19-21 Aug 2009
Urunga Croquet Club
Players waiting for Chris Ogilvie (Mt Sugarloaf) to retrieve the RED ball
Bernie McAlary (Wollongong), Bridget Earle (Port Macquarie)
and Clare Clarke (Branxton)
Bernie McAlary (Wollongong), Bridget Earle (Port Macquarie)
and Clare Clarke (Branxton)
We had 11 clubs represented with participants from between Wollongong and Port Macquarie and as far west as the Blue Mountains playing both doubles and singles. A late withdrawal forced a quick change to the draw, with both the Tournament Manager and Secretary stepping in a late notice to fill the gap. Both played out of their normal blocks, but acquitted themselves very well. It was great to greet new faces who were competing for the first time at Urunga and equally pleasing to renew friendships with many players who have regularly enjoyed the event.
The Tournament Manager Barb Piggott, who doubled as Tournament Referee and Handicapper, was helped by many Club members including Ruth Nicholson, Carnival Secretary, Pat Gossip and her helpers in the kitchen, Brian Oldfield and John Piggott who set the lawns up each morning and the gallant band of referees from both Urunga and the visiting clubs, who supervised 90 singles matches.
Spectators enjoying the sunshine and play
John Hincks and Susan Klecka (Port Macquarie), Irene Abbott (Cheltenham)
Joe Dimech (Taree) and Kevin Page (Toronto)
John Hincks and Susan Klecka (Port Macquarie), Irene Abbott (Cheltenham)
Joe Dimech (Taree) and Kevin Page (Toronto)
We would also like to thank our sponsor for this event, Coffs Ex-Services Memorial and Sporting Club Ltd. for their continued support of our carnivals. John Cate produced unique prints for trophies and the players from last year are now starting to get a collection of these unique prints.
We had a keenly contested competition with all but one Block having either the winner or runner up decided on nett score. Congratulations to Chris Ogilvie from Mt Sugarloaf and John Compton from Maitland who were the only players to win five singles games. The spectators got very involved in the last match of the carnival that had John prevail in a great spectacle of precision croquet by both players – the fact that Barb was playing outside her normal Block gave her the support of the crowd. We had six handicap changes during the event, both up and down.
Doubles Block A Winners John Compton (Maitland) and Gay Stump (Cheltenham)
Doubles Block B Winners John Hincks (Port Macquarie) and Lyn Reardon (Macquarie City)
Doubles Block C Winners Lorraine Craig (Macquarie City) and Dianne Cheetham (Maitland)
Doubles Block D Winners Bob Ogilvie (Mt Sugarloaf) and Jan Ingham (Macquarie City)
Block A Winner John Compton (Maitland) Runner Up Bridget Earle (Port Macquarie)
Block B Winner Sylvia Andrews (Port Macquarie) Runner Up Terry Abbott (Cheltenham)
Block C Winner Robert Hokin (Taree) Runner Up Dianne Cheetham (Maitland)
Block D Winner Chris Ogilvie (Mt Sugarloaf) Runner Up Lyn Dimech (Taree)
Block E Winner Denise Nelson (Port Macquarie) Runner Up Lyn Reardon (Macquarie City)
Block F Winner Jan Vaughan (Blue Mountains) Runner Up Lorraine Friend (Blue Mountains)
Many complimentary remarks were made about the running of the Carnival with players eager to return next year. Players also asked if it could be extended by a day to allow them to play against players not normally in their Block. This is being investigated and we may run something similar to an Association Egyptian event as a warm up on the Tuesday next year. If you have not been to Urunga on the Mid North Coast you may like to consider next year, although get your entry in early as we can only accept 36 players.
Barb Piggott
Captain
Urunga Croquet Club
 The first three place getters in A Block John Compton, Bridget Earle and Barb Piggott |
 Everyone relaxing after play and enjoying the facilities of C.ex Urunga Golf & Sports Club while waiting for the presentations to commence |