Six clubs were represented at the Don Reyland Regional held at Cashmere Croquet Club on Sunday, December 7th. Held under Advantage Play conditions, the game puts real demands on the low handicapper. For example in just one game a player had to achieve 13 hoops before his opposition got 3. This game went to the fifteenth hoop and yes the player on -5 did win that game. The eventual winner at the end of the day was Betty Inglewood from United winning 4 of her 5 games, followed by Alec Astle on a countback after winning three games.

The original tournament was reduced to singles only with the doubles not attracting sufficient teams. Twelve players representing Canterbury, South Canterbury and Southland enjoyed the fine but windy weather on Sunday with the final two rounds played on Monday in cooler temperatures. After day one many of the players had won two games and it was all going to rest on the games on Monday. 

The winner from each block progressed to the final; congratulations to two of our new AC players Geoff Price and Carolyn Smith. Unfortunately most of the game was played in the rain with both players showing improvement and both changing handicaps.

 The winner of the tournament and bringing the trophy to Canterbury for the first time is – Geoff Price, Cashmere and well deserved runner-up Carolyn Smith, Akaroa. 

Congratulations to you both

Photo left to right: Raylene Phillips, Manager, Carolyn Smith, Geoff Price, and Gail Benseman, President South Canterbury 

Team Canterbury

The first tournament of the new season was played at Waireka Croquet Club, Ashburton on Sunday 21 September.

On Saturday afternoon there were high wind warnings across Canterbury which saw many calls and texts on Sunday morning to determine if it was safe to play and to travel. Fortunately most of the predicted weather had already moved further north and the day went ahead in fine sunny weather.

The day started with a cuppa and the sorting of the teams with one South Canterbury player don the red and black shirt so there were no byes or singles played.

Games were 2 hours and the winner would be the team scoring the most hoops – hard to get when you miss roquets or end up in opposite corners on the lawn. We did not start well and looking at results after round two it looked like Basil would have another year in the south.

Time for the results: Raylene (Manager) said after round 2 South Canterbury were 20 hoops ahead, HOWEVER, after round 3 South Canterbury finished with 203 hoops and Canterbury 223. WOW how did that happen!! Congratulations to all the players and Basil is back in Christchurch wearing his red and black scarf. The Ranfurly Shield is gone but croquet saves the day winning Basil 

The confirmed calendar for the 2025/26 season can now be viewed on the CCA website.

The confirmed calendar will be on the website in the next few days.

Canterbury WIN South Island GC Team Event

A great two days of croquet was played at Waireka Croquet Club, Ashburton on 5 and 6 April. This was attended by 6 of the 7 Associations in the South Island – Marlborough, Nelson, Canterbury, South Canterbury, Otago and Southland. Each team had 4 players – Premier, Senior, Intermediate and Primary 

On Saturday the teams were paired for the doubles with each Association playing each other. Canterbury made a flying start winning all their first round games and by the end of the day were celebrating 9 wins from 10 games. 

Sunday was the day all players were scheduled to play 5 singles each.  The first and second rounds for Canterbury players saw mixed results, however, with good results in the third round Canterbury went out to a 4 point lead and retained this over the next two rounds to finish on 21 wins and 41 net hoops edging out Otago on 17 wins and 6 net hoops   Well done to the team of Josh Winter (Cashmere), Mike Bunce (St Martins) Derek Kinley (Cashmere) and Ayelen Tayagui (St James).

Full results are at https://croquetscores.com/2025/gc/si-teams-1

The CCA Golf Croquet Open Doubles Tournament was played on Sunday 9 March at the St Martins Croquet Club. The weather was fine and sunny although the wind was a bit gusty at times.

Seven teams played in the round robin tournament. There were some close games with long battles to decide who was victorious. The winners with 6 wins were Josh Winter and Josh Freeth.

Levi Franks and Myles Duggan were the runners-up with 5 wins.

Full results are at https://croquetscores.com/2025/gc/canterbury-nz-open-doubles

Grace Leitch
Manager

The 2025 Carol Hayward competition was played over five Tuesdays from 4 February to 5 March. One 18-point handicap AC game was played each day. Games had a 2½ hour time limit with a well-catered morning tea break.

The turnout was low this year with only seven entries and the manager filling in as necessary, which was every day this year.

On the final day Sue Stott played Bruce McLay who was the only unbeaten player. Sue won and won the competition for the fourth time.

Bruce and Patsy Clegg were on 3 wins out of 4, but Patsy had the higher net points to be runner-up with Bruce McLay third.

Thanks to all participants who made it an enjoyable event.

Full details are at https://croquetscores.com/2025/ac/cca-carol-hayward

Manager
John Yarrall

The Maud Trainor competition was played at United Croquet Club over four Fridays in February. It was managed as a flexible swiss with two time-limited handicap GC games played each day with draws allowed.

Congratulations​ to Lena Metcalf who only lost one of her eight games.

Runner up was John Yarrall, winning four and drawing one of his six games.

The next five were very tight with Annette Wilson and Stewart Read both winning five and drawing one of their eight games to take third place.

It was really good to see that everyone who played won at least one gamme.

Thank you for the good spirits with which you played, it made my job much easier.

Of the 26 who enrolled we had between 18 and 22 people playing each day with illnesses, other engagements and even a funeral precluding play.

With just a short, light drizzle on day one the whether was kind to us with light cloud and light winds ensuring that it was not too hot.

Manager,
Tony O’Donnell