PEOPLE IN THE PLAY

Press, Volume C, Issue 29500, 29 April 1961, Page 5

PEOPLE IN THE PLAY

The young Canterbury lawn tennis player, G. D. Moss, intends to travel to England next season to gain experience in the major Continental lawn

tennis tournaments. Moss did well in this year's national championships, and overseas play could sharpen his game still further. In the winter months he is playing squash rackets and, although he took the game up only a few weeks ago, he is considered by many to have already reached A grade standard in this sport.

In his first appearance in the Hamilton senior Rugby competitions on Saturday, the 1 former Otago and New Zealand representative. R. J. Conway, did not cause the expected havoc among the opposing backs. Playing for Technical against Old Boys, Conway found the opposing first fiveeighths. R. Kemp, more than equal to him. A report of the game summed up Conway’s performance as "disappointing.”

Two of New Zealand's leading badminton players, P. D. Skelt and A. T. Skelt, have announced that they will not be available for selection in the New Zealand team to travel to Australia this year to play for the Whyte trophy. Both were members of the last New Zealand team to visit Australia in 1957, and they have played for the Dominion on many other occasions as well.

The fine work done for badminton in Canterbury in the last two seasons by Mr D. P. Hickey, was recognised in his re-elec-tion this week as president of the Canterbury Badminton Association. Mr Hickey’s main interest while president has been in the building of the new hall at Cuthbert's Green, and it is good to see that he remains in office, as there is still some work to be done to complete this fine building. The young Indonesianborn soccer player, J. Raat, had a very good day in the first round of Wellington competition matches last Saturday. Raat, who played at centre-forward in the New Zealand team on its tour to Tahiti last season, is noted for his quick reflexes and his ability to capitalise on sudden opportunities. He scored three goals for his Diamond team in its 8-1 defeat of Railway, the champion team.

The deputy-chairman and chief judge of the Auckland Swimm i n g Centre, Mr David Elder, has retired from all swimming administration except In the secondary schools. Mr Elder, a teacher at Auckland Grammar School, will continue as chairman of the schools* swimming association.

An improving golfer, Gregory Baker recently had the satisfaction of completing 18 holes at Kaiapoi three under par, with a score of 69. The record for the course is 67. Baker's tally included five birdies but on two holes he dropped strokes.

The former Seatoun Club and New Zealand Soccer representative, Bert Hiddleston, has been appointed tactical adviser to the Northern Club, Wellington. Perhaps New Zealand’s best-ever goalkeeper, Hiddleston was cool, safe, and intelligent, and consistently maintained a high standard.

One of the hardest workers for table tennis in Canterbury over the last few seasons has been Mr E. H. D. Vince. A player in the lower grades for the South Christchurch Club, Mr Vince’s main work on the executive of the Canterbury Table Tennis Association has been as chairman of its halls committee. This season he is also convener of the lower grade selection panel