The Forster, Gloucester, Taree and Port Macquarie Clubs have had another year of challenging competitions. Two levels of competition are played in association croquet, golf croquet and ricochet.
In the first half of the year Inter-Club Handicap Competitions are held. Each club plays against the other three clubs in one day competitions.
In golf croquet there are twelve games of singles and twelve games of doubles in each match. The 2018 winner of the Jan Sage Plate was the Gloucester Club.
In association croquet, because of the limited number of players, four games of singles and two games of doubles are played in each match. The 2018 winner of the Rogers Plate was the Port Macquarie Club.
The ricochet competition was added this year. In each match eight games of singles and two games of doubles were played. The winning club was Port Macquarie.
The District Championships are held in September/October each year. In association croquet level play singles games are played between the divisional winners. The event was hosted by Forster, run by Barb McTiernan, and the winners were:
Division 1 Ray Vize (Forster)
Division 2 Graham Innocent (Forster)
Division 3 Sue Shenton (Port Macquarie)
Division 4 Neil Fuller (Forster)
Gloucester hosted the golf croquet championships on a wet and windy day. Bev Murray and her team organised the day. This is a team competition with singles and doubles games played. The winners were:
Division 1 Forster (Ray Vize and Sandy Coutts)
Division 2 Gloucester (Bev Murray, Yvonne Bagnall and Brenda Pennicuik)
Division 3 Forster (Debbie Fuller, Norma Bogan and Daphne Young)
The ricochet championships were held at Taree, organised by Jan Sage. The winners were:
Division 1 Sue Moss (Port Macquarie)
Division 2 Bridget Earle (Port Macquarie)
Division 3 Janine Crellin (Taree)
Division 4 Keith Dalton (Port Macquarie)
With the introduction of ricochet we are delighted that eight of our players are now ricochet referees, thanks to the help and guidance of Margaret Thompson.
The final event of the year will be the Christmas Party and Trophy Presentation at Port Macquarie.
The four clubs are very supportive of these inter-club events and foster friendship and lively competition between our players.
Bridget Earle, President
Carol Dwyer, Secretary/Treasurer
Inter-Club Competitions |
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 Association Croquet |
 Golf Croquet |
 Ricochet |
District Championships |
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 Association |
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 Golf |
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 Ricochet |
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On Monday 24th September, 2018 Nowra Club hosted our annual visit from Probus Clubs within the Shoalhaven area. Clubs from St. Georges Basin, Jervis Bay, Shoalhaven mens, Shoalhaven Heads and of course, Nowra. We had 56 players and an additional 36 non players from the clubs. The players enjoyed golf croquet, under the watchful eyes of our club members. Whilst some of our members were demonstrating “being friendly “ others were showing the “nasty side of croquet” in a fun and friendly manner. Much laughter could be heard from the four half courts set up to meet the demand of the visitors. The weather was cool, with a slight shower which did not deter the players!.
Our club provided complimentary tea and coffee, whilst the Probus catering team provided a wonderfull lunch of meats and salads, followed by sweets. Play continued after lunch.
Whilst our members were having fun with the visitors. we were raising funds through our normal green fees for visitors and a successful raffle with prizes donated by club members.
The day was a great success through the hard work of club members and resulting in one group showing interest to hold a smaller day once a month, whilst several showed interest in becoming members of our club
Article and photos by Bob Williamson, President/Publicity
 Some of the early players showing their excitement |
 Club member Larry Becroft watches L_R Margaret Hamblion, Anne Lowenstein, Jan Chappelow and Margaret Turner |
 L-R Evonne Potts, Pat Maidment, Terry Wright, Club Treasurer Karen James. and Mina Wright |
 L-R Julie Angove, Vivian Shih, Fae Lloyd, Joan Davoren, and cub member Ralph Tankard |
 L-R Club Captain, Margaret Sawers, John Tobin, Michael and Jane Miezio, and Jean Tobin |
 Enjoying the instruction L-R Bruce and Glynis Wallsmith, Club Secretary Norma Windley, Norma Fiddes, Lindsay Evans |
 L-R Anna Stewart, Beverly Walker, Jim Stewart, club member Don Sawers, Llois Shorten |
 L-R Ian McKinnon, club members David Turvey and Geoff Herne, Therasa McKinnon, Wendy Francis, Kevin Cummins |
Saturday 21st and Sunday 22nd September saw 16 members of Nowra croquet club enjoying the club's handicap doubles championship in perfect Spring weather.
The format of the competition was a single round robin in two blocks of four couples then a knock out for the finals.
The winners of the red block were David Knott and Di Milne winning all 3 of their games second with the late pairing of Sylvia Sheffield and Ralph Tankard .
The blue block was extremely close, Paul and Robynn Wormleaton beat Ann and Wayne Worrall on a countback and Ann and Wayne beat Norma Windley and Marie McLean on a countback .
The knock out played of Saturday afternoon was won by Ralph and Sylvia from Ann and Wayne, all members who were knocked out in the first two rounds stayed on to enjoy a delicious afternoon tea and watch the semi-finals and finals
Article and photograph courtesy of club captain Margaret Sawers.
L-R Winners, Ralph Tankard and Sylvia Sheffield and runners up Anne and Wayne Worrall
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Nowra Croquet Club hosts Division One State Titles on behalf of Croquet N.S.W.
Over five days the Nowra club was given the honour of hosting Double and Singles Golf Croquet titles at their lawns at Bomaderry. The doubles of eight pairs were contested over the weekend of 18 and 19 August 2018 under very difficult conditions of strong winds and cold temperatures. The winners were David Hanbidge of Nowra on a handicap of minus three and his partner Jamie Gumbrell of Canberra on minus one. During the weekend Jamie had his 18th birthday!! whilst David will be representing Australia in Croquet in Egypt!! later in the year. The runners up in the doubles were Peter Freer of Canberra and Liz Montague of Killara Following on the doubles, the singles were held on Monday 20 to Wednesday 22 August, under much better conditions enabling players to show their skills as State division one players. In all eleven players contested the singles event, with Peter Freer of Canberra, winning from David Woods from Sutherland. Visitors for the titles came from Canberra, Sutherland, Wollongong, Toronto, Royal Sydney and players from Nowra. Visiting referees, Ric Mills from Orange and June Hodge from Shepparton officiated during the games. The State Secretary, Stephen Thornton congratulated Nowra Club on the way the titles were conducted and its looking forward to having more titles held at Nowra once four new courts are established at Bomaderry. Other visitors were impressed with the number of local club members attending to view some great golf croquet. Bob Williamson video link 1 video link 2 video link 3 video link 4 |
 Eighteen year old Jamie Gumbrell (Canberra) running the hoop with pink on his way to winning the doubles event watched by onlookers |
 Nowra Club captain, jumping yellow to win the hoop |
 Jamie Gumbrell, discussing tactics with partner David Hanbidge (nowra) watched by Margaret Sawers and Larry Becroft both from Nowra |
 Visitor Ros Johnstone of Sutherland jumps white over green under the watchful eye of referee Ric Mills of Orange |
 Doubles runners up Liz Montague (Killara) and Peter Freer( Canberra ) with CNSW Secretary Steve Thornton |
 Doubles winners David Hanbidge (Nowra) and Jamie Gumbrell (Canberra) with Steve Thornton (CNSW) |
 Singles winner Peter Freer (Canberra) congratulating David Woods (Sutherland) with Nowra Captain Margaret Sawers |
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CNSW Ricochet Singles Championships
The CNSW Ricochet Singles championships were played at Nowra Croquet club Monday 16th to Wednesday 18thh July 2018. 9 players from Mt Sugarloaf, Chatswood, Killara and Nowra competed in a single round robin,18-point games timed at 1hour 30 minutes with additional 15 minutes for double banking. Going into the last round of games both Glyn Williams and Brenda Wild were on 6 wins and Ted Woodley (who had only played two games of Ricochet before playing in the championships) and Graeme Lovell were on 5 wins. Glyn beat Brenda 18/7 to become the 2018 Ricochet champion with seven wins out of 8 games, Ted beat Tony McArthur 15/12 to take second place from Brenda on a count back. 20 games were pegged out throughout the tournament Block Narrative courtesy of Margaret Sawers Bob Williamson video link |
 Competitors,Tony McArthur, Brenda Wild,Ted Woodley Diane Milne,Glyn Williams, Margaret Sawers, Graeme Lovell, Greg Deakin, Dianne Bonnitcha |
 Glyn Williams on his way to winning the title |
 Ted Woodley on his way as runner up |
Again Nowra was given the privilege to hosting the doubles event, with eight players contesting the event.
The event ran over 2 days, with 18 hoop games which were timed. Visiting players included Dianne Bonnitcha (Sutherland), Greg Deakin (Killara), Tony McArthur (Sutherland), Brenda Wild(Mt Sugarloaf). The remaining players were from Nowra and included Graeme Lovell being his first Ricochet State event and Margaret Sawers and Glyn Williams who were previous State winners last year.
At the completion of the competition, Margaret Sawers teamed with Glyn Williams were outright winners again with 6/6 games and the runners ups Dianne Bonnitcha 3/6 games.
Bob Williamson
video link
 Winners Margaret Sawers and Glyn Willams |
 Runners up Dianne Bonnitcha and Graeme Lovell |
 Back row, Dianne Milne Greg Deakin Tony McArthur and Brenda Wild |
 Brenda Wild with the winners |
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Nowra Holds Juniors Training Day
On Friday the 13th of July, 2018 six young people from the Nowra area, enjoyed a morning of learning the basic skills of croquet. Under the watchful eyes of Jackie McDonald, CNSW State Co-ordinator of under 21s, friendly and informative instructions were given to the visitors. Skills were practiced and well as enjoying a lunch provided by the club. Bob Williamson |
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On a cold winters afternoon, club members introduced visitors to CAT Croquet ie "come and try" croquet. A number of the visitors enjoyed the two hour session, which was followed by a wonderful afternoon tea provided by the members. After the afternoon tea, visitors expressed their willingness to join our club (for the food or the game?) The organisers of the event were happy with the result.
Bob Williamson
video link
 Visitors Alain and Michael Fletcher, watched by Larry Becroft and David Turvey |
 Visitors Jenny and Jim Dawson with club member Doug Houssenloge |
 CAT participants!! |
 Some of the early finishers |
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World Croquet Day at Nowra Club
Brian Mitchell donated $100 prize money to celebrate world Croquet day and his return to Croquet after his liver transplant. The format for the competition was single knock out level play 15 Nowra members played in the event, the shot of the day was Brian's second shot after being away from the game for several weeks. David Turvey played Blue to a position in front of hoop 1 Brian played red, David Played Black then Brian played yellow intending to take out blue, yellow ricocheted off blue and scored the hoop to the applause of the onlookers. Brian in block 1 looked like winning his own competition until he encountered Graeme Lovell in the third round, Graeme beat Brian 7/4 In the second block Don Sawers won all three of his games to make it to the finals and was beaten 7/3 by Graeme Margaret Sawers Captain |
 L-R: Don Sawers, Brian Mitchell and Graham Lovell (pic Margaret Sawers) |
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Nowra Hosts a Wake for Nic Russell
On a request of Nic’s family a wake for held at the Nowra Croquet Courts as a fitting reminder to Nic. Nic's elderly mother flew from England for the funeral which was also attended to by Nowra Croquet Members. whilst others prepared a light luncheon at the club house . During the course of the luncheon, members met with Nic’s relatives, whilst the young people attending were entertained with some fun croquet. (Wake pictures courtesy of Karen James, Treasurer) Bob Williamson |
 Our Club lost a much liked member on the 1st of April, with the passing of Nic Russell, a member of some 6 years standing. Although Nic was handicapped through his failing health he always had a smile and a good word and played his game with tenacity and was an enjoyable competitor . Nic represented our club in the winning 3rd grade Pennants team in 2017. A sad loss to our club. |
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Read the Makara 2017 report
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Nowra Hosts Four Day GC Singles Tournament
Commencing on the 20th October, under rainy conditions Nowra hosted the Singles G.C.tournament, However the following three days were fine, for the competitors to show their croquet skills in a friendly and competitive manner. Clubs from Pt.Macquarie, Wollongong ,Sutherland, Young, Killara, Pt. Hacking, EDSAC, Toronto, Jamberoo and replacement players from Nowra enjoyed meeting up and making new friendships. Whilst players competed, onlookers enjoyed the continual morning teas with a social evening on the Saturday evening. The results were interesting with the Nowra players becoming some winners and runner ups in the four blocks contested. Upon analysis it is considered that the efforts of Nowra players put into the skills and drills sessions provided by our club is paying dividends!!! Bob Williamson |
 Starting off in the wet!!! |
 A great day to play croquet |
 Unusual style of jumping by Kevin Davies of Toronto, watched by Pat Poynter of Nowra |
 Practicing for Santa ?? Kevin Davies Toronto and Graeme Lovell Nowra |
 Roslyn Baird of Wollongong jumps pink over Green |
 Block Green, Winner Phil Pickard, Runner up Bernie McAlary Wollongong and Club Captain Margaret Sawers |
 Winner Purple Block Larry Becroft Nowra Runner up Greg Deaking Killara with Margaret Sawers |
 Winner of Yellow Block, Graeme Lovell Nowra, Runner up Brian Mitchell Nowra with Margaret Sawers |
 Winner of Pink Block Karen Tiek Jamberoo and runner up Paul Wormleaten Nowra with Margaret Sawers |