News
2009
Wed, 16 Sep 2009 18:53:43
Gateball, a very popular Mallet sport that is played with great enthusiasm by more than a dozen members of Toowoomba Croquet Club.
During 2009 a team has taken part in every Gateball Tournament that has been on the State's calendar. At times success is achieved – if not – there is always much learnt and great camaraderie between Clubs.
This photo depicts a recent team that played at both Caloundra and Southport, consisting of Barbara Ridgway, Paul Reynolds, Jocelyn Sweeney, Bob Albion and Sandra Reynolds.
Barbara and Sandra have both been selected to play in the Queensland team that will play at the National Titles at Rockhampton in October. They will have the opportunity to play teams from Japan, hopefully China, Victoria, ACT and most clubs here in Queensland.
Click on the image to enlarge it:
Wed, 16 Sep 2009 18:59:47
The Qld Government provided Toowoomba Croquet Club with a Grant to purchase a new mower to replace a very ancient (and well used) model.
We were lucky to have the "Queen" attend the presentation – along with Brian Brady (the clubs top player and a dedicated club member also in charge of lawn maintenance), Jim Grasick from Sport and Recreation along with Noel Collyer (President – 2007).
This shows the club house before it's recent (2009) restoration by cladding and fresh paint.
Click on the image to enlarge it:
Wed, 16 Sep 2009 19:05:22
A Grant from the Queensland Government Gambling Community Benefit Fund has enabled the Club to clad and freshly paint the entire building – this was carried out in September 2009.
The Club will be the venue to be used on 10/11 October for a combined Q150 weekend of competition in Association, Golf Croquet, Ricochet and Gateball and visiting councillors and Kerry Shine MP will be there to launch the Event which will also entail the viewing of a CDrom that has been compiled by CAQ to celebrate the History of Croquet in Queensland.
Clubs taking part will come from the Region – Kingaroy, Dalby, Warwick, Goondiwindi, Stanthorpe, Toowoomba West and Laurel Bank Toowoomba.
Click on the image to enlarge it:
Mon, 12 Oct 2009 15:26:59
Q150 Friendship through Croquet Weekend held 10/11 October
Rain (in a drought area) on the second afternoon certainly didn't dampen the enthusiasm of the Darling Downs Region Q150 Friendship weekend.
With representatives attending from Kingaroy, Warwick, Stanthorpe, Dalby, West Toowoomba, Laurel Bank and Toowoomba clubs plus apologies (due to transport problems) from the Goondiwindi Club.
A couple of hours on the Saturday gave the Gateball players from the Toowoomba Club, a chance to share the skills of their game with many players from the other clubs, who were keen to try. As most of those being introduced to this Mallet sport for the first time were Association players, they had no trouble with the game skills, they just needed to understand the rules. Some Stanthorpe players expressed interest in trying to introduce the game to their area with the Toowoomba club happy to lend equipment and travel to give instruction.
It was full capacity on the lawns for the remainder of the weekend – with Association, Golf Croquet and Ricochet being played to a time limit – this was to enable the large numbers attending to all have a turn. A democratic decision was reached in the awarding of the Q150 trophy with this being presented to one of the older (and very enthusiastic – you couldn't stop her playing in every game) members – Kath Harrison – from the Warwick Club.
On the Sunday the Regional delegate – John Hardy and the Toowoomba President – Len James welcomed our guests: Mike Horan MP, Kerry Shine MP, Mayor Peter Taylor, Councillor Bill Cahill and the Patron of Toowoomba West – Mr Graham Barron to a Morning Tea and they all picked up a mallet and showed interest in understanding the game – the Mayor through the first hoop first shot (to his amazement!!!).
The rain fell just in time – to wash the newly painted roof, which had been heavily coated with dust from the recent freak dust storms. This showed the club house off well, as the day was also the official launching of the work completed – cladding and painting – due to a Government grant from the Gambling Community Benefit Fund.
The work to run a function like this – with Clubs so scattered – always requires volunteers – and again the regional folk showed they certainly can 'pull together to make it work'.
Karen Gillott – Secretary – Toowoomba and Sub committee.
Click on the image to enlarge it:
Tue, 27 Oct 2009 17:30:44
Our club was well represented in early October at the National Gateball titles: two members – Barbara Ridgway and Sandra Reynolds – played in the Queensland team - whilst two other members were part of a composite team.
The final games included the overseas team from Japan plus two very strong teams from Victoria but the final game was won by the young players from Canberra. This team hopes to go to Shanhai next year to defend their title.
Tue, 27 Oct 2009 17:30:44
The Gateball players will have a Doubles Competition at the end of November. And it is expected that the 14 or so players who regularly take part in Gateball will contest this event. Some of the players will have just returned from a week of tournaments at Caloundra – so should be really warmed up.
Thursday, September 17, 2009 8:24 AM
Gateball: Two club members - Barbara Ridgway and Sandra Reynolds have been selected to play in the Queensland Team at the National Titles 16/17 October - being held at Rockhampton. Toowoomba also has two members (Paul Reynolds and Karen Gillott) who are hopeful of being selected in a composite team. Teams from overseas (Japan and China) will be attending as well as one from Victoria, the ACT and every playing club in Queensland.
On the 10/11 October the Regional clubs (Kingaroy, Goondiwindi, Warwick, Dalby, Stanthorpe, Laurel Bank and West Toowoomba) are using the lawns of the Toowoomba Croquet Club (as its the oldest club still operating on its original lawns - founded in 1903). It will be a celebration as part of the Q150 year and all the mallet sports will be played. At the same time the function has been arranged to acknowledge the Govt. Grant of $18,000 towards the cladding and painting of the club house.