Caloundra MSC brings all six courts back into play, and the Gateball team travels to Rockhampton

The work to scarify and top dress our lawns has been ongoing for a number of months; and today (Tuesday 23 May) our Golf Croquet players turned out in large numbers to use all six courts for the first time.

The first four courts to be remodelled are playing well, although on one of our bottom courts there has been a problem with water pooling in one corner after heavy rain. Nevertheless we have received positive comments from visiting association players on the playability of these lawns. The last two lawns to be updated are a little heavier; but will improve with time.

Now that we have all six courts in action, ricochet will now be played on Thursday mornings. Hopefully, next year we will have a team to compete in SCRCC Ricochet competition.

The club really appreciates the time and effort our treasurer, John Nealer, has put in to supervise the upgrade of the courts.

Our Gateball players - Robyn Brown, Sue Dixon, Kerry and Don Helmrich, Howard Williams and Kath Hayes, travelled to Rockhampton for five days of competition (28 April - 2 May). This included the Rockhampton Teams and Doubles events as well as the State Pennant final.

Our Gateball team.

We achieved mixed results in all competitions. We did manage to have two wins against the Moreton Bay team; and they won both the teams' event and the State Pennant competition. Caloundra also defeated Rockhampton in the Pennant competition.

It was pleasing to have Don Helmrich participate in his first Gateball carnival. Using his association skills Don proved to be our team's star performer. Congratulations to Robyn Brown for successfully completing her level 1 referee practical at this carnival. Robyn will receive her referee badge at the Southport carnival in June.

On the weekend 21-22 May, Robyn Brown and I attended a Gateball Captains' Training program conducted at the Eildon Croquet Club by five level 3 coaches. This was a very worthwhile experience for both of us. The program was conducted by Phillip Brown the High Performance coordinator of Gateball Australia and supported by John Park who has recently vacated the role of National Coordinator of Gateball Australia. Players travelled from SA, Victoria and NSW to attend this weekend.

Gateball Captains' Training program at Eildon Croquet Club.

Thanks to the Moreton Bay Regional Council for its sponsorship and the Eildon Croquet Club for its outstanding hospitality. The following Monday, John Park visited our club to deliver a "Think Like a Captain" program to interested Sunshine Coast Gateballers.

Howard Williams

By Howard Williams, Caloundra MSC. From the Croquet Newsletter, May/June 2023, pages 7, 8.