Croquet comp bloomin’ success

THIS year’s Ballarat Begonia Association Croquet Tournament attracted players from right across Victoria, including six state team members to the Ballarat Alexandra in early March.

The overall quality of play was excellent with spectators treated to an enthralling Division 1 final match between Stephen Forster from Belmont Club and Kevin Beard from Yarrawonga Club.

Forster, who is a member of the current world champion Australian team prevailed with seven wins from seven games over Beard, who’s also an Australian representative with six wins from his seven games. Roger Bird from Quarry Hill Club in Bendigo came third.

In Division 2 Paul Ryan – a talented player who recently returned to croquet, won all his five games. Kevin Bluff of Belmont was runner-up and won the final game by a golden hoop point from his opponent Mignon Johnston of Ballarat Alexandra.

Angela McCann from Ballarat Alexandra claimed the Division 3 title as she won all her five games and demonstrated how rewarding competition croquet can be when skills have been practiced consistently. Runner-up was Elaine Leviston of Ballarat Western with four wins.

In Division 4 Kim Collins of Eastern Park in Geelong won all his seven games comfortably. While Runner-up was Andrew Moulton from Kew with six wins and Bruce Shaw from Maryborough took third.