NELSON Bay Croquet Club organised and hosted the second annual Christmas Bush tournament from Friday 17 to Monday 20 November 2023.

The tournament is a Golf Croquet doubles competition with 4 blocks of 8 teams each playing a round-robin of level play followed by a round-robin of handicap play, 224 games in total over the 4 days.

Games were 13-point with a time limit of 1 hour.

64 croquet players travelled to Nelson Bay from around NSW – from as far north as Grafton, as far south as Wagga Wagga and as far west as Orange.

The teams were seeded on combined handicap with the lowest handicap teams playing in Black A and the highest handicap teams playing in Block D.

The winners and runners-up in 2023 were:

Block A: Michael Chambers / Richard Shields (Elanora)

Trevor Edgoose/Ian Catalano (Hunters Hill)

Block B: Jan Lonergan/Tony Lonergan (Pelican)

Stephen Catt/Judy Tonkin (Marrickville)

Block C: Martin Wooster/Margaret Myers (Toronto)

John Graham/Max Gleeson (Smithtown)

Block D: Lyn Gleeson/Shelley Crotty (Smithtown)

Marion Morahan/Yvonne Rennard (Pelican)

The prizes for the winners and runners-up were presented by Philippa Brooks representing PRD Realty who sponsored the tournament.

The games were played in a great spirit with many closely fought contests. All the participants indicated that they enjoyed their stay in Nelson Bay and that the tournament was well organised and very enjoyable.

For further information about the Club, visit nelsonbaycroquet.org.au or email nelsonbaycroquet@gmail.com.

By David WILSON