SPORTS CHANGE-OVER

Evening Star, Issue 23384, 29 September 1939, Page 4

SPORTS CHANGE-OVER

PREPARING FOR SUMMER SEASON GROUNDS IN EXCELLENT ORDER IMPROVEMENTS AT LOGAN PARK “The grounds have never been in better order,’’ said the superintendent of reserves (Air D. Tannock) to a ‘ Star ’ reporter who accompanied him yesterday on a tour of inspection of the corporation grounds about the city which are ut present being prepared lor tfie change-over from winter sports to summer pastimes. Men from the reserves department Lave been engaged during the last fortnight in the work of preparing; the various grounds for the opening of the cricket season, and with the favourable weather that has been experienced it is not surprising that the grounds should look a picture. All the grounds have been rolled and spike-rolled with the terating machine, and Mr Tunnock remarked that he could not recall a season in which the grounds had stood un to the demands of winter play so well as had been the case in the last few months. Although wickets will not bo required for match play for some weeks yet, the grounds are in such good order that had it been desired an earlier, start could have been made. Both at Logan Park and Tonga Park the preparation of wickets is now well under way, and there, is good support for the claim that Logan Park will in future rank as one of Dunedin’s best Wet-weather grounds. The permanent "rasses have now become_ firmly established. and both the University Oval and the main ground at Logan Park have been thoroughly drained during the last four months, and the benefits of the new drainage system were most evident during the wettest periods of the- recent winter. A start is to be made on Monday with the preparation of other cricket wickets, and for the opening of the season wickets will ho available on the University Oval, University No. 2 ground, four on the ground adjacent to the University Oval, two on the North Ground, and two at Tonga Park, bo that it should bo possible to make a start with at least two grades on the opening day of the competition games. This year members of the Grange Ladies’ Cricket Club will be established in new headquarters, as they are transferring from the North Ground, which has been their home since the club was formed, to the Gardens Ground, where two wickets will bo available. The North-east Valley Club, which formerly played at the Gardens, will now have its ground right in the heart of its own district, as Chingfprd Park becomes available for this club and should bo one of the best cricket areas in the city, '