Stephens celebrates its Centenary with the Ernie Melville Trophy

Our Centenary Year started with the Annual Club Dinner on 15th October. The catering team served up a feast for the many members and friends. It was a good weekend for Stephens on the courts too with Tom and Heather taking out the CAQ Association Croquet Mixed Doubles. The following (very wet) weekend Division 3 and Division 4 Association Croquet players helped us celebrate by entering the Ernie Melville Trophy. Each block had eight competitors - so good to have a full field for the first time with players from nine different clubs from Tweed Heads to Hervey Bay. Ernie welcomed everyone, Margaret was ready to Referee and Saturday went well. The second game had very little rain. Everyone was playing with confidence, even those who have just ‘found AC’. It was a pity their experience was cut short by Mother Nature. On Sunday morning, there was a lake on the top of the hill in Yeronga Park. 2022 Ernie Melville Trophy The winners were Al Keetman (Div 3) and Lynette Evans (Div 4) who won all their games on Day 1. "I thoroughly enjoyed myself in this, my first ever Association tournament attendance. It is a shame that the weather did not allow us to continue."

“Thanks again for your hospitality and thanks for all the support and advice offered during the comp." It’s great to see more of our Golf Croquet players entering tournaments and gala days at other clubs including West Toowoomba, Ipswich for the 120th Birthday Gala, Windsor and Eildon. There have been some wins along the way. Well played Jeremy, Ces, Alison, Maude, Kathy, Geoff, Lesley, Geraldine, Maria, Tim and Gerard. Our club was pleased to host the Golf Croquet ACA U21 Bronze Medal – Addison Matthews, Tim Wright, Frances Wright and Ethan Chilton. Congratulations on winning, Addison. After Christmas, the busy-ness continues ... Jacky, Rosemary and Heather are heading to Christchurch in early January to play in the AC Women’s World Championships – what an experience! These keen competitors have been selected in the Queensland Team for the Eire Cup to be held in Melbourne in March. Congratulations! Rosemary was Vice Captain of the 2022 Golf Croquet State Team. Stephens is hosting the new AC Tier 1 Singles Championship (handicaps 5 to -3) on 28th and 29th January. Come along to the “Horse and Plough” Centenary Gala Day on 11th February.

Easter (8th, 9th, 10th April) – Advanced Handicap AC Singles on Saturday and Sunday and then on Monday it’s the Golf Croquet Doubles.

The Ernie Melville Trophy is back to the usual date of 6th and 7th May. We love having visitors at Stephens and the club stays open over the Christmas period: Association Croquet – Wednesday mornings 10am and Saturday afternoons at 1pm Golf Croquet – Tuesday mornings, Friday and Sunday afternoons from 3pm We welcome players of all levels of experience – affiliated players $10, un-affiliated visitors $15

The knives were out at Graceville vs Stephens for Round 4 of the AC Metropolitan Pennants

Wishing all clubs a Merry Christmas and happy Croquet times in 2023. Heather Knight

By Heather Knight, Stephens. From the Croquet Newsletter, December 2022, pages 23-25.