Dubbo Croquet Club

Our club Newsletter #39 is now available. You should have received your copy by now, but if not you can download it here.

039-July-2026.pdf

King's Birthday Doubles Competition, Saturday 10th June.

Following a fortnight of cold, soggy, grey days it was with trepidation we awaited Saturday 10th, the date set for the Doubles Competition. However, despite a brazing wind-chill factor, Saturday turned on a clear and sunny day.

The 8 pairs were: Kate & Bryan, Warwick & Sandra, Don & Pam, Ingrid & Graham, Marg S & Ian, Stan & Tracey, Lillian & Mavis, and Tricia & Des. The competition was 7-hoop Golf Croquet, Advantage Handicap system being use, and with time limited play (to get through all the games in one day).

All games were played on our two synthetic courts, double banked, at a schedule to ensure everyone got to play primary and secondary balls.

It was very pleasing to see several of our newer players braving competition play … and doing very well, we might add.
With the final results still to be computed (due to game timing), preliminary results placed Don & Pam on 5 wins and 2 draws, followed by Tracey & Stan with 5 wins and 1 draw, then Sandra & Warwick with 4 wins.

In all a successful day, with everyone having a good time.
Finally, a thank you to our Captain, Charles, who steered us though the competition (despite feeling chilly).

Easter Saturday’s club singles golf competition was a seven-hoop game, twenty-five-minute cap with no adjustments for handicaps.

Instead of signing up beforehand, so an order of play could be done, available players turned up on the day, and played according to a novel draw method.

The games captain drew a name tile at random and asked its owner to claim a court and a colour set (that is, primary or secondary balls).

That lucky person then drew two tiles and chose whether to play either or neither, thus nominating the court and colour of both. One of those drew two tiles and repeated the procedure.

Players could choose how many games they played, which was appreciated by those who had family commitments on the day, and others who ran out of puff.

The club’s statistician now has calculations to do, accounting for handicaps, games played, and the alignment of the planets.

Graham Bender ran the most hoops. Ray Doyle cleared hoop four from twenty yards out, Charles Campbell achieved a sixteen-yard hoop clearance, and Lyn Jeffrey had the great satisfaction of making a fourteen-yard hoop.

Special mention to beginners, Jenny Hennessy and Lyn Jeffrey, with just three instruction.

Perfect weather for a perfect day. Well done to everyone participating.

It is with great sadness that we advise members and friends, that Margaret Lewer passed away 29th January 2026, aged 90.

Magaret, and her late husband, Don, were long time members of the club, well back to the days when Association Croquet was the only game played at the club.

Margaret and Don travelled frequently, always with their mallets in the boot, visiting and playing at other clubs along the way. At one occasion they were introduced to Golf Croquet.
About 20 years ago, on return to Dubbo, they introduced Dubbo Croquet Club to Golf Croquet.
This was just at the right time. The club was stagnant and membership declining. Golf Croquet, due to its more social nature, was the ‘shot in the arm’ we needed.
It renewed interest and enthusiasm, and made croquet more attractive to prospective members. The rest is history.

Thank you, Margaret. Your memory will live on.

The festive season is upon us again, and in the words of 'Dickens' - "Christmas would not be Christmas, but for the happy interchange of wishes".
Herewith our very best wishes to croquet friends, and friends of croquet, near and far. May you have a peaceful and pleasant Christmas.
And come the New Year, may your mallets behave and the game excede your wildest expectations in 2026.
From all of us at Dubbo Croquet Club.

Our Christmas Party was last Thursday night, with a good roll-up of happy party goers. Its is also the night for the presenting of annual award certificates to celebrate notable happenings or achievements, as the Pesident finds worthy.
Please see the photos for details of the awards.

Our quarterly newsletter has been published. It can be downloaded via the link on our website, https://dubbocroquetclub.blogspot.com/ or via the link in the email members should have received by now.
There's a chance to win a book on Golf Croquet by locating a number of typos, mistakes, problems, etc, that have been caused by the gremlins that roam the editors office.

Dubbo Croquet Club Dubbo Croquet Club, established 1921, formerly known as Dubbo City Croquet Club. Now at new and better venue with a steadily increasing membership.

Last Monday, 29th September, one of the Pace GC Foundation Coaching Sessions was held at Orange City Croquet Club.

Two members from Dubbo Croquet Club, Charles Campbell and Ingrid Stufano, attended the session, which was conducted by Bob Kerr.
The coaching session was well attended, with over 20 participants, and provided valuable information and practical guidance.

It was a well-informed and enjoyable afternoon, and our thanks go to the Orange City Croquet Club, Bob Kerr, and his wife Dianne for their efforts.

Saturday 20th September we celebrated 104 years of croqueting in Dubbo. The weather was brilliant and some 30+ members turned up to enjoy the day. Of course, it helps when cake is promised😉!
All three courts were packed with players, even the front garden area was taken into use (proving a challenge due to the long grass).

The Captain, Charles, had organised a competition between pairs, called Reversi. Hoops 1 to 5 had to be run in reverse order, with the primary and secondary colours competing against each other, running their respective hoops. First pair to peg out winning the round.

Happy birthday to all of us, and thank you all for a great day.