Otaki Tennis Club's Opening

Chronicle (Levin), 3 December 1948, Page 2

Otaki Tennis Club's Opening

Overcast and. ..doubtful weather •marred. -the opehipg .of the -Otaki Lawn-. Tennis Club's se.ason. V. During the .afternoon. tea adjpurnment; -Mr... Wy-M. Simcox, the : club's patron,- .gave some .amusing ..rezniniscences of early tennis days in and, around . Otaki. In, ..those times the horse . and gig was the mode of -transport • when tennis teapis visi-te.d, and one ,of Otaki's visits to Foxton ended . . disastrousr ly when a.'.fieavy summer storm drenched.the traveller-s. Mr. Sim-' cox" also. made reference to the energetic workers of days gone by, who in their enthusia'sm maintained a grass court. He declared the season officially . opened and hit the first ball of the tennis year. The club president, Mr. B. M. A. Ryder, thanked Mr. Simcox on behalf of those present, and also gave special thanks to two members, Messrs C. D. Blake and R. Grice, for the wor-k they had done in preparing the grounds for opening day. To Mr..R. Henderson and Mr. B. Bell appreciation was expressed for the hours of work they had given to- the club in redressing both courts. • •. Mr. Ryder announced that this ; season • the activities of the club wbuld- be :concentrated- on. collecting funds'for the laying of a new - hard. co"urt, which ., was' .most urgeiltly needed. :He expressed the hope that members of the club and' the ^'general public would give their help'to this appeal. Friendly games were played for the rem'ainder of the afternoon. Afternooh tea was provided by the' ladies of the club. . Saturday next will be a general club day, while on December 11 a "new members" day will be held. when all intending members and also the general jmblic are invited to attend and enjoy an afternoon on the courts. Afternoon tea will be provided.