CROQUET NOTES

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 29, 4 February 1932, Page 19

CROQUET NOTES

By" "CONCENTftATS"

COMING TOURNAMENTS. Wellington (lower HuUJ.tj-Ijl progress. Waituapa (Masterton).—lSth Feomarj. Southern Hawkes Bay (Daanerirko).—lTth F«bruai;y. Hawkes Bay (Hastings).—loth March. Gold and Silver Medals (Hastings).—loth March. AuckUnd (Auckland). —10th March. • Dominion Tournament. The Dominion Tournament Las concluded, and those players who fook part have'benefited considerably by the experience. It was an education in itself to watch the Dominion champion, Mr. Arthur Boss, accurately place his pioneer ball at the next hoop in order, and so careful was he of every shot that ib seemed without effort he was able to invariably triple peel and peg out in the one turn. He always arranged to stop at i back with the first ball, thus making it. possible to endeavour to -carry out hit intention of completing th» game in. first-class style. The Canterbury player has made a study of the game from a scientific point of view, and wkw cuttings* ball at a, certain angle, he very rarely v tailed to place it at the. exact spot" for'w.nich it was intended.;' *'.. "" Special mention should'I'be made of the play of Mrs."*! Watkins and Mrs. Kebblewhite, the former playing a moat spectacular gamo in the finals of the. handicap event. In order to prevent her opponent, Captain Hartnell, front making full use of his bisque, she set about endeavouring to double peel" in: the course of the break. This she was able to accomplish, but ;imfortunately failed to get behind her ball at rover, having to drive to the line. Nothing daunted, however, she attempted to'peg out from, that distance and received a great ovation, when this was successfully done from such, a distance. The catering arrangements were ably carried out by members of the SC John's Hill Club, and with' the large verandah space available conditions were most pleasant. With such excellent all-round facilities it is to be honed that before very long Wanganui ivui again be chosen for one of the larger tournaments. ' ■Wellington Tournament. ,'.!., It was unfortunate that the-weath-er conditions were unfavourable-for the opening of the Wellington Association's twelfth annual tournament, which is at present being held at Lower Hutt. The entries (298) are?larger than those received for the recent; jXbminion tournament, and provide^a^air number enter into a post entry,".t^ent they will constitute a records ;f6rj-i'tJie North Island. This goes to pro^fjsiitKe popularity of the Wellington "Assbciation tournament, and it ia encouraging for the management to have such a larg* number of entries. The management is in the capable hands of Mrs. Earl McKenzie, who is assisted by- an efficient committee,; and provided , the weather Temains\fair the events should ie got off to time. • v In introducing"..the: MayorV of "Lower £utt (Mr.'W.'T."Strand),' MrsTW.'S: Austin (president of the association) lemarked that Mr. Strand.,needed no formal introduction, as he was well known. and a good friend; of croquet players". . ';-; .- : ■ la; welcoming the visitors Mrs. Austin expressed the hope that, all would have an enjoyable time. 'Mention was made that this was the;. first occasion on whioh rain had fallen on the opening day. The weather Vdid not improve i^cl.play had to be postponed. , Parvticularmiention was made^of the goner";t>sil;y of the Hutt Bowling Club, WaiJnaiie,: Hutt/ and Wbburn .Croquet Clubs in lending their lawns.':i;'JLn. his, opening remarks Mr. : Strand fassured those present that he was al-: .jriiys pleased to be associated with the croquet players, and said that £he game was a; splendid one from every point 'of. view, requiring patience and cour : age, both of which qualities were invariably carried into the home life of members. He was:glad to hear that the Dominion Tournament next year was allocated -to.. Wellington, and said i« bope^,:tha.tr it would take place ;at the^Hnttj where ten lawns-would be commissioned. ■-, Among -those present were Mr. and Mrs, Mitchell (Lower Hutt), Mesdames Pollock, Gunderson, and.Phillips. Interclub Matches. ' ;The iihterclub' matches, together with the association trophiesj have been postponed bntU after the Wellington touraa-^ ment. '■ -: ..'...- .; Wellington Club. -, ' ; :: The: Wellington Club i» at, present

playing a Handicap doubles event which is being 'run on. the -yankee system. There are still a number of • matches to be played, and as quite a number of members are "participating in the tournament at "Lower Hutt it- will be somo time before the results are available. Hataitai Olnb. A very pleasant time ■ was'spent by the members of the 'Hataitai Club ..recently, when a picnic day was held' on their lawns. A number of interesting competitions were held, the winners being as follows:—French, (Mrs. Thomas); break, (Mrs. Chambers); hoop, (Mrs. Kussoll); golf, .(Mrs. Booth); and Frenen/X gmde, (Mrs. Wilton). s The prizes were donated by' Mesdames Brighting, Brice, Chisholm, Marsden, and Thomas. fcollock Stars. The holders, Mesdames Lowi-y ana Gardner (Kelburn), were again successful in retaining the "Stars." On this occasion the 'challengers were^he Wellington Club/ * represented "by Mesdames and Mitchell/ Unfortunately the game had,to be:abandoned when half way-through on account, of the high wind." It was continued next morning, when the Wellington Club were slightly in the lead. It was not long, however, before the holders drew ahead, winning by a small margin of 5 points. There is-only one more" challenge to be played this year, "that with Heremai Club, which will be represented by Mes* dames Mathewson aad/Boocock.,. t Handicapping. A most important alteration was made at the annual meeting1,-in. connection with -the tfandicapping. The' handicapper, of .each, district"will 'in future arrange in alphabetical order the list of players from each club affiliated to their association and such lists will be put in the Annual. This will entail a saving of at least £30 a year in the compilation of-the. Annual and will not only be of great- a.isistince to the secretary of the council, but will minimise the number of errors. ' Interesting Shot*." In the recent-Dominion tournament' quite a number of intricate sKots were demonstrated-.by"Mr. A. Boas.'.With two balls on the line within :!&'s6otro£ each other iMrfvßpTw was' able^'toftake croquet from lsn<i£ getting it' well^into the field/aad'at the eaanß.'timeVioquet the other, als6>getting it Tptbiit.?: This enabled the^baUis;to be^f fmuch more" use -than ; had^baelßall.been^ibft1: behind on the line. Another shot demonstrated was the chop shot, enabling a player to roquet a ball from behind » hoop. Mr. Boss invariably measured the line of ainv_withi the; mallet, atooa well back holding the. mallet at ami length and tittmg: the-ball Bharply v: pn the top causing it to jump tow»rjj» the object ball. Such, shots, often saved a difficult -situation..•■.-■:.■:..-■*;;.",'. >,Tr' '= .- . Should a player wish 'to have any particular shot demonstrated "Concentrate" will be please^j t6 arrange it. . Karori Club. • ■ M'[ I-.. ~'..;-; f%t.- ■ ;A delightful afternoon \vas spent on the Karori lawns •.recently when the club entertained the:honorary members, various competitions were played. .-■A> delicious afternoon tea was provided during the course of the afternoon. | "'■:.:•■.■ The following wei-e vth« winners ofth?i ■ eventß:H-Angles, £UrC M^i r fT oh ' !?M*i Seagewick;golf, Mrs. Morton^ to; and fro, Mrs. Grant; i>all. on peg^rs. Waters;,-angles. No. 2, Mrs. Harper- french No. S, lMiss Saunders. ' '.X'Vj r: : ■■.■-,.

The prizes were'£dohated by Mesdames Lewis, Flint* Johnson, Keenah/ Grant, F.Dryden,^nd Bradnock/jnr.