Even the heavy rain which made the greens at Cable Bay unplayable for the Doubtless Bay Croquet Club's opening tournament on Saturday wasn't enough to prevent the large turnout from having a grand old time.
Players came from all over the province to take part in an event designed to double as the official opening of the Northland Croquet' 2014/15 season as well as celebrating the DBCC's 21st birthday. Unfortunately, the wet, early spring conditions - which had also affected the opening days of the two other Far North clubs, Kaitaia and Kerikeri, last Thursday - meant the tournament had to be cancelled.
However, the President of Northland Croquet, Godfrey Rogers, was still able to to run the first hoop for the season on the water-soaked greens while DBCC president Gillian Bond noted the morning passed quickly with quizzes and fun activities, as well as catching up with all those who had travelled from Takapuna, Waipu, Whangarei, Kensington, Kerikeri and Kaitaia clubs to attend the occasion.
"The catered lunch was excellent followed with the cake cutting by our two life members, Betty Dawson and Freda Archibald," said Gillie, adding a big thank you to Lynn Hill for presenting a beautiful cake along with her organisational skills with all the catering. Thanks also went to all club members for their work on lawns and gardens prior to the day, "pity they could not be admired and appreciated due to the rain," and last but not least, the local sponsors for providing the day's prizes.
Naturally, the day was a chance to reflect on the past 21 years, Gillie noting the small club by the seaside had been founded in September 1993 by Shirley Patterson and her late husband Don.
