By Sheree Hoddinett
Bribie is set to become a hive of activity as the Australian National Golf Croquet Tournament rolls onto the Island.
From August 28 to September 8, Bribie will be one of seven Sunshine Coast croquet clubs (situated from the Island up to Noosa) to host the tournament on their lawns. This event was last played on the Sunshine Coast back in 2012.
Chair of Sunshine Coast Region croquet clubs Dick Byres has been part of the Bribie Island Croquet Club for the last 10 years and is very much looking forward to the Island playing host to the tournament.
“It’s our turn, we won the hosting rights,” Byers said. “It’s a great opportunity for the Island and brings a lot of tourists in, as well as shining a light on the sport.
“Croquet is often seen as an older person’s sport, but in actual fact there are quite a lot of younger players in the mix as well.”
Golf croquet is the fastest growing version of the sport of croquet. This is due mainly to its simplicity to learn and play, however there is a certain amount of strategic skill required to be successful. Golf croquet is won by a player hitting their ball through each hoop. Each player takes a turn at hitting a ball through the same hoop in the sequence of blue, red, black and yellow. Blue and black balls play against red and yellow. The player or team that wins the most hoops is declared the winner.
Dick is one of eight players who will be representing Bribie at the upcoming tournament and despite his very busy role, he still finds a bit of time to get practice in a few days a week.
“I enjoy the strategy of the game,” he said. “I’m not strong in the same way that some others can smash the ball all over the place, but the opportunity to try and outsmart others in their moves, I really enjoy that aspect.”
This national tournament consists of four events:
The gold and silver medals
The top player from Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania and Western Australia compete for the gold medal. Queensland’s representative is Ross Rillie, who is a member of the Headland-Buderim Club and is a long-time croquet player at national level. This year Ross will have some formidable and much younger opponents:
Jamie Gumbrell, will represent NSW. Jamie, a young woman under 25 years of age, is currently the world number one women’s golf croquet player.
Edward Wilson, who is ranked 20th in the golf croquet world, will represent SA. Edward’s international croquet career started back in 2017 when he competed in the Under 21 World Championships. In June this year, Edward was selected as a member of Australia’s golf croquet team to play in the 2025 Golf Croquet World Team Championship Tier 1, Openshaw Shield, to be held in Tasmania.
Men’s Singles Event This event runs for four consecutive days and attracts more than 50 players from all Australian states. The Sunshine Coast is now home to the men’s world number one golf croquet player, Robert Fletcher and his brother, Malcolm Fletcher. Robert was the winner of the 2023 men’s singles in Perth, whilst Malcolm was runner up.
These young men are also in the Australian golf team for the 2025 Golf Croquet World Team Championship Tier 1, Openshaw Shield, as well as being part of Australia’s team competing in the 2024 Golf Croquet World Championships in Chesapeake Bay, Virginia in the United States of America. Also competing in this event is another young man, Addison Matthews, who plays for Laurel Bank - a Toowoomba club. Earlier this year, Addison was the winner of the Australian Under 21 Golf Croquet Competition. Addison will also be competing in the 2024 Golf Croquet World Championships in the USA later this year.
Women’s Singles Event This runs concurrently with the men’s singles. Based on world rankings, Gabby Spencer and Mary McMahon (both Southport Club members) are ranked number one and two for this event.
Another under 25 entrant is Toowoomba’s Frances Wright.
WCF Interstate Shield Teams Event This is the final event and runs for five days. Each team of five men and five women players compete against each other to see who the winner and runner will be up for this prestigious shield. In 2022 and 2023, NSW and WA vied for the title, with NSW winning both times. Will the tables turn this year? Queensland’s team: - Bob Martin - Gordon Giles - Ross Rillie - Greg Bury - Addison Matthews - Gabby Spencer - Mary McMahon - Jenee Molyneux - Jannene Wall - Desley Bischoff
Croquet is considered a ‘low impact’ sport which incorporates strategy, mental and physical fitness. It is still a sport where men and women compete on an equal basis and attracts players of all ages.
Bribie Island Croquet Club (located in Cosmos Park - 70a Sunderland Drive, Banksia Beach) welcomes anyone interested in joining the club. For further information, contact club president Jan Rees on 0437 008 042.
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