Kathie Grant wins CAQ AC Open Doubles, and Southport Red ...

The Club has had plenty of use over the last two months because the IntraClub Competitions in Association Croquet, Golf Croquet and Ricochet have been held. Very good games have been observed. Presentations will be made at the Club’s Christmas Party on Thursday 8th December. The IntraClub Gateball Triples Competition for the Beryl Phillips Trophy was not completed because of the heavy rain that arrived on the Saturday afternoon and the Sunday that were scheduled for these games. It will have to be postponed until early in 2023.

Members have participated in competitions elsewhere with very good results. Kathie Grant played with Lindsay David (Twin Rivers Club) in the CAQ AC Open Doubles Competition. Continuing on in her winning way for this year, she and Lindsay won the event. Kathie will be competing in the NZ Women’s AC Singles Championship early in December so we all wish her every success.

The annual Broadbeach Southport Friendship Day in Golf Croquet was held on 27th November. Under gloomy skies there were many good games going on. Southport was the winner 13-11.

At the final Gateball Competition held at Caloundra the Southport Red Team once again took first place. It was one of three teams from Southport that enjoyed the very good experience of playing at Caloundra. It has been a winning year for the Red Team because the team came 2nd in the Australian Gateball Championship, and won the MSOB at Southport, the Toowoomba competition and now the Caloundra competition. The team members are not always the same people so it shows the depth of the Club where 27 people play Gateball on a regular basis. Lee Wentworth as the Captain is able to bring out the best in all his team members.

In the Doubles Competition there were 6 pairs from Southport. The husband and wife combination of Dianne and Peter Sweet came second. Peter's experience having won this Doubles Competition several times before with Bruce McAlister was invaluable. Congratulations to all of our players in the Teams and Doubles because it was a very hectic schedule to undertake.

It has been a very good year for Southport Croquet Club with a big increase in membership, plenty of social activities and a strong contingent of players finding success in their code. Having four codes played at the Club brings in a diverse group of people all wishing to pull together. Two Bunnings BBQ’s are coming up to fund raise for improvements in the court surfaces. Merry Christmnas and Happy New Year to everyone.