Southport Gateball Triples

On Sunday 11th April, Southport Croquet Club hosted their annual Gateball Triples Competition. Begun in 2012, the game of triples has gained quite a deal of interest and popularity. Several players  were new to playing in a Gateball Triples competition and coped very well in this very friendly atmosphere. Placed in two Blocks there were 12 teams competing at this event. It makes for a colourful sight when the players in their chosen colours are spread around the 4 courts.

All the players are assembled.

Most of the competitors were within a 1 and a half hour hour trip apart from Lynda Davis who came from Bribie Island. It was a long journey for Cheryl and Steve Kele to come from Rockhampton but they made the trip a day or so earlier so they could form a team with their son, Chris, from McIlwraith CC in Brisbane.

Steve and Cheryl Kele in green and gold colours are officiating in this game.

The placings in Block A was down to the final game. The Sweeties ( Dianne and Peter Sweet and Margaret Fitzgerald) were hoping to win to progress to the Final but lost to the Eildon Tartan team. So, the composite Broadbeach team comprising Margaret and Barrie Barnard from Broadbeach and Kathie Grant from Southport were placed  on the top of Block A.  Block B was won by the Bright Sparks team which contained 4 players from Southport- Donna and Robert Nicholson, Jim and Barbara Northcott.

The Final was a good game to the Broadbeach team which won 19-8. Congratulations must go to the Broadbeach Team for a very controlled game.

Broadbeach Team- Kathie Grant, Barrie and Margaret Barnard

Thank you to all the competitors for their obvious pleasure at being able to play Gateball considering the many countries that cannot do this yet and for ensuring that everyone had a wonderful autumn day of Triples Gateball at Southport Croquet Club.

The Bright Sparks Team wearing Red

Victorian State Gateball Championship

The Victorian state gateball championships were a great tournament this year despite not being able to hold the tournament the year prior due to the pandemic. Teams contesting for the title of Vic state champions were Essendon, Kew, Hazelbrook/Strathfield and Albury/Yarrawonga.

The weather was on our side after a little drizzle during the first game of the round robin. In true Melbourne fashion though we went from wet weather clothing to shorts and polo shirts within 20 min as the sun came out. The games were all played to an extremely high standard and were wonderful to spectate.  A huge thanks to all those who assisted as referees during the event.

The teams event came down to an all-Victorian final of Kew vs Essendon. Kew managed to come out on top after a hard fought final and retain their state title for another year, making this the third year in a row that they have won the championship.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The pairs event was similarly an exciting affair to spectate with all pairs competing to an extremely high standard. The final came down to Philip and Clare from Vic and Penny and John from NSW who had a very exciting match indeed. The match was action packed until the end and is available to watch at your leisure here

The event was a huge success with the championship being held in a local Melbourne club for the first time in some years. Many thanks to the Elsternwick Croquet Club for hosting the event and for arranging lunch for the competitors on both days.

Anthony Dask
Assistant Director of Gateball Victoria
President Elsternwick Croquet Club Victoria