Bluebeard's Day at Lismore Croquet Club celebrates fun and friendship

Bluebeard's Day at Lismore Croquet Club was held on Saturday 16 November 2024. It is the club's annual competition for duffers, players who have not won anything during the preceding three years.

The event took its rise from a proposal by The Late Bluebeard, Lismore's warm-hearted member Bill Clifton, who said that there should be a competition for players who never won trophies. Originally its name was "The Triard Trophy". Sadly, Bill passed away not long before the first contest was played and it was decided to name the annual event "The Bill Clifton Memorial Competition" in token of the club's affection for a member who epitomised the best in croquet.

The Bluebeard name came from Bill's large beard. Felicity, his wife, mischievously applied a good layer of her blue hair rinse to Bill's beard while he was asleep in a chair in the Lismore afternoon sun. It did not wash out and gave Bill an individual identifying style, which he accepted with typical good humour. "Bluebeard's Competition" fits the spirit of the day and would have Bill's hearty agreement.

The Bill Clifton Memorial Briard Trophy.

In keeping with the spirit of the day, everyone wore something blue. Life Member Doris Green joined in wearing a radiant electric blue wig, while President Jan Allen sported a removable blue beard.

Doris Green, Life Member.

Jan Allen, 2024 President.

Ten players with qualifying track records slugged it out in games limited to 45 minutes. Along with regular hit-and-hope players, a few newbies showed promise and benefited from playing in a less pressured practise competition.

A couple of Newbies: Jennifer Martin, Annette McCarthy and Jean Cook.

Scores were generally surprisingly high, possibly because players concentrated on getting the ball through the hoop. The play-off final was a close-run game between John Dufficy and Bill's wife Felicity, providing an engaging spectacle for officials, visitors and the eight less-successful competitors.

John eventually made it and became 2024 Winner of the Bluebeard Trophy. John is an enthusiastic new player, and his dedication was justly rewarded.

John Dufficy, winner, with Felicity Clifton making the presentation.

House Manager Joyce Perry and Cordon Bleu of the Sausage, Bruce Ross, assisted by goodies brought by members, fed everyone handsomely and well in an atmosphere of joyful friendship.

Joyce Perry.

Bruce Ross.

The spirit of the day was demonstrated by quite a few players substituting hugs for handshakes before and after their games. Once again, Lismore had a day filled with fun but some serious croquet "of cause".

All photos by Linda Perry-Pollard.

By Jim Yeo, Lismore. From the Croquet Newsletter, November/December 2024, pages 25-28.