A Diary of Sport TENNIS SEASON BEGINS

Southland Times, Issue 24241, 26 September 1940, Page 10

A Diary of Sport TENNIS SEASON BEGINS

TWO CLUBS HOLD OPENING DAYS COMPETITIONS START IN NOVEMBER 4 By SERVICE The 1940-41 tennis season in Invercargill will soon be in full swing and by Saturday week practically all the city clubs will have held their opening days. At present it is difficult to estimate the various membership strengths, but if fine weather is enjoyed this summer the tennis season can be expected to be quite a good one. Naturally, the war has affected the club memberships to some extent, and several clubs have lost practically all of last season’s A grade men players. Consequently, these clubs will not find it easy to field senior teams, and if they have not gained any prominent new players they will be forced to promote some of the younger men. The experience gained by the younger players in the event of being put up to senior grade will be very valuable and will stand them in good stead later. OPENING DAYS The Invercargill and Rugby Park tennis clubs held their opening days last Saturday and report good attendances. At Invercargill Dr J. G. Macdonald declared the season open and a Yankee tournament was then held. The winners were Miss S. Mitchell and W. J. Shanks The president (Mr A. W. Jones) declared the season open at Rugby Park and the women’s club captain (Miss F. Orr) hit the first ball over. The winners of a Yankee tournament were Miss I. Barrett and I. Herbison. About 30 players took part in the afternoon’s play and the courts were full until a late hour. The Invercargill Club’s senior team should be up to last season’s strength. Of the men, A. J. Deaker, A. R. Miller and L. Larcombe are again available. I. Shand is the other member of last year’s men’s four. He is to go into the territorial camp and his place will have to be filled until Christmas at least. Another Invercargill player to go into camp is D. Dyer, who played in the senior B grade last season. It is understood that two good players from Christchurch are to join this club. They are Mr and Mrs M. Adams, both of whom are believed to be very competent players. RUGBY PARK CLUB The membership of the Rugby Park Club this year is expected to be about 45 and this shows little variation compared with the previous season. The same leading women will probably be retained for the A team and until Christmas all of last year’s senior men will be playing. However, R. G. Sleeman and I. Herbison expect to be called up after Christmas and this will leave a gap. Southend has lost a number of its prominent men players and it will not be easy to replace them with players of the same calibre. Of last year’s four A grade men only one, A. Breen, is now in Invercargill. Russell McCallum, a player who has been responsible for some fine performances in inter-club and tournament play, is in Egypt, A. E. Fortune has been transferred to Beaumont and L. J. Buchan is serving with the Territorial Force. No outstanding players have joined the club, which will have to depend on the younger members. Southend, in common with other clubs, will hold its opening day on Saturday week. The Waihopai Club has also been affected by enlistments for service and several of the senior men will be missing from the courts this year. 1. Manson is now overseas, A. Lumsden is to go into camp and L. Ware is with the Air Force. W Mullen is still available, but it will be no easy task to fill the places of the other men. The senior women will probably be the same as last year. Central should be able to field a fairly strong senior side. AU the top men will be turning out again, but A. McKay will go into camp after Christmas. Miss M. Woods, who was third woman last year, has been transferred to Wellington and will have to be replaced. Mrs D. Bruce, Mrs I. McLean and Miss D. Deegan will be available, however, and the women’s four promises to be a strong one. Entries for the club competitions close on October 23 and play will start on November 2.

FOXTON R.C.

ACCEPTORS FOR MEETING ON SATURDAY (United Press Association) FOXTON, September 25. Acceptances for the Foxton Racing Club’s spring meeting at Foxton on September 28 have been declared as follows:—

TRIAL STAKES, £9O. (Six furlongs).— Arachne, Blue Border, Courting, Dawn Parade, Loyal Queen, Locrain, Midola, The Monarch, Master Lackham, Oraiti, Blab, Onahau, Parchment, Royal Vision, Social Credit, Sweet Anne. Sanction, Swing, Sir Rabbi, Vacation, Victorie, Phyto, Vivid Night.

PIAKA HACK HURDLES HANDICAP,, £125. (One mile and five furlongs).—Dorado 11.0, High Peer 10.12, Good Sun 10.1, War Lap 10.0, Golden Memory 9.11, Foxiana 9.11, Galteemore 9.9, Son and Heir 9.5, Brazil 9.3, Sanguine King 9.2, Great Fair 9.2, Prinihia 9.0, Karere-nui 9.0.

MOTUITI HACK HANDICAP. £l2O. (Six furlongs).—Kentucky 9.6, Siglow 8.9. Counter 8.4, Beau Coureur 7.13, Caution 7.10, Valiant Lady 7.8, Triple Crown 7.8, Taiho 7.7, King’s Mark 7.7, Army Girl 7.7, Silver Shekel 7.7.

CARNARVON HANDICAP, £225. (One mile and a-quarter).—Siegmund 9.0, Lady Montana 8.10, Winsome Lu 8.5, Little Robin 8.4, Gaelic Song 8.3, Aurora’s Star 8.2, Old Surrey 8.2, Colonel Bogey 8.1, Noble Fox 7.13, Master Cyklon 7.11, Night Eruption 7.9, Hunting Cat 7.7, Pearl of Asia 7.0, Sporting Gift 7.0, Colossal Chief 7.0.

WHARANGI HACK HANDICAP, £l2O. (Seven furlongs).—Serenata 9.6, Titter 9.0, Kotua 8.4, Last Acre 8.0, City Song 7.7, Squeers 7.7, Selkirk 7.7, Sporting Luck 7.7, Fearful Lady 7.7, Sunny Dale 7.7.

ROBINSON HANDICAP, £l5O. (Six furlongs).—Taurangi 9.0, Footloose 9.0, Mittie 8.11, The Buzzer 8.1, Night Eruption 8.1, Screen Star 8.0, Trench Law 7.11, Nigger Boy 7.7, White Rajah 7.6, Rustem 7.0, Heroic Maid 7.0.

AWAHOU HACK HANDICAP, £l2O. (Nine furlongs).—Titter 9.0, Cetewayo 8.7, Stella Lux 8.2, Gay Fox 8.2, Sceptre 8.0, Red Chief 8.0, Vaalstar 7.12, City Song 7.7, Red Shoes 7.7, Gold Gain 7.7, Brown Fox 7.7, •Haile Selassie 7.7.

MOUTOA HACK HANDICAP, £llO. (Five furlongs).—Kentucky 9.6, Zest 9.5, Wings of Song 9.4, Beau Coureur 7.13, Royal Consort 7.8, Phaleron Song 7.8, Silver Shekel 7.8, Whakarara 7,7, Debretts 7.7, Fly-by-Night 7.7, Loyal Queen 7i7, Lady Govern 7.7, Goldbum 7.7, Forest Flower 7.7, Pas de Cheval 7.7.