Darling Downs tournament showcases strong fields across A...

The Darling Downs Croquet community hosted another successful tournament in February 2026, with play across the three Toowoomba clubs and assistance from Dalby Croquet Club. Players travelled from Queensland and northern New South Wales, creating strong fields and a fine tournament atmosphere.

Association events

The Rene Cole Trophy had a full field of 12 players and a thrilling final, with Dave Luxmoore from Burleigh Heads Palm Beach defeating defending champion Chris Borlase from Stephens in a Golden Point finish.

In Division 2, Elaine Berridge from Stephens claimed the Joy Gardner Trophy on hoops countback from Terry Kearney of Toowoomba. Casey DeVene from Eildon was the standout in Division 3, winning the June Brady Trophy without dropping a game ahead of Frank Meek from Isis. The Division 4 Betty Belz Trophy was won by Bob Wilson from Point Lookout, ahead of Penny Wilson.

Ricochet events

Ricochet Singles were held for the first time, with a new trophy honouring Russell Belz, who established Ricochet at the tournament in 2012. Joy Wright from Laurel Bank won Tier A from Frank Meek of Isis, while Julie Kiessling from Hervey Bay won Tier B from Bob Wilson of Point Lookout.

The Ricochet Doubles, played for the Ros Dryden Trophy, saw Penny and Bob Wilson from Point Lookout defeat Frank Meek from Isis and Betty Salter from Toowoomba on countback.

Golf Singles

The Graham Barron Golf Croquet Singles again attracted a strong field. Tier A was won by Steve Bickley from Bribie Island over Werner Borkhardt from Byron Bay. Tier B was won by Narelle Wright from Coutts Crossing from Ann Brooks of Wynnum. Tier C was won by Helen McKay from Byron Bay over Garry Barnes from Nambour.

Golf Doubles

The tournament introduced a new Golf Croquet Doubles trophy, named for Paul and Sandra Reynolds. Their work in the background from 2007, and on the Darling Downs Tournament Committee from 2010, was central to keeping Golf Croquet in the program and helping it grow.

The first Tier A winners of the Paul and Sandra Reynolds Trophy were Werner Borkhardt and Dennise Simmons from Byron Bay, who defeated Robert Kidd and Lorraine Hathaway from Eildon. Tier B was won by Carol Kleidon from Wynnum and Jenny Ross-Maloney from Windsor in a low-scoring final against Peter and Judy DeVene from Eildon. Tier C was won by Sue Bryan and Jenny Charnock from Woolgoolga in a close final over Peter Wright and Ian Darlington from Laurel Bank.

The tournament thanked sponsors Toowoomba City Golf Club, Merlo Coffee, Gelatissimo, Bunnings, Empire Theatre, Toowoomba Sports Club, Club Glenvale and The Store Room.