NELSON Bay Croquet Club hosted the 3rd annual Christmas Bush Carnival at Tomaree Sports Complex from Friday 15 to Monday 18 November 2024.

64 players from around the state travelled to Nelson Bay for the carnival of golf croquet doubles – late withdrawals meant that six Nelson Bay members were required to play.

Players were seeded into 4 blocks of 8 doubles pairs with each block playing a double round-robin of seven games of level play and 7 games of handicap play – 13-point games with a time limit of one hour.

In Block A, Liz Friend & Chris Cox (Nelson Bay) topped the block with 10 wins and Lyn Baker & Ken Green (Maitland) finished runners-up with 9 wins, just ahead of Ted Lyng & Peter Saunders (Toronto) on hoop difference (+9 to +7).

In Block B, Jan & Keith Brodie (Coutts Crossing) finished first with 10 wins ahead of Liz & Phillipe McDonald (Toronto) with 9 wins.

In Block C, Najette Scerri & Di Williams (Maitland) just pipped Carolyn McNamara & Frank Berg (EDSACC) both with 9 wins but a hoop difference of +19 to +13.

In Block D, Karen & Warren Wilson (Toronto) topped the block with 11 wins ahead of Anne & Peter Newling (Toronto) with 10 wins.

The presentation on Monday 18 November was made by Philippa Brooks from platinum sponsor PRD.

Faby Batho and her canteen crew (Marion Graff, Julie Harrison. Kathy Orton and Rosemary Taylor) did a great job of providing lunches and all day refreshments to the players and volunteers
An excellent four days of top level croquet.

By David WILSON