Burleigh Heads Palm Beach packs two months with trophies and a green and gold lunch

It has been a big two months of Croquet at BHPB Croquet Club.

BHPB hosted the Gold Coast Tweed Region (GCTR) Open Association Croquet tournament from 8-12 July 2024. There were 37 competitors from around Australia and Internationally who played in the GCTR AC tournaments. Congratulations to Simon Hockey (Crystal Brook, SA.), Mike Gidding (Ballina, NSW) and Graeme Fisher (Wellington NZ) for their places of first, second and third places in the Open Singles tournament. Better luck next year to our BHPB guys who also competed (Dave and Malcolm). Our own Dave Luxmoore teamed up with Greg Roseberry to win the Open Doubles competition, and Fiona and Simon Hockey were Runners-up.

A BIG shout out to our Providore, Col, Assistant Providore, Joy, and their assistants who turned up every day during the week to cater for all the players and give moral support to our players. Your work for the club is truly appreciated by all. Next, our club President Malcolm was the winner of the GCTR Association Division 2 tournament - playing seven other competitors from around Australia. Congratulations Malcolm!

Congratulations also to BHPB players Steve and Jock. Steve was the winner of the GCTR Association Division 4 tournament, and Jock was the runner up. This was the first AC tournament both had competed in! Steve also featured in the MSOB Handicap Singles Ricochet tournament held at Southport Croquet Club on 15 and 16 June, coming second. Steve is a

relatively new player to RC and has had his handicap changed several times in the past few months. Added to this, Steve was third in the MSOB Division 1 Golf Singles tournament. Congratulations and well-done Steve it’s been a big month for you!

And finally (and certainly not least), our own Dave Luxmoore also competed in, and won the Australian Croquet Association Ricochet Croquet Open Singles Tournament held in Hervey Bay 18-21 July. Dave won the best of three finals against runner-up Addison Matthews from Laurel Bank Croquet Club. An all Queensland Final! With the scores: Dave Luxmoore 11 22 25 Addison Matthews 13 11 12

Tournament Manager, presented the trophy to David Luxmoore with Ray Chapman, far right, Ricochet Coordinator for Australia

Green and Gold were the theme colours for BHPB Members who attended a great Pre-Olympics Lunch and play on 25 July. The lunch of Chicken Burgers, Sausages, Salads and Fruit Platters were lovingly prepared by our Providore Col and her team of assistants, and quickly consumed (and appreciated by club members!) We had so many players that all three courts were double banked for friendly social doubles play. More importantly everyone had a great time playing and socialising the whole afternoon. Photo- Club members wearing green and gold

Happy Hooping. Chris Parker Secretary, BHPB CC

Photo right- L-R:- Joan Mathieson, Tournament Manager, presented the trophy to David Luxmoore with Ray Chapman, far right, Ricochet Coordinator for Australia

Photo- Club members wearing green and gold

By Chris Parker, Secretary, BHPB CC. From the Croquet Newsletter, July/August 2024, pages 12, 13.