On 19 March 2017 sixteen Canberra members participated in the club’s annual gateball competition. The Tavender Trophy is a high-low doubles event where one experienced gateballer in randomly drawn with a newer gateballer.
Five brave members had only started gateball lessons four weeks prior and were competing in their first tournament. Canberra ran two weeks of lessons for new players to introduce the skills and understanding needed to compete in the event.
Pairs were split into two blocks and the competition proceeded quickly to a superbly catered lunch by Margot Morris. One game included a rare double touch resulting in a touched ball coming to rest with the player’s ball (Article 16, clause 2, paragraph 3 of the rules) which kept the referees busy.
The block winners were Bryan Johnston and Peter Dale who were unbeaten in Block A and Alex Park and Janice Rudd who were unbeaten in Block B. Peter and Janice were both playing in their first competition. The final was close until Bryan hit a 15m touch from corner 1 to a ball in front of gate 2 to set up the 13-9 win. After the match Peter Tavender presented the trophy to the winners.
The Tavender Trophy is named after Peter in recognition of his role in supporting the introduction of gateball into Australia and to acknowledge Peter’s status as Canberra’s first gateballer when he represented Australia in the 1998 World Gateball Championship in Hawaii.
The Canberra Croquet Club hopes that the new players will continue to play gateball and compete in events outside the club.
Photos from the final:
Winners: Bryan Johnson, Peter Tavender, Peter Dale
Finalists: Bryan Johnson, Peter Dale, Alex Park, Janice Reed
Hello Glenn,
Were there any ‘special’ rules for this event, eg, new player gets two goes a gate one? Regards Philip
Hi Philip
We didn’t use any special rules for the tournament. High-low doubles play with alternating turns so if someone doesn’t make gate 1 their teammate will have the next attempt with that ball.
In the training sessions however we did adjust game play to ensure the new players had plenty of chances to participate (move in gate 1, a second attempt after a sparking foul etc).
Glen
Congratulations on the type of event that was run and the naming of the Trophy to honour Peter Tavender. High Low doubles are popular at our club also.