Southport gateball players finish the year strongly

The Gateball players have had a wonderful conclusion to the year. Southport had two teams play in the Toowoomba Gateball Competition held in October and two teams at the Caloundra Gateball Competition held in November.

While the teams played well in both competitions, the Doubles players took the honours. Rob and Donna Nicholson won the Gateball Doubles Competition in Toowoomba, their second win in the Doubles in 3 years. Robyn Short and Kerry Lamerton won their first ever Doubles win at Caloundra, defeating Julia Tai and Lee Wentworth, also from Southport.

Rob and Donna Nicholson with Paul Reynolds.

Kerry Lamerton and Robyn Short.

The club also had a wonderful day playing for the Beryl Phillips IntraClub Gateball Triples Competition. The winning Triples team was Lee Wentworth, Graham Jackson and Kathie Grant. Beryl was unable to attend to make the presentation but was expected to be back at the Club soon to support everyone who plays.

Everyone at the Club wished the very best of luck to Julia Tai and Kathie Grant when they play in Australian teams at Hangzhou, China from 13-15th December, 2024. Each received a warm, woollen scarf in Australia's colours from the Gateball players, useful for playing in winter in China.

The Gateball players were very appreciative of the use of the Broadbeach facilities while the lawns were being top dressed. A photo showed Donna Nicholson scoring an 'agari' in the game.

A Seniors' Day was held on Sunday 13th October for visitors to come to the club and experience playing Golf Croquet and Gateball. Many people from all areas of the coast came to the Club. Four people returned for a visit and some planned to visit in 2025.

Seniors' Day visitors experienced Golf Croquet and Gateball.

The Club was fortunate to receive a grant to construct a replacement for its verandah. Blinds were part of the additions.

Southport's replacement verandah with blinds.

Another view of the verandah and blinds.

Other IntraClub Competitions in Association, Golf and Ricochet have been completed. With top dressing of the court surface scheduled for the last 2 weeks of November, all play was to be halted, so it was necessary to complete these events by that closing date.

By Barbara Northcott, Southport. From the Croquet Newsletter, November/December 2024, pages 29-31.