JUBILEE HISTORY TEXT, 1911. Chapter XIV - 'On the Tennis Court'.The following text is an excerpt from the
Jubilee History Text published in 1911.
On The Tennis CourtCollege players have kept up the prestige of the school in tennis as in other games. The old court, upon which so many learnt to play, has been torn up to make way for the Norman Morrison Memorial Hall. That court was laid down in 1881. In his report for the year, the Doctor said:—"The double asphalted Tennis Court, constructed at the beginning of the year, has proved a great attraction, and a source of healthy amusement."
For a long time the court was not fenced off, and one of the tribulations of the game consisted in chasing balls through the young trees which were growing round it. In 1885, however, wire netting fences were erected, and the court became wonderfully popular. The committeemen that year consisted of G. G. Cumming, E. A. Simmons, and Norman McArthur, who was hon. secretary. For the first time matches with other clubs were arranged. A Yorick Club team was defeated by 49 games to 14 in the first match, 40 to 11 in the second, and 40 to 12 in the final. The Geelong Tennis Club team was beaten by 33 games to 19, but the College were defeated by the Grammar School by 41 games. to 37.
It is interesting to note the names of the members of the first Tennis team, and the naive remarksmade about them. The following is quoted from the Report for 1885:
The team was represented by the following players:— R. Calvert—plays well, and can get pace on; wants confidence. G. Curnining—a good server, but erratic in his play. A. Kearney— the best player in the School, volleys well, and is untiring in returning; places the balls to perfection. A. Jarrett—a very sure player, and plays with great judgment. N. McArthur—plays well, but needs practice. K A. Simmons—very good player, serves, volleys,. and returns well. Plays with A. Kearney, and as a pair they are hard to beat.
There was a tournament that year—the winner receiving a racket presented by the Doctor. It goes without saying that "Gus" Kearney was the winner. After that and long as Kearney remained at the school, matches were played every year, and tennis became an important game. Handicap tournaments were inaugurated and became an annual institution. In 1887, Ian Glassford became a member of the team. The following year Gus Kearney played for the first time in the Intercolonial Champion Tournament, defeating Raleigh, who was then a leading Victorian player, by 3 sets to 1.
In 1890 there began the association of Kearney and Glassford—a partnership which brought no little glory to the College. In that year they played with the Geelong team, and went through the year, including the Intercolonial Tournament, with an unbeaten record as a pair, Kearney also won the shield in the championship singles that year. He was chosen to represent Victoria against New South Wales.
The following year Kearney secured all the honours it was possible for a player to win at the Intercolonial Tournament. He retained the championship. He and Glassford were runners up for the doubles championship, while Glassford won the open handicap singles. Their return to school after the tournament was the signal for an ovation from the school assembled for prayers and rollcall such as has seldom been accorded any schoolboy by hisfellows. They left school that year, but the enthusiasm they had created for the game remained for some years, and matches continued to be played whenever opposing teams could be found.
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Tennis Teams.The following is the record of Tennis Teams since the building of the first asphalt court in 1885:-
1885: — R. Calvert, G. 'Cumming, A. Kearney, A. Jarrett, N. McArthur, E. A. Simmons.
1886: — A. Guthrie, A. Jarrett, A. Kearney, N. McArthur,
1887: — A. Guthrie, A. Jarrett, A. Kearney, I. Glassford.
1888: — I. Glassford, F. Guthrie, A. Kearney, R. Reid.
1889: — I. Glassford, P. Guthrie, A. Guthrie, A. Kearney, R. Reid.
1890: — I. Glassford, F. Guthrie, A. Kearney, R. Reid.
1891: — I. Glassford, F. Guthrie,. A: Kearney, V. Mogg.
1896: — D. C. Braham, E. M. Baird, R. Braham, W. Robertson.
1897: — E. Greeves, E. Baird, R. Brahain, W. Robertson, P. Brett.
1899: — R. Braham, V. Braham, A. Collocott, H. Collocott.
1900: — A. B. Collocott, H. F. Collocott, J. Gatehouse, G. A. Melville.
1901: — A. B. Collocott. H. F. Collocott, G. A. Melville, R. Officer.
Sources: Sources: Geelong College. History, Register, .. And Records by G, McLeod Redmond. Melb; Sands & McDougall, 1911. pp 137-139.