The Kaitaia Croquet Club officially opened for the 2016/17 season last Thursday in traditional fashion with the first hoop of the season run by one of the club's main sponsors, Greg Hodgson.
In her report from proceedings, KCC spokeswoman Pat Brott noted Greg claimed to have never played croquet butmanaged to make the hoop with his first shot and just to prove it wasn't a fluke, hit it back through the hoop again suggesting he had a natural affinity for the genteel summer pastime.
"We are always looking for new members - roll on your retirement, Greg!" Pat said, adding that the highlight of the day was a pot luck lunch, which was enjoyed by all, before president Drago Yelavich presented Margaret Kernot with some lovely flowers to mark the fondly regarded and longstanding club member's departure to Whangarei.
"Hopefully we will meet her at various tournaments throughout Northland," said Pat, adding that the club had also sadly lost another stalwart over the winter off-season with Cissie Jones moving south to Mangakaramea to be closer to family (Cissie's late husband Phil had been the club president for many years).
Although the opening ceremony was held, no tournament took place with the lawns still deemed to soft to play on, although it was hoped the domestic season under way this Thursday.
Pat invited anyone interested in having a go at croquet to simply turn up at the club lawns [across the road from the derelict Warehouse building] on Matthews Ave at 9.30am on either Thursdays or Saturdays.
"Bring a smile and we will supply the rest including coaching."
