MSOB Carnival: Gateball, GC and Association success at Southport

The annual Mallet Sports on the Broadwater Competition was held from 25th June to the 3rd July 2022. First of all was the Gateball Teams Competition. With 9 teams competing it was a very good sight to see so many people playing at the Club with the bonus of perfect weather conditions. The Southport Red team won 8 games and were undefeated. In second place was the team named "Those Guys" which was a composite team of players from Moreton Bay and Rockhampton. Third place went to "Bribie Mixers" which also combined players, two from Bribie Island and three from Canberra.

For the Gateball Doubles there were 15 teams competing in 2 Blocks. The Final was played between the The Kele Crew (Steve and Chris Kele from Rockhampton) and The Maroons (Kathie Grant and Barbara Northcott from Southport). The presentation was made by Keith McLeod who was the first Australian Coordinator for Gateball.

L-R Barbara Northcott, Keith McLeod and Kathie Grant.

The Golf Croquet Section of MSOB began with the Doubles Competition. It was won by Elaine Berridge from Twin Rivers and Randall Whyte from Southport. Runners up were Mary McMahon from Southport and Richard Pickvance from Wynnum.

Photo L-R Randall Whyte, Elaine Berridge, Mary McMahon and Richard Pickvance.

Next up were the Division 1, 2 and 3 Golf Croquet Singles Championships. By this time the weather had turned into uncomfortably cold and showery but the players were very stoic and competed with good cheer with hot food being supplied by the very good catering crew led by the Acting President, Elli Housden.

- Division 1 winner was Gabby Spencer from Southport - Division 2 winner was Addison Matthews from Toowoomba West - Division 3 winner was Diane Michels from Twin Rivers

Photo L-R Manager of Bendigo Bank at Paradise Point, Gabby Spencer and Charlie Ernst.

Photo (L) Mary McMahon and Addison Matthews.

Photo (Above) Elli Housden with Diane Michels.

Playing Association Croquet at Caloundra, Kathy Grant won the Gibson Medal being the 5th woman to have won it. Kathie was presented with the Trophy by CAQ President, Pat Habner. Congratulations indeed.

Photo at right.

The same weekend there were five players from Southport Croquet Club representing the GCT Region in the Centenary Pennants that were held at Eildon CC. Southport were the QLD Gateball winners.

Photo left. Back row: Lee Wentworth, Barrie Barnard (Reserve). Front Row: Julia Tai, Kerry Lamerton, Barbara Northcott and Margaret Barnard.

There was a full day training session conducted by a presentator/trainer from the "First Aid and Emergency" earlier in July. Eight club members were fully involved in the theory and practical sessions during this course. Thanks to a successful grant application the Club now has a Defibrillator and a good range of First Aid Equipment. It is wonderful to have a reasonably new member, Robyn Barlow, take on the role of First Aid officer.

Visits from members of a local Retirement Village run by one of our Sponsors, Churches of Christ, have been a positive experience for the visitors. Here are two of the carers admiring our sign.

Thanks to Easy-score and Ron Schodel for all your assistance in ensuring the scoring and recording of our competitions in all of the four codes is really 'so easy'.

By Southport. From the Croquet Newsletter, August 2022, pages 26-28.