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From the PresidentDear Members, A special very warm welcome to new members Howard and Glennis Mayer, Dougal Ongley, and Brian and Diane Black. It’s great to see the lawns miraculously turning green after just a few days of rain, though many members have enjoyed playing croquet on the very fast lawns during the warm, still days of late summer. As an extra precaution against Omicron, please consider bringing your own tea or coffee and enjoy a break outdoors, to avoid a crowd in the clubhouse, the doorway, or on the verandah. We will continue to take all the usual precautions we have been following this summer to prevent the spread of Covid. We now have a contracted cleaner for the clubhouse. Her name is Sharon and we are grateful for her meticulous work. Give her a warm welcome when you see her. At two events last week we welcomed groups of visitors. Khandallah Croquet Club brought 10 members for a return visit last Wednesday. Kelburn again won overall and Jeannie Buxton and John Kane won chocolate fish for the highest number of hoops. Last Thursday, 16 pupils from Clifton Terrace Model School had their first taste of playing croquet. Afterwards, the children wrote some enthusiastic comments on the white board. We have another group coming this week. Please read the article in this newsletter about a new way of giving high handicap GC players a head start rather than extra turns. I have always thought that using extra turns wisely required skills beyond the reach of most beginners. Advantage GC may be a better system and Croquet NZ is asking us to give it a try. Read it and see what you think. We'd like to hear your views. Former Kelburn member Richard Stone has died, aged 95. Wendy Harland recalls he predated her joining the club in the late 1990s, and he remained a member until 2013. Richard was a great person to have around. Wendy notes he was listed in the obituaries as Dr Arthur Stone, so club members who knew him might not have picked it up. Kind regards Mary Stevens  |
From the Club CaptainCompetitionsCongratulations to all competitors in recent tournaments (summary on our website News). And very best wishes to everyone for upcoming events, including the Silver Badges, the Wainuiomata GC Teams event, and the Forsyth Barr GC teams event at Paraparaumu. Three Kelburn members - Alison Robinson, Janet Boutel and Baubre Murray - are among the eight competing in the CNZ 2022 Women's AC Invitation at Masterton in early March. Tournament at Kelburn on Saturday 19 FebruaryGood luck to all entered in the Fun Doubles tournament this Saturday, organised by John Corsham. Other Kelburn members please note the lawns are booked for the tournament for the day, with Sunday as a rain day. Members can check the availability of club facilities on the Calendar page of our website, which is updated frequently to adjust to any changes. Mark this page as a “Favourite", for quick access to it. New playersWelcome to the new players you may have seen recently, giving croquet a go - Nicola, Jay, Hamish, Sylvie, Ella and Travis, and Maureen and Bruce. CoachingAlison's valuable coaching assistance continues on Saturday mornings. There are sessions on the basics at other times for new people. Help needed for resetting the hoopsPlease let me know if you are able to help with checking and resetting the hoops, which must be done before we host the Silver Badges on 19-20 March. The more helpers, the easier and more quickly this necessary job is done. Jane Norman |
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Nancy McDonald, change-makerNancy McDonald has been a member of Kelburn since 1976, and has been a tireless worker and innovator in the sport of croquet ever since, a pioneer for women, and a prime mover in gaining more recognition for the sport. Click this link to read about Nancy's lifetime of service to croquet. |
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Advantage GC - a fairer way?Advantage GC information was provided in an email from the World Croquet Federation. Click the following link to read the document on our club website. |
Hello, from Wendy ArmitageEmail 1 February 2022 I have moved into my new apartment and am semi-camping until my stuff arrives. I am enjoying it here and my neighbours and everyone here have been been so welcoming and helpful. I will go along to a local Croquet club once I am completely settled and when it is a bit cooler. The temp today is expected to be 36 degrees. Yesterday was 34 and I couldn't imagine playing in that. Fortunately it is expected to cool down to 28/29 from tomorrow. Please pass on my regards to all and hopefully once Covid is over I will get the opportunity to pop in for a game or two when I come back to see family and friends. Wendy |
Your very own malletYou've been thinking it's time to buy a mallet of your own and, as luck would have it, there are deals from two of New Zealand's leading makers. If you are interested in either of these, please contact Mary Stevens (mhrstevens@gmail.com). Mike McClure of Terminator Mallets offers a 10% discount and free shipping to Kelburn members, on receipt of a group order. George Wood of Wood Mallets offers members a discount and a free complimentary mallet for the club for a group order of five or more mallets. |
Our recent newsYou can also read our latest news and our Facebook items on the News page of our website. |
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Help needed with corporates, hoops, paintingPlease get in touch with Mary Egley (mary@egley.net) to offer help with hosting corporate events. They are always fun, and a great way to introduce new people to croquet. Or see the schedule on the club noticeboard and sign up.
Let Jane Norman know if you are willing to help align the hoops in preparation for the Silver Badges tournament in mid-March. We're looking at painting the interior of the clubhouse some time in the winter season when there's no play. Volunteers, please raise your hands in the direction of Mary Stevens. |
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Finally …From the archives of Croquet World Online, a photograph by New Zealand's Paddy Chapman, of player Martin Murray. We would enjoy seeing these balletic moves at Kelburn. |
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