TENNIS

Hokitika Guardian, 1 February 1932, Page 2

TENNIS

WEST COAST TOURNAMENT.

LARSEN WINS MEN’S SINGLES

In ideal Weather, and . Before a large attendance of the public, .the West Coast tennis tournament, which- was commenced at 'Hokitika last Wednesday, was -brought to a conclusion , on Saturday afternoon. On the first two days the .play 'took place on. the Hopi: tika, St. Mary’s, and All Saint’s courts, but, owing to 'the heavy rain which postponed all play on Friday, only the Hokitika courts were utilised on Saturday. Consequently, the. officials were fully occupied in arranging the matches 60 that the tournament might be concluded that afternoon. They were successful in bringing the championships 'to an end, but in the handicaps, the .combined doubles had to be abandoned with only two matches played in the second round. There was a very I’&rge attendance of the public in the afternoon; and gome, interesting matches were seen, notably, the final of ;tha men’s championship singles between Larsen .aud Goqch, which occupied two hours; Gooch strudk form early, and sottled , down to a ■’steady game. .-Larson ; was unsteady at 'the beginning, and was unable to overtake Gooch’s lead, the latter winning 6—3. In the -.second sdt, however, Larsen -showed improved form and, in a match which was more even than the score, would indicate,’ he ■won comfortably 6— A, after leading 15—4, The third set was the mostinteresting, Larsen winning B—6 after a great struggle. _ . The match was not- productive of fasttennis but was a great display of accurate placing, steady driving, and long rallies. Larsen used a nice backhand drive, and played from the buck court nearly all the timo He tre-

'quently sent down big lobs, which kept his opponent on the back •-line although Goqch frequently K.-inie up to 'the net to drive .these into the corner, several of them, however, finding the net. Gooch also

gave a good display, and at one stage appeared the probable victor, having a and points advantage towards the Kst set,. but he appeared tired toward the end. ' In .the final of -the ladies’ singles/ Bliss Warnes won in. two straight-out sets, although Miss Thompson -gave a, /(bright, open display, keeping her op-, ponent busjf. jj?' Wild and Gooch gave another good ("display winning the semi-finals of the' doubles fairly easily, against the .winders of the handicap doubles, Langrish ind Larsen. The final between Black"jnore and Burley and 1 the former pair i ; wa s a bright match, Wild and Gooch showing a fine understanding and dis--.Jjlaying good courtcraft, and.-they won ,two straight sets, the last one being ■firery interesting, going .to 7—5. *»I;t was regrettable that- tho, public aid not see Bliss Costello in tlhe singlets championship, for this -player: gave -a good ciccount of herself in the and also in the handicap events, With Miss Thompson, she won *tlie championship doubles, against -Mika J; Stevenson apd, Miss 0. Stapleton. ,: ; The fir«t ; set went Ito B—6 and was,ah Interesting contest, .bpt the next , s et 'W£i9 won easily, <6**—l. - r, Warnes and Bliss gave a good exhibition '.throughout the com-. Lined doubles, for hardly ever were fyhey full extended,. arid each match saw them win their first .two Sets .comfortably, the final being won 6—o, £ 1 against Chetwynd and Blr| Rutland, The finah-ts each won ] their (semi-finals by default.

Freita s '(scr) rf-n out winner of the •'men’s handicap simglds after a close -"game with Pfahlert. The winner showed consistent form throughout the ( seotion.

The men’s combines was productive fe of some very .interesting matches. Langrish and Larsen, (plus 5) who won their isemi-final easily, met strong opposition in the last match, the final being contested with Turner and Dougherty (plus 5). The former were victors by 40-37 in a steady, even match. (Mrs Ecelesfii’ld and Miss Kc’ly (plus 6) gave a good account of themselves in the ladies’ doubles, and won 'the final match against Misses Morris and J. Stevenson ifplusj' 8) after a kegn tussle, the score being 41-39.

The following summary of Hokitika district players who .reached finals may be of interest: —Championship events: •Men’s sing'es, Gooch (runner-up) ; ladies’ singles, Miss Thompson (runnerup) ; metals doubles, Gooch and Wild (winners) ladiqs’ doubles, Misses Thompson and Costello (winners); combined .doubles, iChetwynd /and Mrs (Rutland (runners-up). Handicap events.

•Men’s singles, Freitas (winner) and (Pfahlert (runner-up),; ladies B singles, ■Miss ißandall (winner); men's doubles, Turner and Dougherty (runners-up); ladies’ doubles, Mrs Kcclesfield and Miss Kelly (winners), and Misses Morris and J. Stevenson (runners-up); ladies’ singles, (Miss Kelly (njuner-up). The concluding results , were as follows : . CHAMPIONSHIP EVENTS. 1 Men’s Singles, final—Larsen beat Gooch 3—-6, .6—4, B—6. Ladies’ singles, final—'Miss W,antes heat Miss Thompson 6—3, 6—2. Men’s Doubles, semi-finals—Wild arid Gooch beat Langrish and Larsen 6—o, 6—4 ; Blaclpaore amd Burley l)«at •Smith and Warnes 6—■ B; 6-—4, 6-^-1.

Ladies’ doubles—Misses Costello and Thompson .oeat Misses J. Stevenson and 0. Stapleton B—6, 6—l. Combined doubles, second round (Blackinoro and Miss Stupl’fon beat Patttinson and Miss Richmond 6 2,, 6 1. Third round—Chetwynd and Mrs Butland heat Dougherty and Miss Leslie by default; Warnes and Miss

Warnbeat Gooch and Bliss Stapleton by default. Semi-finals—Chetwynd and Mrs But I ari d beat Wild and Bliss Stevenson 11—9,‘ . 6—3 • Warnes and Miss W’jarnc-s beat- .Hayward and Miss Thompson . 6—o, 6—2. >

Final t—Warnes and Bliss Warnes beat. iCUetwyntL arid 'BliA Rutland .6—o. 6—l.

HANDdGAP EVENTS

• Men’s singles, ''second round—Lang rish (—10) beat Blackmore ( —ls) 40—20. Third v round'—Langrish beat Burley by default. Semi|-finals—'Pfahlert '(plus 3) beat Ijiwgrish 40—31; Freitas (scr) beat Hayward (; —10) 40— 29. Final—Freitas beat Pfahlert 40—35.

Ladies’ singles, final—Miss Costello (scr) Beat Mi-ss KeHy (plus (9) 40—38. Men’s doubles, • second round—Blackmore and Burley '-(plus 5) beat Paittin son brothers {(plus 5) 40—35 ; Dougherty and Turner (plus 5) beat Chetwynd and jfreitas . (plus 10) 40—38; Langrish and 'Larsen (plus fi) beat Mayell and partner. Semi-finals— Turner and Dougherty beat Blackmore and Burley 41-—39; Langrish and Larsen beat Smith and Warne s .(scrl 40—17. Final—Langrish and Larsen beat Turiiev and Dougherty 40—37. ~ Ladies doubles, second round—. Blisses Morris .and <J. Stevenson (phis 8) beat Misses 'Uostyllo and Thompson ( —5) (Kb—3B ;■ Blisses Stevenson beat Blisses (Bale and 'Sumner (plus 15) 42—40; —'Misses Morris and Stevenson bean Blisses D. and W. Stevenson 10—38; Mrs Ecclesfipjd and Bliss Kelly (plus' 6) beat Misses Wild and Cox (plus " 10) ■ 40—31, - Fiuftl—Mrs Ecdesflold and BUm Kelly Blisaos Morris and J, Stevenson 41—39, ■ N.Z, CHAMPIONSHIPS. (By. Telegraph—Per Press A ssociation) . AUCKLAND, January 30. * Tho New Zealand Tennis Championships Tournament was brought to a conclusion to-day -when the attendance beat the record 'established on tlm previous day, The GoA'ernor-General, Lord Bledisloe and Lady Bledisloe were in attendance. The prizes won in the championship even's and the Wlidmg Shield were presented ■at the .end of the day’;{ play by Lord Bledisloe, who announced, amid'qhcer?, that Her Excellency had presented a .cup for coinpetition in ' future championships. The weather was' film after heavy rain earlier in the -day, although’ a cold southerly wind added to ,thc difficulties of -the players. Results" /Men’s Singles Championship—Final; C, Angas '(Canterbury) beat H. A. Barnett (Canterbury), 6—l, 4—6, 6—4, 6—o. " ,

Combined, Doubles ' Championship— Semi-final: ’ 'Mies Hartigan (New South Wales) and A. C. Stedman (Auckland) Ip.cat Mia.; Yal ken Burg (New South ■Wales) and Morrison (.Auckland) 6—4, 5—7; ( 6-4.; ■ Women’s Singles Championship. Final i Bliss J, Hartigan, '(N.'S.W.) beat Mrs Molesworth ’(N.'S.W;) 6—2, 6—4,

■Mon's Doubles. Championship—Final ; NT, “R. C,, Wilson’(Wellington) and A,, C. fJtednian (Auckland) beat D. G. Vranoe land L. France (Wellington), 6-2, B—JO, .6—4, 7—5, ■■'j -Mixed Doubles Championship—Final; Miss Nfchoßs and France beat Miss Hft'rtigan and Steelman 6—2, 6—l. : Junior,. Combined Doubles—'Final: Miss Kean and Stevens won from Miss Burns and Bedford by default. Th'e Niinnelly Casket competition was won by" Wellington, which defeated Auckland by .seven matches to three, two doubles being unplay&d. The results were:—Miss. Marjorie Macfarlane (Auckland) heat Mi,s s Nicholls 6—4, 4—6, 6—3 ; Mrs Napier (Auckland) beat Miss Howe 3—6, 6—3, 6—3 ; Mrs Dykes (Wellington) beat Miss Ramsay 6—l, 6—3; Mrs Franco (Wellington) beat Mliss Marion Macfnrlane 7—5. 6—l.

THEFT OF LAMBS. • CHRISTCHURCH, January 30. , On a charge of stealing on December 21st, three lambs valued at £2 5s belonging to Wiliam James of Leithfield, Fredrick Arthur Hayward Penfold, a farmer, was sentenced to four months gaol by the Magistrate at Amberley. The police said the parties were neighbours. Penfold was convicted and discharged on a second charge that Ho was found in possession of eight sheep skins from which the ears had been removed.