OFF TO GOOD START

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 70, Issue 109, 21 February 1950, Page 4

OFF TO GOOD START

CROQUET AT ASHBURTON

OFFICIAL OPENING TO-DAY Favoured by the promise cellent weather, the South Canterbury Croquet Association’s tournament opened at Ashburton to-day. There are nearly 260 en- , tries, compared with only 175 two years ago, when the fixture was last held at Ashburton. Mrs A?s.G. Rawlinson (Methven) is manager of the tournament, and the secretarial duties are in the hands of Mrs M. C. Cowan. Play is talcing place at the Ashburton, Wairelca and Allenton Club greens. There was a brief opening ceremony at the Ashburton green this morning.

The first speaker was Mrs H. Allchurch, president of the South Canterbury Association, who extended a welcome to the visitors and added the hope that all would thoroughly enjoy the tournament. All who had been here previously had very warm spots in their hearts for Ashburton. The Mayor (Mr E. C. Bathurst) then voiced a welcome on, behalf of the town. He had been to all the tournaments here and the present crowd was- easily the largest he had seen. He understood that it was; a record entry for Ashburton. They would find the greens in excellent order,' and he could assure the players that, if any assistance, at all was required, they need only get in touch with the speaker or the Town Clerk, and this would be forthcoming.

N.Z. President’s Comments

Mr W. H. Kirk, president of the New Zealand Croquet Council, said that he was very pleased to be associated with the tournament and to have the opportunity of welcoming visitors from Invercargill, Dunedin, Christchurch, Amberley and many other places, apart from, of course, Ashburton and Timaru. It' was very gratifying to the New Zealand Council to find that entries were increasing at all tournaments throughout the Dominion. Eight or nine years ago there were only 5000 registered members, but now the total was 6000, and it was hoped to reach the 7000 mark in a very few more years. Mrs Rawlinson spoke briefly and, on behalf of the Methven Club, invited all visitors to be guests of that club on its greens next Sunday afternoon. Mrs Allchurch then declared the tournament open, and play began soon after.