Yuni Rowell claims the Gibson Medal at McIlwraith

Yuni Rowell of Coolangatta won the 2026 Gibson Memorial Medal at McIlwraith Croquet Club on 1-2 August, without losing a game all weekend.

Rowell finished with a 26-16 win over Heather Knight of Stephens in the Championship final. In the Consolation event, Gordon Cooper of Bundaberg beat Bruce Ford of Stephens 19-13 to take the title.

The sixteen players were split into four blocks for the Saturday round robin. Rowell won all three block games, and won them easily: 26-11 over Keith Williamson, 26-9 over Casey De-Vene and 26-1 over Bruce Ford.

Presentation of the Gibson Medal at McIlwraith (The Gibson Medal presented by CAQ President John van Barneveld to winner Yuni Rowell, on the lawn at McIlwraith.Photo: McIlwraith Croquet Club)

*The Gibson Medal presented by CAQ President John van Barneveld to winner Yuni Rowell, on the lawn at McIlwraith. Photo: McIlwraith Croquet Club*

Heather Knight also went through the block stage unbeaten, but not always easily. Knight's win over Addison Matthews of Laurel Bank was only 25-23. Knight also beat Donna Manning and Willy Silk without much trouble.

In Block B, Greg Bury of Windsor topped the table. His wins included a triple peel against Sarah Widin, 26tp-8. Lindsay David of Stephens headed Block C, although Greg Whymark of Bribie Island beat him there.

Rowell kept up the pace in the knockout, beating Sarah Widin 26-4 in the quarter-final, then Whymark 25-16 in the semi.

Whymark had already shown he could win a close game. In his quarter-final he beat Lindsay David again, this time 25-23.

Knight's path was much tighter. After a 26-8 quarter-final win over Matthews, Knight met Greg Bury in the semi-final and got through by a single point, 21-20.

Runner-up Heather Knight and John van Barneveld (Runner-up Heather Knight and CAQ President John van Barneveld.Photo: McIlwraith Croquet Club)

*Runner-up Heather Knight and CAQ President John van Barneveld. Photo: McIlwraith Croquet Club*

In the final, Rowell kept up the same form and won 26-16. Bury took third place by beating Whymark 26-0. Keith Williamson won the play-off for fifth.

Consolation winner Gordon Cooper and President John van Barneveld (Consolation winner Gordon Cooper and President John van Barneveld.Photo: McIlwraith Croquet Club)

*Consolation winner Gordon Cooper and President John van Barneveld. Photo: McIlwraith Croquet Club*

Several Consolation games were very close. Rosemary Newsham beat Terry Kearney 14-13, and Donna Manning beat Jacky Lynch 16-14. Cooper reached the final with a 21-17 win over Manning. Ford beat Newsham 23-15 to meet him. Cooper then won the final 19-13. Manning took third place.

Consolation runner-up Bruce Ford and President John van Barneveld (Consolation runner-up Bruce Ford and President John van Barneveld.Photo: McIlwraith Croquet Club)

*Consolation runner-up Bruce Ford and President John van Barneveld. Photo: McIlwraith Croquet Club*

The Gibson Medal is one of Queensland's most prized Association Croquet titles. McIlwraith says this was its 63rd playing.

It honours Mrs J. Gibson of Windsor Croquet Club. She served as President of Windsor, of the Queensland Croquet Association and of the Australian Croquet Council. She was also admired for her Red Cross fundraising during World War II. When she died in 1958, her husband gave one hundred pounds for a medal in her honour. Windsor records the first winner as Mr Hedley Gunton in 1961.

You can read more about her life in our story Who was Mrs Gibson & What did she do for croquet?

Croquet Queensland President John van Barneveld presented the trophies. Andrew Cole was Tournament Manager and Geraldine Trivett was Events Coordinator. Willy Silk was Tournament Referee, and Greg Whymark was Referee on Appeal. Both also played in the event. Greg Kerswell refereed, with Brian Rubock as Referee in Training. Helen David and Wallace Roy served as umpires.

McIlwraith thanked everyone who helped, from the lawn team to the caterers, for keeping this proud tradition alive.