Rockhampton Gateball Challenge, 50 years at the premises and regional games

Rockhampton held its annual Gateball Challenge on 30 April, 1 and 2 May. Six teams participated and thirteen sets of doubles, which were divided into two blocks.

Two teams from the south wanted a couple of extra players. Bev Slater played for Toowoomba and Coral Walsh and I played for Southport. Toowoomba had five players but one of the team was only getting plaster off her wrist or arm just the day before leaving. Southport only had four players available. The Southport team played and won all five games and were undefeated winners.

The Doubles final was between Red and Redder from Eildon, Phillip Rowlands and David Buckle (who was playing in his first doubles event), and Kele Krew, Steve and Chris Kele. Kele Krew (Rocky) won the final. Congratulations to all, especially David for making the finals. Now he will not need to bring the golf clubs when Fran visits for gateball.

Steve and Chris Kele, John Dargel, Philip Rowlands and David Buckle at the Gateball Challenge Doubles final.

The club celebrates 50 years at its current premises in September, so we are hoping to celebrate the occasion. When we first started only association was played. Now we play all four disciplines.

This year we have returned to playing regional games again after COVID restrictions have receded a little. So far Cap Coast have hosted Ricochet and Gladstone hosted Association. At Cap Coast we were represented by Ailsa Rowley and Coral Walsh. They each had a partner from Cap Coast. Ailsa and her partner were first placegetters, and Coral and her partner came second. Thanks ladies and congratulations. We did not have any players for Association in Gladstone.

Next on the list is Gateball in Rocky on 28 and 29 May, Golf Croquet in Mackay on 2 and 3 July, then Aussie Croquet at Gracemere on 27 and 28 August.

By Lynne Farry, Rockhampton. From the Croquet Newsletter, June 2022, pages 23, 24.