Wynnum hosts inaugural CAQ AC Tier 1 Singles, George Hartnett Challenge, and CAQ GC Men's Open

Inaugural CAQ Association Croquet Tier 1 Singles

Wynnum Croquet Club had the honour of hosting the inaugural CAQ Association Croquet Tier 1 singles event on 28th and 29th of January. The format for the event was three round robin blocks on Saturday qualifying eight players into a single life Knockout featuring a full X,Y,Z,W structure on Sunday. The remaining players qualified for a round robin block Consolation event on Sunday. The event was fully seeded by the CAQ Selection Committee and was intended to provide strong competition for the Queensland AC Team prior to the Interstate Cup in March.

The knockout was won by Dave Luxmoore from Burleigh Heads / Palm Beach and the runner up was Michael Gidding from Ballina. The Y was won by Jacky Lynch, the Z by Greg Bury and the W by Greg Whymark. The Consolation was won by Wade Hart.

International Referee Liz Fleming officiated for the two-day event. This included arriving at 0530 to set hoops assisted by Di Lovi who also acted as Registration Officer. Viv Tidmarsh organised the catering and provided lunches.

George Hartnett Metropolitan Challenge, GC Level Play Doubles

Sunday 5 February. Our first major GC tournament was a great success, with a full complement of players from Bribie Island, Eildon, Ipswich, McIlwraith, Nambour, Stephens, Southport, Windsor, and Twin Rivers, as well as several Wynnum members.

We very much appreciate the generous sponsorship of George Hartnett Metropolitan Funerals Wynnum, and we were delighted that Therese Prebble arrived to introduce us to the New Wynnum Office Manager, Emory Scott, who presented the trophies.

As with any tournament, a team effort is required to achieve a good result, and our team again did us proud. From hoop-setting and court preparation, right through to games organisation and management including refereeing, cleaning and catering, raffles, etc. we had a lot of willing volunteers. Many thanks to everyone. The weather was very hot, and we were fortunate that there was also a nice sea breeze. All croquet players and referees had to keep well hydrated.

There were some fiercely contested games with close results. Both blocks were very tight affairs with the First and Second place-getters depending on their results in the final game to progress through to the Finals. Block A was won by Mary McMahon and Charlie Ernst (Southport) who won all 7 games. Second place in Block A went to Bob Martin and Jenee Molyneux (Eildon). Block B was won by Geoff Hull and Ron Schodel (Wynnum) who also won all 7 games. Second place in Block B were Graham McLean and Dennis Green (Windsor and Bribie Island).

The Challenge final was an interesting exhibition of different styles of play and was won by Mary McMahon and Charlie Ernst (Southport). In second place were Geoff Hull and Ron Schodel (Wynnum).

Winners Charlie Ernst and Mary McMahon.

2nd place Geoff Hull and Ron Schodel.

The battle for third place was between Bob Martin and Jenee Molyneux (Eildon) and Graham McLean and Dennis Green (Windsor and Bribie Island) with Graham and Dennis coming out on top to take 3rd place.

3rd place Dennis Green and Graham McLean.

CAQ GC Men's Open Singles

Saturday 25th and Sunday 26th February 2023. Wynnum had 3 members compete in the CAQ GC Men's Open Singles, Gordon Giles, Geoff Hull and Ron Schodel. The players were allocated into 3 blocks with blocks A and B played at Eildon and block C played at Stephens on the Saturday.

The Championship final between Casey de Vene and Bob Martin was a "nail-biting" match with some exceptional play by both competitors. Casey finally won game 3 to take out the Pam Shepherd Trophy.

The winners of each of the finals being:

- Championship W (13th - 16th Place): Ron Schodel (r/u Wade Hart) - Championship Y (9th - 16th Place): Addison Matthews (r/u Graham McLean) - Championship Z (5th - 8th Place): Gordon Giles (r/u Charlie Ernst) - Championship X and Pam Shepherd Trophy: Casey De-Vene (r/u Bob Martin)

Full results can be found at https://croquetscores.com/2023/gc/qld-mens-open-singles

Ipswich Cup

Sunday 19 March. Players with handicaps of 8 and above were invited to enter this competition for the Ipswich Cup. Wynnum Club was well represented by Esme Lucas Havens and Pat Woulahan and Brian and Viv Tidmarsh. The weather was perfect, with the courts much slower than our players were used to playing on. There were 2 blocks of players, with the winner from each block going through to the Final play off. Esme and Pat played Sandra and Joan from Bribie Island and won the Final 7-4.

Pat and Esme, winners of the Ipswich Cup.

Congratulations to Esme and Pat!

By Mike Fordyce, Wynnum. From the Croquet Newsletter, March/April 2023, pages 39-41.