Monthly Archives: September 2019

Trophies retained at CNSW State Championships despite a strong challenge from CAQ teams

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Last weekend’s CNSW Championships was a bit further north than usual, but this encouraged 3 teams from Queensland to join CNSW teams for an enjoyable event, held at the welcoming Taree Club.

The established CNSW Gateball practice of holding  a final between the two teams topping the round robin produced an exciting final for spectators. In the latter half of the game, a spectacular turn by Elizabeth Dolphin cleared the field and Sydney’s Epstars came from behind  to retain the trophy for the second year from Queensland’s Redcliffe Roses.  Epstars were also awarded the trophy for having the greatest number of novice CNSW players at the event.

Winners and Runners up line up for a picture at the CNSW Championships 2019

In the doubles, Redcliffe pair Geoff Morris and Paul Ekeberg had topped their pool with two perfect scores and two other games with a score of 23. Last year’s winners John and Penny Park won their pool. This set up a semi finals in which Paul and Geoff won against another Queensland pair, Max Stringer and Robert Roose, relative newcomers to the game from Pine Rivers. In the other semifinal, John and Penny won against another husband and wife team, Margo and Andrew Davies, who were having a great run in the competition. A close fought Queensland versus NSW final, was won on the final ball of a shootout, with John and Penny retaining the trophy for a second year.

The toss for the doubles final with a full complement of referees

Comments were invited from participants and have been appended below. Those who did not reply are welcome to add comments.

Margaret, Qld: Redbacks team have returned from a really wonderful weekend at Taree a tad tired from three days plus travel but well worth it.  We met new Gateballers and greeted friends from previous tournaments.  Thanks to the happy people from Taree Croquet Club, who provided us with a warm welcome and looked after us.  Hope to see you all trying Gateball after watching over the weekend.

Whilst we will need to pull our proverbial socks up for Melbourne, I believe the sometimes relaxed nature of these games made the weekend enjoyable for all ages and abilities.   We all made some disastrous shots and silly mistakes (as usual) but have returned home with fond memories and can look back and smile.

Ruth, CNSW: Icing on the cake this year, to have two new Strathfield Gateballers on the Epstars team. Happy with recruitment of Elizabeth through my U3A course I conduct twice a year, and in which I include Gateball with either GC or RC game experience. Important for game to grow quickly within the club. I was inspired to ensure exposure of GB to U3A participants, based on the success the Toronto Club had in attracting these participants to their club, via Gateball.

Audible clapping by all spectators impressed me, when one of these new players Elizabeth Dolphin shone as a player and proceeded to wipe out the Qld team at one stage. Player of the match’ I dubbed her. It was good to be part of the process that brought Elizabeth to this point.

Competition between Qld and NSW added another dimension, which is good for a person like me who is working on my aim to have a more competitive approach when I play

It will be an enormous promotional boost for Strathfield CC  as it continues to develop GB as the 4th and newest game to our club, as I recognise how important it is to not just to partake but to win. Hopefully, this will help with future grants from our local stakeholders (Strathfield Council, adjacent Councils, and local and adjacent Clubs such as Strathfield Sports Club, City of Canada Bay Club, and Homebush Community Bank Branch of the Bendigo Bank (all great sponsors of our club).

As we are hosting the Koreans for one session in November, it has helped build confidence for our team to be in this current position

Strathfield CC conducts a ‘Golf Croquet and Gateball Course’ for Strathfield Girls High School Students. It will be good for those students that we have had this win, and also for them to know the types of goals they too could have (eg. Ethan who has just been given a GB Scholarship), and for the students and SCC membership to be more confident in the skills of SCC club GB coaches.

It has certainly raised the profile of GB in our Club. I am enjoying playing in a team, an added dimension which I appreciate. Taree did a brilliant job in hosting this Championship

Referees well placed for the unmistakable stance of Sandra Towley, Players looking on as an attack is made from in front of gate 2

Penny CNSW: It was great playing with you all. I really enjoyed the weekend. I thought Taree CC was a wonderful venue for the competition. Well chosen, Mary!

Thanks again for your company.
 
Marion CNSW:We all enjoyed the weekend at Taree. It was well organised, thanks to Mary and Janine. The courts were in good condition, a little fast for a slow oldie like me! Manuel and Glenda were very helpful and Manuel’s talk on the new rules was also helpful. Food, always an important item, was well done – the hamburgers on Sunday were especially good.Everyone was very friendly and the games were played in good spirit
 
Sandra CNSW: Saturday’s night dinner & catch-up was at the Taree Aquatic Club, Sailo’s Restaurant. Terrific food & stunning views of the Manning River.
 
Thanks to those who sent comments. Don’t forget to add others below…

First Comp in WA!

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 The Cambridge Cats won the first ever WA Gateball Triples Championship at the weekend on the Forrest Park CC lawns. Five teams played for the GOLDEN GATE! The winning team owns it for the following year, and may, if they choose, use on their lawns in inter-club competitions to intimidate their opposition!

Gilon Smith, represented Gateball Australia at the event and  travelled from Melbourne to be Tournament Chief Referee. He also ran coaching at Cambridge CC on Saturday morning and at Forrest Park CC (headquarters of Croquetwest) on Saturday afternoon. Gilon was asked to present the Golden Peg to the best Team Captain. Robyn Cornish, captain of Cambridge Cats was his choice.

 GateballWA announced at the presentations, that the Golden Gate WA Triples Tournament will be included on the GateballWA and Croquetwest calendars from 2020.  

An expansion plan  for gateball in 2020, will be submitted to Croquetwest for approval in the next few weeks. That plan will include the setting up of an inter-club competition.

Gilon Smith (Our Wise Man from the East, as he was named), did  magnificent work. A morning of coaching at  Cambridge Club on Saturday,  then an afternoon version at Forrest Park CC. On Monday morning a workshop on refereeing was conducted at  Victoria Park CC. 

 The first ever WA tournament ran very smoothly with no delays/hitches/moans or groans. Local coordinator, Murray Loane was very, very pleased with the event. All players went home happy with their experience. Forrest Park ran a team of five players. Two of that five, had not played gateball, or croquet, previously. Another two of that team had not played gateball, at all, during the winter, and the final member of their five, had her first refresher game last Friday afternoon at E. Fremantle. The atmosphere of the competition was so happy and welcoming,new players have already signed up with Forest Park Croquet Club.

Story submitted by Murray Loane, WA

 

 

 
     
 

 

 
     
 

 

Ethan Chilton is awarded an ACA Scholarship

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At the ACA Meeting last month Ethan Chilton, aged 14, was awarded one of the Scholarships that are available to Croquet Players. This Gateball Scholarship will be used for Ethan to attend the Australian Gateball Championships at Cairnlea  in Melbourne from 28th November- 1st December.

Ethan began playing Gateball two years ago at Southport Croquet Club along with his Mother. His Grandfather followed soon after. His extremely polite, co-operative and intelligent personality has endeared him to everyone he meets. Ethan loves to practise and challenges himself on improving his skills. He intends qualifying to become a Referee and already has proved a very capable Team Captain.

Ethan attends Varsity College at the Gold Coast. He does not restrict himself to playing in Gateball teams. Ethan has been very successful in recent Gateball Triples events and Doubles competitions; has won the RPM Golf Croquet Doubles Tournament; is very good at Ricochet and plays in Southport’s Pennant team. Another area of sporting interest for Ethan is table tennis and he has represented his school in Table Tennis Tournaments in which he reached second place in the local schools’ competition.

Congratulations Ethan on being awarded the ACA Gateball Scholarship.

Ethan Chilton, aged 14, at the QLD Gateball Championships, 2019. 

Epping CC awards Clare Poole Life Membership

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On Sunday the 08/09/2019 at the Epping Croquet Club, Clare Poole was rewarded with a well deserved ‘Life Membership’ of the club.

Members & guests gathered to help celebrate & enjoy a delicious morning tea & to play Gateball. Croquet Clubs from EDSACC, Hurstville, Jamberoo, Lithgow, Newcastle, Strathfield & Toronto participated. With best wishes & congratulations from Canberra, Eastwood, Mosman & Sutherland Croquet Clubs.

Epping’s President, Bob Green thanked Clare for the role she played as a past President of the club & of Clare’s many achievements in both Association & Golf Croquet.

Epping member Sandra Townley spoke of Clare’s involvement with Gateball. The following is an extract from that speech.
“It all started back in 1996 when Japan wanted to introduce Gateball to western countries in the region. The then Croquet Players Association of NSW was approached & Clare along with other interested players started to learn Gateball. They did this by watching a video sent from Japan. Understanding & following that video was made difficult because the video instruction was in Japanese.

This group of players persevered & in 1998, 2 teams including Clare represented Australia at the World Gateball Championship held in Hawaii. This was the first time Australia had played in this Championship.

Clare has represented Australia at the World Gateball Championship in South Korea, Japan, China & Thailand. A true International Gateball player.

Clare has always promoted Gateball going around to different Croquet Clubs demonstrating the game. She has been a mentor to many players being very generous with her knowledge & explaining tactics. Clare has always been very supportive & those of us who benefited from her experience, appreciated it.

We can honestly say that Clare helped introduce Gateball to Australia.

In finishing Sandra quoted Clare – “when playing Gateball always remember to; Swing low, slow & with flow”.

Epping member Joy Heape then presented Clare with her ‘Life Membership’ badge.
It was an enjoyable morning catching-up with our Croquet & Gateball friends.

Once again, congratulations Clare.

Sandra Townley
Epping Croquet Club.
Duncan Park, 47 Kent Street, Epping 2121

AUSTRALIAN GATEBALL CHAMPIONSHIP 2019. ENTRIES DUE THURSDAY 10th OCTOBER

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Gateball Australia invites teams from within Australia and from other countries to participate in the 2019 Australian Gateball Championships to be held at the Victorian Croquet Centre, Cairnlea, Melbourne, Victoria.

Entries are due by Thursday 10th October

All enquiries and entries should be sent to info@gateball.com.au

Detailed event information is available here

On Friday 29th November, teams will be able to practice, play friendly games and there will be an opening ceremony later in the afternoon. On Saturday 30th November  and Sunday Ist December, teams will play their pool games. Finals will be completed on Sunday afternoon. Limited practice may be possible late on Wednesday afternoon.

Any Australian or overseas players who wish to compete but cannot form a full team are asked to email info@gateball.com.au and attempts will be made to place you in a composite team.

We look forward to welcoming teams from throughout Australia and across the world!