Archived Extracts

SOME fine tennis was witnessed by a large crowd on the Huthwaite C.W.S. Sports Ground on Tuesday evening, the occasion being the finals of the Sutton and District Championships. In all five finals took place and lasted approximately three hours, ideal weather prevailing throughout. Two sets sufficed to decide each final, and although the scores in three of these were greatly in favour of the winners, the play was much keener than the scores indicate and the losers in each event put up a hard fight.

  The heroine of the evening was Miss. M.E. Clarke (New Hucknall Welfare), who due to some consistent play and excellent stamina was on the winning side in each. She is to be congratulated on such a splendid achievement.
  Her contest with Miss E. Wright (Sutton Colliery) in the Ladies' Singles proved to be one of the keenest of the evening and lasted the longest. Miss Wright put up an excellent fight and displayed some good allround form, but Miss Clarke's superiority gradually asserted itself and she ran out a deserving winner by 7-5, 8-6. Mr. W. Footitt was the umpire.
  The Men's Singles, which were played concurrently with the above event, provided J.C. Webster, who entered the Competition unattached, but now comes under the Bentinck Colours, with a decisive victory over S. Parker (Annesley). Playing to a great extent on Parker's weakness at back hand drives, and scoring a good many points with his fast service, Webster won the first set easily by 6-1, and although Parker improved somewhat in the second set he was eventually well beaten by 6-3. This match was umpired by Mr. J. Oates.

  The Gent.'s Doubles and Mixed Doubles were next played. The former was productive of some extremely interesting play, and it was not until after a particularly hard fight that he Bentinck representatives, J.E. Langley and I. Johnson, beat S. Parker and H. Greasley (Annesley) by 7-5, 6-4. Throughout the match was characterised by fine tennis, both sides, being extremely smart at net play, Johnson particularly so. Parker showed a marked improvement on his play in the Gent.'s Singles, and both winners and losers are to be congratulated on the splendid form displayed. Mr. J. Smith umpired.
  In the Mixed Doubles, R. Dickens and Miss Clarke (New Hucknall Welfare) had full measure of W.H. Lakin and Miss I.L.T. Davies and gained them most decisive victory of the evening, taking the first set at 6-1 and the second at 6-2. Mr. L.I. Frith was the umpire.
  The last event on the programme was the Ladies' Doubles, in which Miss Clarke and Miss E. Naylor (New Hucknall Welfare) beat Miss L. Tongue and Miss I. Taylor (Teversal) by 6-2, 6-2. Although Miss Clarke occasionally showed signs of tiredness her volleys and serves lost very little of their sting and she was well backed up by her partner. Miss Taylor displayed a very stylish service. The umpire was Mr. J. Herbert.

  The trophies and their winners are:-
  Lawn Rose Bowl (Ladies' Singles): Miss M.E. Clarke (New Hucknall Welfare).
  Walton Cup (Gent.'s Singles): J.C. Webster (Bentinck).
  Ashfield Cup (Ladies' Doubles): Miss E. Naylor and Miss M.E. Clarke (New Hucknall Welfare).
  Tomlinson Cup (Gent.'s Doubles): J.E. Langley and I. Johnson (Bentinck).
  India Cup (Mixed Doubles): R. Dickens and Miss M.E. Clarke (New Hucknall Welfare).
  After the last final the company assembled in front of the pavilion for the presentation of awards, the beautiful trophies being displayed on a table. Mr. J.M. Briggs (sec.) thanked everybody who had helped in any way to make the Competition such a success. First of all he thanked. the competitors, particularly those who had failed in the early rounds because it was those who made the supporters and enabled the others to have a string of victories behind them when they reached the finals. He also thanked the Miners' Welfare organisations who had loaned grounds for the semi-finals and finals. Thanks were also extended to subscribers who had done wonderfully well and had helped the Committee to provide trophies and, eventually they hoped, prizes.
  "I should also like to thank publicly the "Free Press" for the tremendous amount of impetuous it has given to the Competition," observed Mr. Briggs. "I think next year we shall merit this publicity still more." They were also indebted to the Clerk of the Weather for the splendid chance they had had of getting the matches through to time. They had finished earlier this year than they hoped to do, and although they had the trophies there they had not yet obtained the prizes, which the winners would receive at a dance which it was hoped to hold in the early autumn.

  "I thought I should have to apologise because there were only three trophies," added the speaker, "but Mr. and Mrs. J.A. Tomlinson have very kindly presented us with one for the Gent.'s Doubles and the Committee had enough money in hand to provide one for the Ladies' Doubles so that we have a trophy for each event." Mr. Briggs hoped the Competition would continue to grow and appealed for twice as many competitors next season as this.
  In introducing Mrs. J.A. Tomlinson to the company, the Rev. R.P. Tinsley expressed his great pleasure at the task. To some she needed no introduction, especially to those who lived in the district. The Vicar took that opportunity of thanking Mr. and Mrs. Tomlinson for the interest they had taken in the Competition and also the firm they represented, the C.W.S. for the loan of the ground.
  Expressing the hope that the Competition would continue to grow, the Vicar said he had the pleasure and privilege of taking a leading part in the formation of a similar organisation in the Chesterfield district when he was there as a curate. They had a very good competition indeed, and when he happened to be over there a week or two ago the old secretary told him that the competition was still being carried on very successfully ....

  It was no use going through the Competition in a way not strictly in accordance with tournament rules, and they ought to try and use the games as a means of instruction so that the young people would be at home in any major tournament. With this end in view the Vicar mentioned one or two points with regard to faulty play. He had noticed some foot faults that night, and he emphasised the rule that one foot must always be on the ground when the ball was served. When playing in major tournaments the point would also be given against the player who touched a ball before it hit the ground, even if it was going right outside. To change sides according to service was also contrary to L.T.A. rules. A player must decide at the start which side to take and stick to it throughout the game.
  Thanking the Secretary for the splendid work he had done, the Vicar said Mr. Briggs was very keen on the work and he hoped they would keep him as Secretary so that he could help them to get the Competition growing.
  Before handing the trophies to the winners, Mrs. Tomlinson said all she need say for all of them was that they had had a most interesting evening and had witnessed some fine games. She considered it a great honour to be asked to present the trophies.
  A vote of thanks was accorded Mrs. Tomlinson on the proposition of Mr. J. Herberts, of Annesley, who said he had known Mrs. Tomlinson for a number of years. This was his first season in the Competition, and it had been a most enjoyable one, a fine sporting spirit having been displayed by all the contestants.

On Wednesday a garden party was held at the Orchards (by kind permission of Mr. and Mrs. C. Coupe) on behalf of the Mothers' Union. Tea was provided by the members, and a miscellaneous entertainment was given, including maypole dancing by the Common Road School children, and a display of country dancing. There were slight showers during the evening, but the weather on the whole was very fine, and the beauty of the grounds was an added attraction.

The annual sports of the Common Road Infants' School were held on Tuesday in a field kindly lent by Mr. E. Lowe. The judges were Mr. T. Goodall and Mr. Bonsall. After the races the parents and children entered the school, where the prizes were presented by Mr. C.H. Coupe (a School Manager). Howard Lineker thanked Mr. Coupe for presenting the prizes, and Mr. Goodall and Mr. Bonsall were thanked for acting as judges. Mr. Coupe, Mr. Goodall and Mr. Bonsall congratulated the children on the keen way in which they had contested the races, and the proceedings closed with cheers for Miss Kitchen and the teachers.

SECTION 'A' - MIXED DOUBLES.
                 P.  W.  L.  R.  P.
New Hucknall Wel. 4   4   0  31   8
Annesley          3   2   1  16   4
Bentinck          3   1   2  10   2
Ollerton          4   0   4   3   0

SECTION 'B' - MIXED DOUBLES.
                 P.  W.  L.  R.  P.
Teversal          5   5   0  28  10
New Hucknall Wel. 6   4   2  36   8
Bentinck          4   3   1  23   6
Shirebrook        6   2   4  19   4
Annesley          7   2   5  19   4
Pinxton           4   0   4  12   0

New Hucknall Welfare v. Teversal.
  Mr. E. Dyment and Mrs. Moakes (Welfare) beat Mr. Winterbottom and Miss Taylor; beat Mr. Haycox and Miss Tongue.
  Mr. S. Spencer and Miss Palfreman beat Mr. Winterbottom and Miss Taylor; beat Mr. Eastgate and Mrs. Vann
  Mr. W. Clarke and Miss Colley (Welfare) beat Mr. Eastgate and Mrs. Vann; lost to Mr. Haycox and Miss Tongue.
  Rain stopped play, but the homesters had won the necessary five rubbers.

GENT.'S DOUBLES.
                 P.  W.  L.  R.  P.
New Hucknall Wel. 6   6   0  36  12
Bentinck A        7   6   1  45  12
Ollerton          7   5   2  38  10
Annesley          6   3   4  24   6
Welbeck           7   0   7   8   0
Pinxton           8   0   8   5   0

New Hucknall Welfare v. Bentinck.
  Messrs. Dickens and Dyment (Welfare)
  Messrs. Marshal and Rodgers (Welfare)
  Messrs. Spencer and Clarke (Welfare)