Tennis Club

Though the war has tended to disorganise activities, the Club has had a good season. Opening Day, held on Saturday, September 23rd, attracted good entries, the winners being Norm. Morrison and Elizabeth MacLean, who early found good form and made light work of all opposition, though they were heavily handicapped.

Freshers' Tournament, held on March 10th in glorious weather, produced some good tennis, especially in the semi-finals and final, the latter event being won by T. B. Cranswick and Berys Ball.

Owing to the loss of several of our players, only five teams were entered in the W.L.T.A. Inter-Club Competitions this season. The Senior A men's team, again captained by R. McL. Ferkins, and strengthened by the inclusion of Keith Dyer, had several meritorious wins; but the loss of Norm. Morrison, who joined the Air Force early in the New Year, considerably weakened the team and furthermore resulted in disorganisation of the second men's team. Once again the top ladies had a good season and it was unfortunate that illness or absence from Wellington of some of the key players spoiled this team's chances of winning the Grade competition. The loss of our top lady, Elizabeth MacLean, was particularly felt. The Third Grade team, captained by Iris Foley, also had a good season.

Remarkable activity on the Club ladders, both in the men's and ladies' sections, was in evidence this season, and the selection of the tournament team presented no easy problem, as, apart from Frarik Renouf, Keith Dyer and Kath. Pears, no other eligible member of the Club could be regarded as at all certain of selection. The team finally chosen comprised the following players: Men—F. Renouf, K. Dyer (Captain), R. Baird and J. Cope; Ladies—K. Pears, G. Rainbow, B. Marsh, N. Marshall and P. Monkman. Norbert Foley, a particularly good Club member and consistent player this season was unlucky to miss Tournament selection. Illness prevented Mary Edwards from making the team, while Marie Fletcher and Glen Macmorran could quite easily have substituted for two of the other girls in the Doubles events, so evenly matched were the players available. In spite of all this talent, the Tournament team was very disappointing, only one event being won by V.U.C., namely, the Men's Doubles (Keith Dyer and Frank Renouf).

On Old Boys' Day, Past Students again registered a win over Present Students, to retain the Eichelbaum Cup by five matches to three. One of the matches won by Old Boys, 11-9 in the third set, was a marathon contest, and much of the credit for this result must go to Colonel Beere, a New Zealand University Blue in the early years of the present century, who showed he has not yet lost his dash and cunning.

Since the outbreak of the war, the Club has lost the services of several of its executive

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officers or ex-committee men, including Norm. Morrison, Bill Pasley, Frank Renouf, Derek Christensen, and more recently, Lara Sandford, while Ian McAllister will shortly go into camp. The Club wishes to express its appreciation of their services.