Southport's Mallet Sports on the Broadwater draws Ricochet, Gateball and Golf crowds

The months of June and July are always busy times for croquet at Southport. The three codes of Croquet (Ricochet, Golf Croquet and Gateball) that are played during the annual Mallet Sports on the Broadwater (MSOB) are as popular as ever. Then comes the Gold Coast Tweed Regional Competitions in Association Croquet. Traditionally, players from the southern states and from New Zealand travel to the Gold Coast to enjoy the beautiful winter weather which has not disappointed anyone.

First up was the Ricochet Competition that was held on 17th and 18th June. It was good to welcome Greg Porter from Cherry Street, Ballina to the competition as well as players in the south-east Queensland area. The winner was not determined until the last game. Congratulations to Malcolm Campbell from Burleigh Heads Palm Beach Club who won the event for the second year in a row. The runner up was Julia Tai from Southport who was tenacious in her win against Malcolm but lost to Joy Wright from Toowoomba.

The Teams and Doubles Competition for Gateball were held from 24-26th June. Nine teams competed for the Trophy sponsored by Michael Hare Vision Eyeware. The winning team, aptly named All Sorts, was one comprised of players from Rockhampton, Bribie Island, Newcastle and Canberra. In second place was the Southport Red Team which was one of the 3 teams that Southport had entered. With lovely weather and plenty of good, friendly rivalry, the Gateball teams event was a very good success yet again. There were 18 teams in the Gateball Doubles Competition. The winners were Emma Mauceri and Kaelan from Bribie Island and in second place were Kathie Grant and Barbara Northcott (Southport). Dawn Crichlow, Patron of Southport Croquet Club, made the presentations.

The winner of the MSOB Teams event was the All Sorts Team.

Second place went to the Southport Red Team.

Emma and Kaelan with Dawn Crichlow (left), and Kathie and Barbara with Dawn (right).

After the Gateball concluded the Golf Croquet Competition began. Mary McMahon (Southport) and Gordon Giles won the Doubles with Gabby and Francis Spencer (Southport) in second place. Geoff Hull (Wynnum) won Division 1, Oliver Beverley (Point Lookout) Division 2 and Chris Parker from Burleigh Heads Palm Beach won Division 3, with Michelle de la Mare (Southport) in second place.

During Wednesday 5th July and Thursday 6th July Southport hosted the 4th Division GCTR Association Tournament. Southport's member Murray Trainor won and 2nd place went to Phyllis Water from Cherry Street Ballina. Both moved to 3rd division after a successful competition.

Eunice Frater, Murray Trainor and Phyllis Water at the 4th Division GCTR Association Tournament.

By Barbara Northcott, Southport. From the Croquet Newsletter, July/August 2023, pages 29-31.