New Tennis Decisions For Forthcoming Season

Chronicle (Levin), 31 August 1949, Page 6

New Tennis Decisions For Forthcoming Season

WELLINGTON, August 30. The New Zealand women's tennis team to visit Austraiia, probably 'in November, was announced at the annual nieeting of the New Zealand Lawn Tennis Assoeiation.. It is: Misses E. G. Attwood (Auckland), J. Burke (Taranaki), E. Beeroft (Auckland), M. Kerr • (Otago), J. MacGibbon '(Canterbury;, B. Potter (Auckland). Misses Burke and Beeroft are junior players, the meeting earlier having aecided to increase the strength of the team to six to aliow for the inclusion ot jjuniors. Members are yet to be subject to medical fitness examinations. ! Tennis players who were not- nominated by the New Zealand Lawn Tennis Assoeiation, played at Wimbledon this year and were accredited as New Zealanders. Reporting this to the meeting, the chairman of the management eommittee, Mr. A. H. Kichards, said that from Press reports it appeared that New Zealand players, other than those nominated, competed in the singles. It might be desirable, he thought, to ehsure that the abbreviation N.Z. in tne Wimbledon programme, be limited to nominated players. Inquiries showed. that the entries referxed to direct acceptances and although not nominatea by the assoeiation, had the abbreviation of their eountry shown in the programme. Mr. P. Dempsay (Auckland) said it would be unfortunatfe shouid any action by the assoeiation make a New Zealander competing at Wimbledon, wisir to sever his connection with his eountry. He referred to the former New Zealand ehampion, Dennis Coombe, wno competed, and added that it was better that heused the abbreviation rather than enter under a different designation. Mr. N. R. C. Wilson (HawkeJs Bay; was elected president. He succeeds Mr. H. L. Wise (Wellington). Other oflicers elected were: — Management committee, Messrs H. A. H. Richards, H. S. Wilkinson, J. L. Squire, R. D. Cooper, T. JL Varley, G. M. Hungerford, E. McCarroll; secretary and treasurer, Mr. A. C. W. Mantell Harding. Amendments to hold elimination com- ' petitions for the two' main interassoeiation trophies, were adopted. The new system will replace the challenge arrangement at present in force. The new regulations will cover competition for the Wilding Shield (for men) aua Nunneley Casket (women). Among. tne major changes will be that for the Wilding Shield. Five sets instead ot three will be played in eaeh match. In the event of bad weather, the matches may be reduced to three by agreement between the captains. If no agreeniem is reach'ed, the decision will rest wxtn the referee. Matches will begin at lx a.m. instead of the afternoon as before. The secretary, Mr. A. C. Mantell Harding, said the proposed rules woula allow for all associations wishing to compete for the shield, -sending each year their exxtries to the N.Z. Assoeiation which would a.roster. The play-offs would be /afraxxged so " tiiat theVe would be on£ assoeiation left in each island. The national clxampionships will be held iix Eebruary. The new rule will take elfeet from 1951. The question was ra'ised in a Manawatu xxxotion whien sought New Zealand championship dates later thaxx usually held so that they oe held after all associatioix tournaments" had been held. Auckland which, it was poiixted out, was the only assoeiation seriously affected by a clash 'between its tournament and the. national.-. championship, succeeded with an amendment ,urging February dates. There were nxany dissentients to «the suggestion when put to the voices.