First Western Interclub Games

 Friday 9th 2025 we attended the first of a series of one day matches, planned between Western NSW croquet clubs. At this stage 3 clubs have agreed to meet regularly, Dubbo Croquet Club, Orange City Croquet Club, and Blue Mountains Croquet Club.

Because of the longer travel distances in the west, it was agreed that no club should have more than 2 hours travel time, in order to meet. With Orange situated equal distance between Dubbo and Blue Mountains, the first match series between Dubbo CC and Blue Mountains CC should be held in Orange.

Thus, the event was very kindly hosted by Orange CC, who supplied superb lawns, facilities, and coffee and cake. The 6 players from Dubbo; Chris Strojny, Graham Bender, Bruce Seddon, Ben Vang, Ian McKenzie and Kate Colwell, had some hard work ahead of them. Remember, Dubbo plays on synthetic courts, which are very fast, and playing on grass took some getting used to. Never-the-less, it was a great day, playing some great members of Blue Mountains Croquet Club. Thank you all. Looking forward to the next matches.

The Club Newsletter

 We have for some years published our own Newsletter. The content is naturally to do with happenings in the club, but also serves to educate players on rules. To this end with make our own illustrations to clarify situations and explain how a fault can occur.

If you are interested in viewing older issues of the Newsletter, and learn what has been discussed so far, we have put together a volume containing the 34 issues published since the start of 2020.

You can get a copy (PDF) by scanning the QR. The collection is 84 pages long and will take a little time to download.

The Newsletter is published quarterly, or as frequently as required, and the first issue of the year, #35, can be downloaded via the link in the side bar on the right. In this issue we deal with 'touching balls'.

Happy reading.

Welcome 2025

 17th February

The AGM has just been held with only a few changes to the Executive Committee.

Long serving Club Captain, Ben Vang, retired from the position he has held since 2013, due to family health concerns. Ben was one of the members instrumental in the installation of the first synthetic surface croquet courts in Australia.

Our long serving Secretary, Charles Campbell, also retired from his position, handing the job over to Ray Doyle. Charles has served as Secretary since 2017 and was one of the members instrumental in obtaining a sizeable grant, which enabled the synthetic court installation.

Charles accepted a new job as Club Captain, following Ben's resignation. We wish Charles and Ray all the best in their new positions in the club.

Thank you for a great year

2024 has been a successful year for the club. We have been able to welcome several new members, with more to join in the new year. Our coaches have worked hard to introduce new members to the sport, as well as steadily increasing the confidence of all the members participating in our weekly coaching and tuition morning. 

 This is a hot time of the year and many do not last past the first morning break around 10am, but we have opened up evening play on Wednesday and Sunday nights. Having all courts fully lit up means no reason not to come and play. 

Wishing everyone a peaceful Christmas and a prosperous New Year. Take care during the festive season, and we will see you all fresh and eager to croquet in 2025.

2024 Doubles Competition final

 The 2024 Doubles Competition has been completed, with the final and 3rd rounds recently played. The results are as presented below. A big thank you to all participants for a well fought competition.

In First Place and winners of the competition, Graham Bender & Des Pope, with an excellent result. Second Place goes to Ian McKenzie and Ross Smith, also an excellent result, being first time competition participants. In Third Place we have Charles Campbell with Tricia Shanks and Noelene Rawson. Tricia and Noelene shared partnership with Charles due to health concerns.

Des Pope & Graham Bender

Ian McKenzie & Ross Smith

Noelene Rawson, Charles Campbell, Tricia Shanks

This concludes the Competitions for 2024. Thank you everyone, and please sharpen your mallets in readiness for the 2025 season. 

Vale Alibeth Clatworthy

Those of us who have been members since the club was at the old place in Wingewarra Street, will no doubt remember Alibeth and her excited little dance every time she scored a hoop.
Alibeth left us 8th September at the ripe old age of 92.

 
She was a devoted player and, apart from a distinctive name, was famously known for her practical expression of Albert Schweitzer's respect for all living creatures by unfailingly interrupting play to re-locate a stray bee, moth, other insects and even an errant earthworm flooded out of its burrow to the surface.

In 2011 she featured in one of a number of poems about members, and went like this:   

She's a soul so gentle, not at all judgmental.

To hurt an ant she'd never stoop, she only wants to score a hoop.

And when she does, she doesn't prance - Alibeth simple does a little dance.

Vale Alibeth, you are fondly remembered.

2024 Doubles Competition

Round One of the 2024 Doubles Competition was played Friday 9th August.

This is a 13-point Handicap Doubles Competition. This year it is played in two rounds, with every pair contesting each other pair twice. Matches are timed at 50 minutes, with an additional 15 minutes, or one hoop, whichever comes first, in case of a tie. Extra Turns are given as calculated.

Despite the dark clouds we escape any rain and the day turned out perfectly.

12 enthusiastic players, having previously arranged themselves into pairs, were ready to start at 8.30am. Competitors included some of our newest players, including Ian and Ross playing as a pair, and doing very well (we'll keep an eye on them, I think).

Matches 1 and 2 were followed by morning tea, whereafter matches 3 and 4 were completed, before breaking for lunch. The 5th and final match was then played and we were able to go home around 2pm. Timing the games certainly makes it a less taxing day.

Round Two will be played on Friday 23rd, essentially repeating all matches. At the completion of both rounds, the top three pairs will play a 3rd round, as will lower three scoring pairs. The dates for the finals are yet to be decided.

The score situation, at the completion of Round One looks like this:

The scores are those prevailing at the end of time (50 minutes).