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 two pairs with contest for 1st and 2nd place, with the remaining 4 pairs contesting for 3rd place. 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).

Easter Saturday Quick Doubles Competition

Quick Doubles has become a regular Easter Saturday Competition. Usually we only have 10 to 12 participants, but this year 16 competitively spirited wanted in. This made for a great day without too much pressure, since we could play in two blocks, fewer games and all be home for dinner.

Partners were drawn from the pool of high and low handicaps, which gave us an even and well matched battle scene, with two blocks each contesting 3 games Round Robin format, plus a semi-final between blocks and an overall Final.

The club has gained a number of new members over the last 6 months and it was especially pleasing to welcome 4 of our newest members to their first competition. Well done Jane, Tracey, Stan and John, we hope to see more of you in our future competitions.

In the Semi-final Block A winners, Margaret Sheridan & Lillian Wallace, met Block B runners-up, Kate Colwell & Noelene Rawson, with Kate & Noelene winning 4/0,

while Block B winners, Charles Campbell & Stan Ellis, met Block A runners-up, John Mulligan & Ben Vang, with John & Ben winning 4/3.

The final battle was then set between Kate & Noelene and Ben & John, and after some exciting play by all concerned, the day ended with a win for Ben & John with 4 points to 2 points for Kate & Noelene.

Thank you to everyone for participating, and a special thank you to Tricia Shanks who managed the game order and recording of scores. Congratulation to the winners.

Welcome to 2024 - AGM

 Our AGM went smoothly and we welcome the new look committee. Well, not entirely new look, with there being no change of President, Secretary, Treasurer or Captain. But we added a few new faces with Graham Bender as Vice-President, and Committee members Tricia Shanks, Ian McKenzie and Wendy Starr making up the balance.

A number of sub-positions were also filled: Assistant secretary Ray Doyle, Assistant Treasurer Bryan Smith, Assistant Captain Tricia Shanks, Housekeeping Lillian Wallace, Publicity Bruce Seddon, and Grounds and Maintenance Graham Bender, Peter Clarke, Ian McKenzie, and Bruce Seddon.

The first Newsletter for 2024 #31 has also just been published. A copy can be downloaded here.

 We wish everyone a great 2024. Hope to see some of you at our Easter Saturday Quick Doubles Competition.

Christmas Party and Awards Night

On Wednesday evening, December 6th, a total of 49 members, partners, and guests gathered for our annual Christmas Party and Awards Night. It was a delightful occasion to come together, away from our usual attire, and enjoy each other's company and friendship.

The evening's entertainment featured a 20-question quiz with multiple-choice answers, where each table of 8 competed against one another. However, the highlight of the night was a series of poems with a croquet theme, written and recited by Charles Campbell. You can find all the poems on the Croquet Humour page.

In addition to the delicious food and enjoyable entertainment, the night also included awards and prizes. Each year, we recognize a number of members who have made a notable impact on the club. Award certificates, complete with fitting illustrations and citations, are presented to these individuals. The awards can be humorous or serious, celebrating any noteworthy action, event, achievement, or performance as determined by the committee.

Furthermore, playing awards were given to the highest and second-highest scorers in the Competitive Singles matches, which have been taking place over the last 9 months. This group plays twice a month and consists of players aiming to improve their individual skills. The matches are time-limited, and handicaps are utilized to create a competitive atmosphere. Points are earned for participation, winning, losing, or draw, and from these results, champions emerge.

This year, Graham Bender claimed the top honour with the highest number of points and an average game score of 5.9 hoops. Charles Campbell secured the second place with an average score of 5.7 hoops.

New mallets for the club

The club offers a variety of mallets for members to try out before purchasing their own. We have recently added six new mallets to our collection, ranging from 37" to 42" in length, to accommodate those in need of longer shafts.

These mallets, made by John Dunn of WA, are meticulously crafted and exceptionally affordable. 

The mallet head is made of Jarrah, a South West hardwood, and is constructed from two pieces. The centre is lightened while the ends are weighted, allowing for a more accurate swing.

The pieces are securely glued and screwed together before being shaped and fitted with a handle made of Tasmanian Oak and alloy ends. The mallets are then weighted to perfection before the trim is added under the head. To ensure durability, four coats of marine varnish are applied, resulting in a beautiful, long-lasting finish.

All mallet heads have a dimension of 60mm square, but customization options are available for weight, head length, and handle length.

For those interested in purchasing their own mallet, John Dunn can be contacted at Abbey, WA 6280, phone 0418 440 603, or email johnd100@live.com.au.

Thank you!

 A big thank you to everyone who turned up Sunday evening, 22/10, for their Free Croquet Taster Game. The number of takers was above expectation and it was pleasing to see the enthusiasm generated during the night.

Our coaches were kept very busy and struggled to devote enough time to involve everybody. However, of the 40 'tasters' we have 20 inquiries on how to learn more. Those who left their contact details can expect to hear from us shortly.

Meanwhile, check the About Us page for the Coaching & Practice dates and times and get down to the club to register for a lesson. 

Viewing our 3 courts from eastern end.