LAWN TENNIS.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 170, 11 April 1908, Page 9

LAWN TENNIS.

(Br Inier-Club.) Tennis players are practising hard on the city courts in view of the, .iliaster .tournament to bo held by the Brougham' Hill Club. Already visitors and .local flayers are gotting a "hit up" on the .Brougham Jiill courts, which will bo tho. scorns of battle. Jintries. have como in .splendidly for botli handicaps and championships, so it is leported, and it will talso tlio hird-working committeo all- their timo to get through, by tho evening of JSastor Monday.;/.1 ho number of entries is so largo .that 111 all l"'®", •bability the management, will havo-to apply for the uso of the Wellington Club s courts. Tho Misses Hughes, two very promising young lady players frohi Pihiatua, ivill bo competing. I'oung Wybourn from raranaki is putting in good practice, and is showing better forin. lie has an excellent , back hand volley, which travels- at a,-very sbajp angle, and scores frequently. ■ Miss'Dudci;, an Aucklandcr, will also"'be~'.'seen'"pt this meeting.. Styche, of Christchurcli,' Wnl bo n competitor, but so far _orany. ladies, coming . from that city ,;ha? ■ bMn-received. Wellington players havoentered, from , tlio highest " top-notcher," to :the .earnest, tyro;, so the handicappers will "bavb .anything an cnviablo time, but tho •'Handicap'Qommitteo is such that can bo depended upon to give all fair-thinking placers satisfaction. A most successful fete'- was _ hold by the Khandallah Tennis Cluli'.to. .raise funds for the laying down of anotfa'aKcpurt.. The residents attended in largq , numbers. Numerous stalls with useful, toothsome wares were presided oveKiby;. the. ladies, who overe all eager to relievd' the': visitor-g.f..his; nimble shilling. The, Club' 'f hasybeeiv fcrtunate, through road excavating on tlie Sunny-' bank JSstatc, to secure ,a,jargo quantity' of ■ spoil which was used to l.qyel;up,,for the, new court. ,;v- r ... In tho the- W-ek lington Club-Miss Ward meets Miss Tfavcrs,' and Mrs. Hickson meets The winners will then mert;;iii, the final: Brougham' Hill is running its • championships to a close. Herd and Mrs.-Burtoulgot'. to, tho semi-final of tho combined', ,and.'.gaV6; Watkins' and Mrs. Howe a. great ~goj „oijly.: being defeated after a . three-set;, g0..,;- ■ The latter pair now meet the .winners 'of. tlie Hunter and Miss Archeiv'v. Quimiell-and' Mrs. Goldie match in the-fin'al.,; The ladies' doubles will bo fought out ..between: . tlio holders, Mesdames Goldio and Hoive' : v. -Misses Archer, and Dempsey. , • met. in-: tlio final last year, and it /.will' take tho holders all their timo to retain theirjionours, as the opposing pair- havo been- playing "remarkably well of late., - -Howe-and. Quinnell meet Watkins and H. Hbwo.'.in .tbe final/of; tho men's doubles.,. .The .laljter 'pair havo played together most successfully: during-tlio \past season, and may'spring a surprise.' -. ■■ - Mr. 0. S. Swinnockj who lias been officially connected with tlio Auckland; Club for, some years,.tand has'discharged;.tho onerous duties of ground superintendent-this.season, leaves 'next week'.on- a trip to England;,,.; Mr. Swin-; nock is well-known as an'..enthusiastic supporter'of the game, but it may not, bo generally understood that Auckland-tenuis owes more to him than to any other.player now ou tho^activo-lost fqr his 'services in keeping tlio game going through the winter months. Mr. Swinnock for a long timo carried on the business , administration of the Club'' practi-. cally single-handed. It is very .'seldom ono finds a secretary prepared to do'tarring and sanding, and drain'-cuttirig and fencing with his own hands, merely 'for'tho-honour and glory .of his club. , All players Who havo come in contact: with this popular secretary. will wish him'a good trip and a safe return.-- - Probably the/last grass'co.urt;chanipionship. this season was fought out on tlie Thoriulon : courts last Saturday: between Swanston and ■'Peacock. Many fancied Peacock, Sivanston, lithe, alert,, and keen, certainly played the best game, and won .tho match—3—6, G —l, 10 —8, 3 —6, 6 —3. This is the first time the winner has held the Thorndon!championship.