Keri teen picked for NZ youth squadron

Emilie Gordon from Kerikeri has been identified as having the potential to represent New Zealand in croquet. Photo / Pete Monk

The nationwide emphasis which has been placed promoting the game of croquet to a new younger generation of players has started to reap dividends in the Far North.

A Far North teenager recently spent four days in Palmerston North as part of a national youth development squad designed to upskill players and prepare them to represent New Zealand at under-21 world championships in the future.

Emilie Gordon, who turns 17 tomorrow, was invited to attend Croquet New Zealand's annual youth squadron training camp last week.

Around 20 teenagers from around the country attended the clinic which comprised of two days of technique and development, and two days of competition in doubles and singles.

A regular at the Tuesday evening sessions run by the Kerikeri Croquet Club, Emilie also attended the coaching day held earlier this month by Croquet NZ man Greg Bryant.

In the district for a week to pass on his knowledge to local enthusiasts through clinics at Kerikeri, Kaitaia, Doubtless Bay and Whangarei, Bryant said he had also been keeping an eye out for local youngsters with potential and Emilie fitted the bill to a tee.

She first picked up the game last year by taking part in a secondary schools tournament at her local club which she went on to win by teaming up with a Kerikeri High School classmate.

She has since competed at the secondary schools national championships in 2015 and 2016.

Bryant is currently preparing to take a group of players to the 2017 World Under-21 Championships in Australia.

He noted 17 of the top 28 under-21 players in the world came from New Zealand, and six of those are the event's top seeds.

This combined with the growth in youth development had made it a particularly exciting time to be involved with the game, Bryant noted.

He also credited Far North exponents for helping him in this quest.

Bryant singled out Kaitaia Croquet Club member George Smith, the Northland regional coach, for praise for the work he's done promoting the game to Far North schoolchildren.

This has included the introduction of an initiative in which the Kaitaia club has started to accept youth members at a very reduced annual fee.

"Looks like he's doing a good job up there."

Smith said he will continue to create pathways for young players to compete at national level and beyond, and reminded he will also be available to teach the game at schools throughout the district next year. George Smith can be contacted on (09) 406-1320.