Laurel Bank and Darling Downs celebrate major results and honour Ros Dryden

Laurel Bank Croquet Club has had a wonderful few months, with several members achieving strong results locally and nationally.

The club congratulated Addison Matthews on his win at the Queensland Golf Croquet Open. Addison then performed strongly at the Australian Golf Croquet Open, finishing fifth in the doubles and ninth in the singles. On returning to Queensland, he won the Golf Croquet Bronze Medal for Queensland and will compete for the Croquet Australia Gold Medal in September at Lake Macquarie.

Valmai Dennis and Peter Woodland were runners up at the Darling Downs Tier 3 Golf Croquet Doubles. Valmai then partnered with Russell Dennis to finish as runners up in the Ipswich Cup.

Peter and Valmai at the Darling Downs Doubles, and Russell and Valmai as Ipswich Cup runners up.

The club is also proud of members entering their first tournaments and pennant competitions. A friendship day brought 30 players from around the region for golf croquet and soup. As cooler weather arrives, morning play now begins at 8.00 am and afternoon play at 3.00 pm.

The Darling Downs Region includes Dalby, Laurel Bank, Toowoomba and West Toowoomba. Terry Kearney from Toowoomba has been especially active, finishing runner up for the Darling Downs Division 2 Joy Gardner Trophy, third in the CAQ Association Croquet Division 2 Medal, and winning the Point Lookout Division 2 tournament and the CAQ AC Sixes.

Croquet Queensland ricochet events have also had strong local representation, with Frances Wright, Joy Wright and Marion Stower from Laurel Bank and Kaz Boswell from West Toowoomba taking part, many for the first time at state level.

Marion, Joy, Kaz and Frances at the Queensland Ricochet Doubles.

The region also paid tribute to Ros Dryden, a Life Member of West Toowoomba Croquet Club and a much loved Darling Downs figure. Ros served for many years as regional secretary and tournament secretary, helped improve West Toowoomba facilities, and championed ricochet croquet. A Ricochet Doubles Trophy has been donated in her name. She will be deeply missed.

By Joy Wright, Darling Downs Region. From the Croquet Newsletter, May/June 2025, pages 28-30.