao Hou, June 1964, Page 47

N.Z. Maori Tennis Championships On the initiative of Sir Turi Carroll, the New Zealand Maori Tennis Championships, which had been last held at Whangarei in December 1958, were revived this year in a tournament held at Wairoa from 12–15 March. A very strong committee of Wairoa citizens, Maori and Pakeha, was set up to make the necessary arrangements. This committee worked under the joint chairmanship of the Mayor of Wairoa, Mr R. E. Short, and Sir Turi Carroll. The tournament was held on the Wairoa Tennis Club courts and the early rounds of the junior events were played on the Wairoa College courts. A great deal of work had been put into the preparation of the Wairoa Tennis Club's eight grass courts, and they were in first class order for the tournament. Very Good Entries The event had been widely publicised throughout the North Island and very good entries were received, including 54 entries in the Men's Singles, 35 in the Ladies' Singles, 28 in the Junior Boys' Singles and 37 in the Junior Girls' Singles. A total of 263 entries was received in all events. Visitors to the tournament were billeted on the Taihoa and Putahi Maraes. A charge of 25/- per head was made for billeting. The winners of the various events were— Men's Singles: B. W. Maihi (Taihape). Ladies' Singles: Miss H. Peni (Taumarunui). Men's Doubles: B. Wehi and Jack pere (Gisborne). Ladies' Doubles: Misses K. and H. Peni (Tau marunui). Mixed Doubles: J. P. Malcolm and Mrs E. Simpkins (Rotorua). Junior Boys' Singles: P. Ngaki (Te Puke). Junior Girls' Singles: Miss T. Moke (Te Puke). Junior Boys' Doubles: P. Ngaki and F. Latimer (Te Puke). Junior Girls' Doubles: K. Poihipi and W. Hall (Te Puke). Two outstanding juniors emerged during the

Mr B. W. Maihi, of Taihape (left) and Mr D. T. Hingston, of Rotorua. Maihi beat Hingston in the men's singles, 6–2, 6–4. course of the tournament. They were Miss Kaheta Peni, who is aged 16, and Miss Hine Peni, who is aged 17. Both these girls have exceptional natural ability and if given the opportunity, they could well become leading players in New Zealand. Miss H. Peni won the Women's Singles, and she and her sister won the Women's Singles, and she and her sister won the Women's Doubles. It is to be hoped that these two girls will carry on with their tennis and make a name for themselves. Held Their Own with Top Players Arrangements were made for Richard Hawkes and John Souter, two of New Zealand's top tennis players, to play a match at the conclusion of the tournament. This match proved to be a great attraction and drew a large crowd of spectators. Hawkes and Souter also combined with the Misses H. and K. Peni to play a mixed doubles match. In this game, the two girls showed that they could hold their own in top New Zealand company. At the conclusion of the tournament, the prizes were presented by Mr J. R. Harrison, M.P. for Hawkes Bay. Before the presentation of prizes, Mr B. E. Souter, who had managed the tournament, congratulated the citizens of Wairoa on the splendid efforts they had made to promote the tournament. He also thanked the business people of Wairoa for their support in the shape of donations and trophies. Mr Souter said that he had attended many tennis tournaments throughout New Zealand but had never been at one where the players had shown a higher standard of sportsmanship, and he concluded by congratulating winners and condoling with the losers. Prior to the conclusion of the tournament, a representative meeting was held and it was decided that the next New Zealand Maori Championships should be held at Rotorua, if possible concluding on Anniversary Day. ? The Parewahawaha tribe and tribal committee, near Bulls, are raising money to complete their meetinghouse, which will be one of the few fully-carved meetinghouses in the lower part of the North Island. Most of the carvings and tukutuku have already been finished. ? Mr G. Wharehoka, of New Plymouth, who for many years has been the country's top professional cyclist, has been reinstated as an amateur by the New Zealand Amateur Cycling Association. Mr Wharehoka, one of the few Maori cyclists riding competitively, has done much during his career to help train young cyclists.