Wynnum Come and Try Day welcomes newcomers, Gordon Giles wins the President's Medal and Champion of Champions

Division 3 GC Pennants

Several of our newer members have represented the club in our Division 3 Pennants teams and have enjoyed some very competitive games played in a friendly spirit and with some success. Monday 25 July, we hosted Eildon Croquet Club when our team of Lynne, Jenny, Lisa, Brian, and Wendy put up a spirited performance before winning 6 to 4 games and hoop difference 55 to 49. Sunday 7th August our team of Lynne, Lisa, Brian and Viv travelled to McIlwraith where they had some very tight games before losing on net hoops. Games were 5 all with a hoop difference 51 to 56.

Monday 15th August our team of Jenny, Wendy, Brian and Viv travelled to the picturesque grounds of Merthyr at Newfarm Park, where we went down 4 to 6.

Sunday 11th September, our team of Lisa, Pam, Patrick and Wendy had a hard fought win against Twin Rivers by 2 net hoops.

We're very proud of all our players, and thanks to Deirdre and Gordon Giles who supported the teams and acted as Referees.

Club Championships

These are now underway, the first being the Ladies Golf Croquet Handicap Singles played on Sunday 4 September 2022 with a field of 12 players. It was wonderful to see some of our new members playing in competition for the first time, some being a bit nervous early on but then enjoying every minute.

Block A was won by Ann Brooks with 5 Wins plus 12 hoops. Block B was won by Viv Tidmarsh with 4 wins plus 11 hoops, and all players had a least 1 win on the day. Roy Brooks stepped up as Tournament Manager to assist Gordon Giles in running this tournament, and he did a great job. Deirdre and Gordon were kept busy as Referees for the day, looking after all the games being played on 4 courts. The Final between Ann and Viv was won by Viv who will be presented with the Dell Nichol Shield at our Christmas party.

Come and Try Day

We held a Come and Try Day at the Club on Sunday 21 August, and our visitors certainly appeared to enjoy the friendliness of our members. Thanks to all those wonderful members who were there to help the newcomers with the finer points of hitting a croquet ball. There were also some fun games set up for our visitors to enjoy and these generated lots of fun and laughter.

Visitors and members at the Wynnum Come and Try Day.

Gordon Giles' busy run

Wynnum's Gordon Giles has been very busy competing in several events over the past couple of months, starting with the CAQ GC President's Medal Singles played at Eildon and Windsor on Saturday 23rd July. The Championship final was played at Eildon on Sunday 24th July between Gordon and Southport's Hisham Elkomy. This was a close fought contest with both players being in front at different stages, with Gordon eventually winning the best of 3 match 7 to 5, 7 to 5 to take out the Championship and President's Medal, presented by CAQ President, Pat Habner.

Gordon Giles and Hisham Elkomy after the CAQ GC President's Medal final.

Gordon thanked Eildon CC for hosting the finals and the referees Liz Fleming, Sue Green and Deirdre Giles for their great work; and to the hoop setters and kitchen helpers who provided delicious refreshments for players (and spectators) throughout the day.

On Sunday 7 August, Gordon was in action again at the Gold Coast Tweed Region Champion of Champions Golf Croquet Event. This was a GC Division 1 Singles event with 10 players competing in 2 Blocks. Geoff Hull won Block A with 3 wins with Francis Spencer 2nd with 2 wins. Gordon Giles won Block B with 4 wins and Gabby Spencer 2nd with 2 wins. The Semi-Finals were a cross over where Gordon and Gabby won through to the Final and Gordon went on to win the final and claim the Shield.

Alan Edwards and Gordon Giles with the Champion of Champions shield.

Gordon thanked the Edwards Family who sponsored the event, and in particular Alan for organizing and managing; Southport CC for hosting the tournament and the referees for their time. And of course, the players for playing with such great sportsmanship and thanks also to the hoop setters and kitchen helpers who provided delicious refreshments for players throughout the day.

Congratulations to Gordon who was selected for the Queensland state GC team for the Interstate Shield that has just been completed in Adelaide. Although Queensland managed just 2 wins, 7 to 3 over Victoria and 6 to 5 against Tasmania, we note that all players had some good individual wins.

Dennis Green, Referee Deirdre Giles and Gordon Giles at the Interstate Shield.

This was preceded by the Australian Men's and Women's Singles GC Championships also in Adelaide where Gordon Giles won the Plate with a win over fellow Queenslander Dennis Green (Bribie Is) 7 to 4 in the final.

Congratulations to Ross Rillie (Headland-Buderim) who was runner-up to Gary Phipps (Moorabinda, WA) in the Championship final. Our club Vice President Deirdre Giles was also on the ground at the event as a referee where her experience was extremely valued.

By Mike Fordyce, Wynnum. From the Croquet Newsletter, October 2022, pages 43-46.