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 4^th 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!