Monthly Archives: April 2022

Southport’s Gateball Triples

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For the tenth year Southport  held its annual Gateball Triples. It was the first place in Australia to introduce Triples Competitions. Having nine teams participate was very pleasing considering the travel needed to attend the Australian Gateball Championship which was held just three weeks ago in the same area. Two teams came from Eildon, and one each from Moreton Bay and  Rockhampton as well as five teams from the Southport itself.

Playing Triples requires a player to be very active and the Captain needs to think very quickly to make plans or to counter the movements of the balls played by the opposition. It is not as hectic though, compared to Gateball Doubles. As a result, Triples Competitions are becoming more popular because so many Gateball players are appreciating this variation in the game. Special bibs are required but nothing else that is different is required.

Playing Gateball Triples at Southport Croquet Club.

All three courts were busy during the morning. The cross over Semi-finals were played after lunch. In this arrangement the winners of both Blocks A and B played the runner of the other block. Whilst two teams from Southport made it to the Semi-finals, the Final was played between Moreton Bay and Rockhampton.

The line up at the Final. L-R From Moreton Bay -Warren Dowse, Kaelan Sweetman, Emma Mauceri, Christine Roose (Recorder) Margaret Barnard ( Chief Referee,) Julia Tai  (Assistant Referee), and The Special K team was Steve, Chris and Cheryl Kele

It was wonderful that the Special K team travelled from Rockhampton to play and it included Mum-Cheryl, Dad – Steve and their son- Chris who had to travel from Townsville. Last year at Southport’s MSOB Gateball Doubles Competition, Steve and Chris won the event. They have continued that ‘winning feeling’! Congratulations to the Special K team. For all of their games, these three were in great form and did not lose a match. It was a very enjoyable day of Gateball with only few showers to cool us down.

The Special K team comprised Cheryl, Steve and Chris Kele and were the Winners of the Triples.

Australian Gateball Championships 2023, 7th to 10th September.

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The venue and time for the 2023 Australian Gateball Championships was announced at the end of our recent Championships

The event will be held from the 7th to 10th September 2023 at the Twin City Croquet Club, Albury, NSW

The Twin City Croquet Club plays on the lawn courts at the Albury Tennis Association, near the border of NSW/Victoria.

https://www.alburytennisassociation.com.au/

The club can set up twelve ‘A’ croquet courts so can accommodate any number of gateball courts on lawns at required grass length. The  greenkeeper is Shayne Ried. Shayne Ried, has worked on the courts at Wimbledon has being custodian since September 2004.

This overview shows us what an ideal venue this is.

Gateball Australia’s Championships is a biennial event, in 2023 we resume our usual pattern of holding the event in the odd numbered years. This is so that in the even numbered years we can send teams to World and Asian Gateball Union Events.

 

 

 

 

Kew win the 2021/22 Australian Gateball Team Championship

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It was fitting that the final of the Australian Gateball Championship was  between a Southport Red team from  the host state, Queensland, and the runners up in the last Australian Gateball Championships, Kew from Victoria. The Southport Red Team had won the QLD Gateball Teams Championships in September 2021.

The teams that played in the Grand Final. Back Row is Southport Red while in the middle and front row is the Kew Team.

Like many games in the competition, the final was closely fought, with Kew winning 11 – 9. A late agari scored by Elaine Coverdale clinched the game.

The analysis of the game from Philip Brown, Captain of Kew -“The final was a tense tussle. Kew had the red balls and strategically protected gate 2 longer than you normally would, deliberately declining attempts on gate 2 in the second round. Much of the mid-game was jockeying for position. Both teams attempted touches of opponent’s balls, rather than scoring attempts. Towards the end of the game, ball 9 made gate 3 from some distance and just missed the goal pole. However, an excellent long-distance touch from ball 1 allowed 9 to be sparked Agari. This gave Kew a solid 4 point lead. At the call of time the game was still live – though it would have required a superb cross-court touch from gate 2 to gate 3. In the end, the Agari of ball 9 proved decisive.”

Speaking at the end of the game, Philip Brown acknowledged the late Trish Watts and Kerry Seipolt, who has recently been unwell. Both had been important members of previous Kew teams. The biggest smile was on the face of Gilon Smith, as this is the third time he has played in a winning team at Australian Gateball Championships. 

Kew- Winners of the Australian Gateball Teams Championship for 2022

 

Australian Gateball Championships. Day 2

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https://gateball.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/

Saturday’s program saw the first few rounds of the teams event and the doubles finals.

At the end of the day, the Macs from NSW were leading pool A with 4 wins while following close behind were Moreton Bay and Southport Red with three wins apiece. In pool B, Canberra Mavericks and Kew share the lead on 4 wins apiece.

The doubles semifinals and finals saw quality games. The final was between Glen and Kristina Whitehead of Canberra and the Macs pairing of David Hughes and Ruth Mulvaney. David described their game as follows:

“In a game which saw two doubles pairings soldier through the knockout stages, the final game was a clash of skill and fierce tactics which came down to the final shot. In what could be considered a game of who could keep control of Gate 2 longer, Glen and Kristina assumed control early, only to lose control soon after from a bit of luck (thanks to the lawn) with a long touch. The middle stages of the game were a see saw affair and required us to keep our focus and cool in order to maintain control and solidify our line 2 strategy in front of Gate 2. As always when playing such high quality opposition in Glen and Kristina, the game was a thrill and Ruth and I were lucky to escape and hold on to win the inaugural Australian doubles championship.”
 
While Glen and Kristina’s view was:
 
Kristina and I had a good start winning the toss and getting ball 1 in front of gate 2. However, two long shots by David, one early and one late, kept us at bay. On our last turn we had a chance to put 5 on the goal pole and equal the scores but we also needed 6 off the court, as it had a certain gate 2 on the final turn. We weren’t able to quite make the bombard. Congratulations to Ruth and David on winning a very enjoyable final.
 
Spectators ageed it was a thrilling game!
 

 

 

Australian Gateball Championships: Day 1.

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Australian Gateball Championships Day 1

Today, the first day of the Australian Gateball Championship was held under a miraculously blue sky!

Those on the coast preparing for the event had been anxiously weather watching. At a meeting at the centre on Wednesday, contingencies considered included using tapes and delaying the start to Friday midday. However, the weather changed and as the GA team arrived at the venue on Thursday, the courts had already been painted by centre staff! All that was required was for gate and goal pole positions to be marked.

The rainy weather had posed major challenges for several participants. Some driving up from down south had experienced delays due to the  closure of the Pacific Highway and one NSW couple passed cars with water up to their windows and had to divert though Beaudesert, well inland of the venue.

As well as weather setbacks, sickness affected one of our teams and replacements had to be found in a hurry.

Friday began with three rounds of the knockout inaugural Australian Open Doubles. Participants are looking forward to Saturday’s semi finals between the mother and son pairing of Maxine and Alec Maclachlan and Glen and Kristina Whitehead . On the other side of the draw, Ruth Mulvaney and David Hughes of the Macs take on Andrew Davies and Ralph Richardson of Canberra.

The rest of the day involved all teams in individual practice games and  two practice games against teams they would not face in their respective  pools in the teams competition. Well received coaching and refereeing sessions were also conducted. 

The surface of the Gold Coast Performance Centre provided a special challenge, which our leading doubles teams managed to adapt to better than most.

At the opening ceremony late in the day, 100 players stood in traditional team line ups and balls were stroked through the ceremonial gate. Rob Molhoek, MLA for Southport, Pat Habner, CAQ President, Greg Bury, Manager ACA Academy and Jim Nichols, ACA President, did not miss a shot. Jim Nichols impressed us all with a backwards between the legs shot worthy of Nick Kyrios (without the tantrums!) A BBQ meal provided at the Centre completed the day.