Interclub play tests Barry club members

TRAVELLING PLAYERS: Barry Memorial Croquet Club members who travelled to the Bay of Plenty to play golf croquet against Whakatane teams were (from left) Rob Hayes, Chris Newton, Dave Newton, Ross Thomson, Betty Thomson, Christine McCullough, Per Elzen and Inadale Elzen. Picture supplied

TWO teams of Barry Memorial Croquet Club golf croquet players travelled to the Bay of Plenty to play teams from the Whakatane club.

Each team had four players, and each player took part in four doubles and two singles games.

This was the first time golf croquet teams had represented the Barry club and the teams played above themselves.

Most players in the Gisborne teams had only just received their first handicaps and some had been playing for only 12 months.

Their Whakatane opponents had the advantages of years of experience and regular competition in tournaments.

Whakatane’s Team One beat Barry’s Team One 9-7, and Whakatane’s Team Two beat Barry’s Team Two 12-4.

Of Barry’s Team One, Rob Hayes and Ross Thomson both played really well to win their two singles matches against players several handicap points below them.

Hayes also won two of his doubles games and Thomson, one of his.

Betty Thomson had a close singles tussle with a much more experienced opponent before losing 7-6. However, she won two of her doubles games.

Christine McCullough won one of her doubles matches and lost several other games by narrow margins.

Barry’s Team Two found it hard going, with some early nerves apparent. However, many of their losses were by only a few hoops.

Dave Newton won one of his singles games against a player three handicap points below him and lost three of his other games by only one hoop.

Chris Newton won one of her singles games and, with her husband Dave, a doubles match.

Per and Inadale Elzen each won a doubles game.

The clubs intend to make the fixture an annual event.

Now that the Barry club members have a taste for competition, they are looking forward to playing a double-header in Hawke’s Bay against the Heretaunga (Havelock North) and Marewa (Napier) clubs next month.

The competition won’t get any easier — several of the Hawke’s Bay players did well at the Golf Croquet National Championships in Nelson this month.

The Hawke’s Bay fixtures are also likely to become annual events.