Caloundra prepares for the Invictus Caloundra Classic and Nationals

Caloundra Mallet Sports Club is gearing up for the Invictus Caloundra Classic AC event, sponsored by Invictus Mallets and Borger Cranes. It will be held over four days, from Thursday 30 May to Sunday 2 June. There are 18 entries, with international and national players participating, making it an ideal opportunity for spectators to see croquet played at a high standard.

Two evening meals will be served at the club during the event: a barbeque on Thursday and a sit down meal on Saturday evening. Some members will also be providing accommodation to a few of the visiting players.

Murray Tinker and Robert Fletcher are the Tournament Organisers, Carole Atkinson is Tournament Manager, Kerry Helmrich is Venue Manager and supervising catering, and Robyn Brown will be handling Croquet Scores.

Unfortunately, because the Caloundra Classic clashes with the Rockhampton Gateball Carnival, Caloundra will not be participating in that Gateball event. The club will send one team and three doubles pairings to the Southport carnival in June.

Sunshine Coast clubs are gearing up for the Golf Croquet Nationals that the region will host in late August and early September. Dick Byres (Bribie) is keeping all clubs well informed on the progress of the organisation of the Nationals. Murray, Carole, Kerry and Robyn are also actively involved in Caloundra's participation in this event.

All clubs are working to get their lawns in the best possible condition by August. To assist with this, Murray Tinker recently conducted his second hoop setting course, attended by 15 players from the region.

Players attending Murray Tinker's hoop setting course.

Caloundra's Golf Croquet teams, Pennant, Shield and Plate, are performing very well in the SCRCC competitions. Rain washed out the Pennant and Shield clash with Nambour, so the games had to be replayed. The Pennant game was replayed on a Friday morning when the club was being used by the mahjong group, so the players enjoyed a picnic setting under one of the gazebos.

Players enjoying a picnic setting under one of Caloundra's gazebos during the replayed Pennant game.

In Association events, Caloundra is very competitive. The Loch wood team has three wins and one loss. The Bray team has played only one match, for a narrow loss.

The club thanks Mike Bertram and Murray Tinker for negotiating the sale or disposal of the older Toro mower and the very old ride on mower. A new ride on mower plus tow along trailer have been purchased. These new purchases will be used to keep the court and club surroundings in order.

The Bridge Club, Girl Guides and the Mallet Sports Club recently held a joint meeting with Division 2 Councillor Terry Landsberg regarding parking facilities and the safety of club members and the organisations that use the facilities. This will be an ongoing problem and, for various reasons, may take considerable time to reach a satisfactory solution.

By Howard Williams, Caloundra Mallet Sports Club. From the Croquet Newsletter, May/June 2024, pages 10-12.