Lismore reborn with the Bill Clifton Memorial Trophy

LISMORE CROQUET CLUB'S BILL CLIFTON MEMORIAL TROPHY SATURDAY 19 NOVEMBER, 2022

Springtime is the season of new life, and it symbolised the rebirth of Lismore Croquet Club after the floods. And what a rebirth it was, with a great, colourful, vocal and cheery crowd to enjoy the Bill Clifton Memorial Trophy and to let the world know that Lismore Croquet Club is back up and running and here to stay. Lismore turned on just the right weather for the contest. The warm and bright spring day was a fitting reminder of warm and bright Bill Clifton, who always brought springtime wherever he went.

Bill Clifton was a valued member of Lismore Croquet Club. Sadly we lost Bill in April this year when he left us to play croquet on the other side of the rainbow. He came to our club in 2016 when Croquet was part of the Piazza in the Park celebrations, having tried all the Italian delicacies on offer he decided to have a look at Croquet. At the time Bill, who was a very individual personality, had dyed his beard blue, therefore the trophy in his name is know affectionally in the club as "Bluebeards Trophy" All who attend on the day of the competition are asked to wear blue.

Whenever Bill played, his prime concern was that his opponent had a good time and enjoyed the friendly rivalry. The Bill Clifton Memorial Trophy promotes that attitude- it's not all about winning, it's about how the game is played that's important. And that's how the games were played, in the spirit of Bill Clifton's friendly rivalry. Games were Level Play and were played under ACA Rules 2022.

Tradition decrees the winner and runner up are the organisers of the competition the next year, conditions are flexible and as long as the Rules of Croquet are followed, the organisers have an open hand.

Winner for 2022, Mike Cleaver, played a steady and uncompromising game to bring him a close victory from Kerrie Wawn, whose adventurous style brought her home as runner-up. If there was a prize for jolly enjoyment it would surely have gone to Felicity Clifton.

Felicity Clifton presents trophy to Mike Cleaver

Amongst the other players, David Whalley and Jim Yeo put up conspicuously valiant performances but demonstrated that you just can't beat plain bad luck, tight hoops and unfriendly balls! In an overwhelming decision Felicity won the best-dressed prize.

Our Brains Trust are busy planning the Major Events program for the reborn Lismore Croquet Club. LOOK OUT 2023 - HERE WE COME!

Fay Ross, Club Captain Lismore Croquet Club (Editor- Welcome back to the Club after the heartache caused by the last year’s flooding event.)

Further information from: Jim Yeo (02) 6624 3436 or jimyeo@live.com.au

By Fay Ross, Lismore. From the Croquet Newsletter, January/February 2023, pages 26, 27.