Category Archives: Equipment

Gateball on the move

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On our 2nd visit to Sunnyside Croquet Club to coach and demonstrate Gateball on the 12 July 2023, we were met by a very enthusiastic and welcoming group of players, who were as keen as mustard to get their hands on the first Loan Gateball Kit that I have available to lend to a club who have shown a keen and enthusiastic attitude toward accepting Gateball to their club.

Sunnyside Club and their members, 20 at our first visit, and 10 members, at our second visit, are just what I look for in a club to take on Gateball and expand our game. Along with Point Lookout who are also playing Gateball on a regular basis, Gateball is moving in the right direction in the Wide Bay Burnett Region in regional Queensland.

I have several other clubs to visit this year for Gateball demonstrations and hopefully, will have more Loan Gateball Kits to have on hand to allow these clubs to try Gateball without the initial expense of acquiring their own kits. I like the “try before you buy” way that we are spreading the Gateball message throughout Queensland.  Gateball is different just by the nature of the game, so having more loan kits available, we can expand our sport to the wider croquet community without the initial cost of equipment being a factor. Having Croquet clubs equipped and playing Gateball which is an all-inclusive sport, will not only attract new and possibly younger members and their families but also give existing members at clubs more choice, with Gateball also being offered.

Robert Roose 

Queensland Gateball Coordinator

Jamberoo Gateball Linemarking System

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lines 1lines 2Linemarking is a time consuming necessity for gateball and at Jamberoo CC gateballers wanted to make it a simpler and quicker process. An old linemarker designed for using small pressure pack cans was found in our equipment shed. It was destined for the dump. A rescue mission was put into place by Manuel Gutierrez. Manuel likes to fiddle. And so he began, firstly modifying the machine and then adding an electric spray gun. The result MG #1

Now to make the lines straight and run parallel to the white croquet lines an acquisition of a conveyer belt was made (free via Gumtree)

Now the process goes like this. (For a printable version of the instructions, click here)

Roll out the conveyor belt

Run marker along belt whilst spraying

Remove the belt and reveal perfectly straight lines with great coverage

Add the final touches

by Manuel and Glenda Gutierrez

Indoor Gateballs Available for Loan

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indoor gateballsGateball Australia now has a set of indoor gateballs available for clubs to borrow to promote the game.

Clubs interested in using the balls should contact  Bruce McAllister, Qld State Director, or the National Director on info@gateball.com.au. The balls are currently being held in Qld where a set of indoor gates is also available for loan.

It is hoped that clubs will borrow the balls for periods of several weeks and make bookings at local sports halls. If these sessions were held in the evenings they could represent an opportunity to promote the game with potential players who are not available at other times.

Clubs who wish to borrow the balls are asked to have thought about how they will use them to grow our game. At the end of the loan period it would be great if a post could be made to this website describing the experience. Whoever borrows them would also be responsible for returning them to an agreed person. Clubs that loan the balls are, of course, responsible for the safe return of all the balls in a reasonable condition.

The game is not quite the same because the balls have a tendency to spiral to the right or left  at the end of their course. Players in the Blue Mountains decided to play on a smaller court as long sparks were harder. However, the balls have been great on cold wet mountain days and will give us a back-up when gateballers lose the current lawn. Keith McLeod has played indoor games in Hong Kong, while the Southport club have used them to support  the programs they run with school students.

Feedback about the use of the balls and comments on their use would be very welcome.

2015 Rules Online

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2015 RulesThe 2015 rules are now available electronically. So you can download to your phones, Kindles, tablets or whatever.

Some more hard copies of rule books have also arrived and will be available through State Directors. Some will also be available at the Nationals at Wynnum.