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Remember when the Fletcher Brothers played Croquet here?

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Don Williamson referees a shot by Rob Fletcher
Don Williamson referees a shot by Rob Fletcher

John Dawson (Chester) has sent us the following fascinating article on the Fletcher Brothers in Australia.  Rob Fletcher is a former world champion and still one of the best players in the world and still in his twenties!  He is ranked number 1 in Australian Association Croquet, whilst his younger brother, Mal, is ranked number 2.  Eldest brother, Greg, is ranked number 1 in Golf Croquet in Australia.

Many readers will remember two days in 2010 when the Australia national team played a representative north west team at Southport, in preparation for their MacRobertson matches against New Zealand, USA and Great Britain.  Many of our players had the privilege of playing the Fletcher brothers.

The web version of The Age ( Melbourne’s top paper – also read right across Australia), presumably also in the paper version recently carried an article on the Fletcher Brothers with a great combination of text and video.  Article mentions chess like thinking, playing angles like snooker, practising etc.  Take a look:

small country clubhttp://www.theage.com.au/victoria/the-western-district-timber-merchants-among-croquets-elite-20161218-gtdmhy.html

Clearly the brothers Fletcher make great ” copy” but one has to admire the medium – it is a good Christmas read!  (but I’ll leave the log splitting to others).

John Dawson

Australia national team played a north west representative team at Southport (2010)
Australia national team played a north west representative team at Southport (2010)

Southport Sandiford Croquet Salver goes South

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Southport Advanced Sandiford Salver Weekend Tournament  10/11 Sep. 2016

David Marsh (Wrest Park) being presented with the Sandiford Salver at Southport by club President Alan Pidcock.
David Marsh (Wrest Park) being presented with the Sandiford Salver at Southport by club President Alan Pidcock.

Which is better an Air Show with a croquet tournament or a croquet tournament with an Air Show ?
Throw in very good weather, good lawns and excellent food with a glass or two of decent beer. Result — eight happy players.
It was a good test of concentration as the Red Arrows and an assortment of various planes did their stuff with a high noise intensity and tricks over the lawns.
Dave Nick managed in his usual laid back style and a loose all play all format was used. Triple peels were completed and sextuples started but not completed.
Dave Marsh (Wrest Park) made his first visit to Southport and won. He only lost one game. The runner up was Lee Hartley (Fylde).

Lee Hartley (Fylde) being presented with the Sandiford Runners Up Prize at Southport.
Lee Hartley (Fylde) being presented with the Sandiford Runners Up Prize at Southport.

“Olympic” Medal Haul at Southport Croquet

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2016 Southport Olympic Fun Day 29 August 2016

Winning Medal Teams at 2016 Southport Olympics Fun Day. Eileen Gallagher leads the community singing of the National Anthem
Winning Medal Teams at 2016 Southport Olympics Fun Day.
Eileen Gallagher leads the community singing of the National Anthem

Brilliant weather, over 48 people, very strangely decorated Croquet lawns capped with players carrying Egg and Spoons or wearing Pirate Hats or firing croquet balls from ramp into a water container – nothing unusual at all – just another Fun Day at Southport.  This was team GB on the croquet lawns with a range of croquet challenges from the mundane to the wacky.

Competitors ranged from teenage to nineties as teams battled it out through 14 events, there was blood (one of the managers tripped over a hoop), sweat (as competitors nervously awaited their moments of glory) and tears (of laughter) as the afternoon unfolded to an exciting finish. Organisers, Eileen Gallagher and Tony Thomas laid out a circuit of entertaining games on the club lawns calculated to puzzle even the top players who were there enjoying the day.

A croquet egg and spoon race proved challenging with only one hand free to run the hoops, but not as wet as firing balls over a ramp into a bucket of water to demonstrate ball control, whilst a lively game of pirates where players wearing pirate hats stole each other’s hoop points, brought out the buccaneering qualities in everyone. Challenging teams battled it out through 14 hilarious events. It was an afternoon of sport, friendly competition and tears of laughter.

The winning teams were presented with medals to a backdrop of the Union Jack whilst the spectators gave a rendition of the National Anthem.

Gold medalists – Andy Sweeney; Brian Lewis; Maureen Jeffrey; Alice Dawson.
Silver Medallists – Ray Lowe; Lesley Winsland; Barbara Nodwell; Tracy Moors.
Bronze medallists – Anne Mitchell; Chris Sweeney; Malcolm Lunn; Terry Dunbar.

 

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