Caloundra courts rejuvenated, new uniforms arrive, and Sam Oaten wins two singles events

The rejuvenation of our courts is still ongoing. Four courts have been completed and are back in use. These courts are well grassed; however with further mowing their playing speed should increase. Work on the remaining two courts has been delayed a week due to a mechanical problem in the contractor's equipment. However it is envisaged that the work on these courts will commence next week.

The first order of our new club uniforms have arrived and a number of members are wearing them. We thank Cathy McBrien for looking after the ordering of these. A second order will be sent when Cathy gets the required number.

Gateball Team at the Moreton Bay Competition.

Our Gateball players, plus Fran and David Buckle (Eildon), participated in the Moreton Bay teams and doubles events recently. It was pleasing to have our new Gateball recruit, John Andrews, participate for the first time. In the teams event we started strongly, winning our opening two games. However, at the end of the day we finished fourth, with three wins from our six matches. Unfortunately, the three doubles combinations our members were involved in had limited success.

The SCRCC tournaments have recently been completed. The competitions were played at various centres in our region. Caloundra hosted two golf croquet events, the open doubles and the 14+ doubles events. In the open doubles there were only five entries and three teams tied with three wins each. Unfortunately our two pairs, Mike Bertram and Sam Oaten and Murray Tinker and Fred Van Vugt, came second and third respectively on net hoops. The winners were John Dark and Rob Moncrieff from Noosa.

Runners-up Mike Bertram and Sam Oaten with President Sue.

Sam Oaten had a great result in the events he participated in. Apart from his second in the open golf doubles he won two singles events: Division 3 AC and Division 2 Golf. In both of these events he went through undefeated. Well done Sam and hearty congratulations.

Malcolm and Robert Fletcher, who played in the final of the 2023 Men's Open AC Croquet event, with Robert victorious two games to one.

Murray Tinker and his mate, Peter Nicholson (McIlwraith), will be playing together in the Queensland Open Golf Croquet doubles this weekend and we wish them well.

Thanks to Ricki Barrett's initiative in inviting Dennis and Sue Green to our club to motivate our members, ricochet is now being played on Wednesday morning, and has a number of regulars turn up. The playing schedule for ricochet may change once all six courts are available.

The SCRCC competitions are about to commence. Caloundra has teams in the Golf Croquet Shield and Plate events, and both the AC events: Bray and Lochwood shields. Hopefully next year we will participate in the Golf Croquet Pennant and Ricochet events as well.

By Howard Williams, Caloundra. From the Croquet Newsletter, March/April 2023, pages 7-9.