TENNIS DAY

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 787, 7 October 1929, Page 6

TENNIS DAY

No Stockingless Girls Appear YOUNG MEN DISAPPOINTED They haven't dared to yet: perhaps it was because of the conventional demands of opening day. No stockingless tennis girls made an appearance at the opening of several Auckland courts on Saturday afternoon. And. if the truth i*: to be known, there are young men in Auckland who first girl to piny competition tennis without stockings. It is the fashionable thing, according to the lead of some of the world’s foremost tennis players, not to wear stockings on the courts. Dili d’Alvarez. whose minor edicts are eagerly accepted by tennis-loving women, has called stockings an encumbrance in play. Little more is> wanted to tempt young women, minus stockings, on to the courts. A lead has yet to be given in Auckland. although Miss Marjorie Maciarlane. New Zealand’s singles champion, and her sister recently returned to Auckland and gave an assurance that they favoured the new notion. What is more natural for youthful men tennis players, who are really mgre interested in feminine fashions on the courts than they admit, than to wait for the first practical advocate of the fashion ? USUAL AT SEASIDE Seaside tennis clubs in Auckland have seen girl players without stockings frequently enough. For there are tennis courts with the advantage of being, literally, only a few steps from the surf. Xo one has been surprised to see bronzed feminine legs scamper from the beach to the courts. But the seaside code has not yet penetrated to tlie ordinary play on the courts. How will Auckland regard the craze, when it comes*.* It may become a sensible step in the evolution of tennis costume. Not so long ago, women struggled vainly for efficient play under the burden of voluminous clothes. Convention has its disadvantages, but it lias the desirable quality of preventing a rush to extreme behaviour and appearance. Convention is a protection for the amusing elderly men who purposely visit places of amusement to obtain pointers on the decadence of modern youth. which perhaps is no more modern than the youth of other generations. There will be even more players crowding to the courts next Saturday; it is to be hoped, remembering disappointed young men. that Miss Auckland will, in spite of giggling trepidation. discard her stockings. MT. EDEN CLUB The Mount Kden Presbyterian Tennis Club’s season was declared open on Saturday afternoon by the president, the Rev. L. H. Hunt. Mr. .Hunt regretted the unavoidable absence of the club’s patron, Mr. J. W. Shaw. M.A. He pointed out that the courts would be available every evening and hoped members would take advantage of that fact to get some of their games played and thus diminish Saturday afternoon congestion. He welcomed all new members. Two vice-presidents of the club were present, Messrs. R. Richmond and W. J. Munro. Mr. Richmond said he was glad to see members in force at the opening, thus giving the season a good start. He assured all of his desire to assist the club's activities in any way he could. Afternoon tea was provided and games were played until a late hour. The courts are situated at the corner of Mount Kden Road and Windmill Road. PUKEKOHE There was a good attendance of members of the Pukekolie Lawn Tennis Club at the official opening. The Mauku. Pukekolie East and St. James Clubs were represented. The president. Dr. L. J. Forman-Bull, in declaring the courts open for plaj\ referred to the six new chip courts constructed last year, and expressed the hope that the .standard of play would be considerably improved. Progressive tennis was then played. Miss A. Scott proved the winner among the ladies, and Mr. TT. Curd the winner among the men. PUKEROA CLUB j In ideal tennis weather, the Pukeroa j Tennis Club opened its summer sea- . son on Saturday afternoon. Mr. I Gordon Hardy, president of the club, in formally opening- the courts for

play, expressed pleasure at the large attendance of old members and e\ tended a welcome to the new members During the afternoon a Yankee tournament was played, the women's section of which was won by Miss Baster and the men's by Mr. O'Conner. The presentation of trophies won during the winter season was mad* and Mr. Hardy accepted, on behalf ot the club, an honours shield, presented by Messrs. Johns, Ltd. The winners of the various winter tournaments were Mrs. M. Henry, ladies' singles (racquet presented by Messrs. Johns, Ltd.): Mr. Woods. men’s single? Misses Baster and Trayes. ladie.-' doubles: Messrs. R. O’Connor and Fernandez, mens doubles. NGA TAR INGA CLUB The XgH taring* Tennis club hi Stanley Buy. opened officially on S. • urday. The weather was fine arid lb• attendance good, this including representatives from most of the city and North Shore chibs. Mr. C. M Browne, of the Devonport Borough , Council, welcomed the visitors, inchri ing members of the Borough Ccunvt' He summarised the qualities of la-=t season’s players, and the prospects ft>, this season and declared the court - .opened for play. Mrs. E. Aldridg Mayoress, drove the first ball. Pla\ commenced immediately on the fi.v hard courts. Afternoon tea \va> 1 served in the pavilion. under the supervision of Mrs. Bates and M | Ruby Ross. AOTEA CLUB The courts of the Aotea Tennis Club, Epsom, presented a gay spectacle at the official opening of tiesum mer season on Saturday afternoon Some fifty or sixty were present ami the colourful dresses in conjunction with an abundance of bunting draned about the pavilion, presented a bright scene. The season was declared open by the president, Mr. Long, and MrLong played the first ball. The court > which have just been resurfaced. a> in first-class order. An excellent afternoon tea was provided by Mr. and Mrs. Long. Although established only last yenthe club has three fine chip courts in St. Andrew’s Road. Epsom. Since hformation it has made great progress and with a. membership of about lifty the prospects for the coming season are very bright. MATAMATA CLUB I MATAMATA. Today. The .Matamata Tennis Club opened its season successfully on Saturday in fine weather. There was an a tie ml- ! ance of about 200, including visitors from Put&ruru, Tirau. Te p©i. Waharoa, Hinuera and WardviHe. Di J. T. Laurenson welcomed the visitors* and prophesied another successful i reason for the club. The committee hoped to make arrangements with th Domain Board to put down grass com - as well. This would allow Matamai. players to meet outside clubs on even terms. He believed the talent wu. there, and especially mentioned Mls» X. Beverley who, if she had the necessary practice, would be fit to compel, in any company. Mrs. Laurenson served the first ball, and the season was de dared open. The Boy Scouts Hand played suitable selections, and many players took part in the Yankie tournament. Miss G. Stonex winning the women’s competition, and Mr. E. Green the men’s.