EXECUTIVE CIRCULAR - NO 3 2003
MacRobertson Shield
Future Australian Championships
President's Invitation Eights
New Regulations
Trans Tasman dates
Insurance
Ranking and Handicap List
Future Program


MacRobertson Shield

In the croquet world this is the "big event" on the international scene and it only happens about every 4 years. All our attention will be on Palm Beach, Florida, from the 1st to 15th November when our selected 6 players will be contesting the 3 matches against USA, Great Britain and New Zealand. Our team, Bruce Fleming (Captain), Martin Clarke, Trevor Bassett, Simon Hockey, Stephen Meatheringham and Stephen Forster, with coach George Latham and reserve Helene Thurston are all working through their program in preparation. It is unfortunate that Jocelyn Sutton has had to withdraw from the team for personal reasons. There is a formal team practice in Melbourne on 23/24 August. It is Australia's turn to host this event in 2006.


Future Championships

After examining the many submissions made in response to the discussion paper, the following plan has been agreed by the Executive Committee. The total Championships will be split into two separate programs and these will be held in different States several months apart. Each of these two programs will be completed within a 9 day period. The first time for this operation under this new scheme will be in 2005 when the Championships are due to be held in Tasmania.

Each year in the period February - April the first 9 day program will include the Interstate Cup and the Mens and Womens Singles. The second 9 day program will be in November and this will include the Open Singles and the Open Doubles.
In the following years both of these will rotate around the States so that each State will be running one 9 day event every 3 years. Alternatively, the ACA may call for bids from States interested in hosting the second half of the Championships (Open Singles and Open Doubles) which are to be held in November each year.

It was agreed that the running of the ACA Gold Medal at the Australian Championships would not continue after 2004. The State run Bronze Medal competition will be continued and from 2005 onwards will be known as the ACA Gold Medal event.

All of these matters will come before the Annual General Meeting for acceptance.


President's Eights 3 - 6 October 2003

Because the final composition of all the 3 eights is somewhat different to the original estimates it has been necessary to re locate the Second Eight from Perth to Melbourne as the majority of the players in this eight are now from Victoria. The First Eight and the Women's Eight are to be played in Brisbane as originally planned. The dates are 3 - 6 October, with two sessions of play in the afternoon of Friday 3rd October and four sessions of play on each of the other days. These new arrangements involving an entry fee of $200 for each player are designed to even out the costs to some extent, amongst the travelling and non travelling players.

Since the previous publishing of the player listings there have been some changes because of player unavailability. The current situation is as follows.

PRESIDENT'S FIRST EIGHT
(Brisbane - Toombul Croquet Club)
Bruce Fleming Qld
Trevor Bassett Vic
Simon Hockey SA
Les Watson Qld
Helene Thurston WA
Stephen Meatheringham ACT
Stephen Forster Vic
Creina Dawson SA

PRESIDENT'S SECOND EIGHT
(Melbourne - Brunswick Croquet Club)
Ken Bald Vic
Ian Bassett Vic
Peter Landrebe NSW
Mark Prater SA
Simon Watkins Vic
Kevin Beard Vic
Max Donati Qld

PRESIDENT'S WOMEN'S EIGHT
(Brisbane - Windsor Croquet Club)
Chris Prater SA
Anna Miller Vic
Liz Fleming Qld
Jan Murdoch Qld
Rosemary Graham NSW
Margaret Melville Qld
Sue Beattie TAS
Miranda Morgan SA

We thank both the Queensland and Victorian Associations and their respective clubs for hosting these Eights.

Green Laws Book Regulations - Amendments

It has now been agreed that proposed changes to the Regulations in the Laws book will be adopted. They are effective as from now. The main affect is the new category of Referee, wherein we will have a Supervising Referee who can be in charge of more than one game at a time. There will no longer be referee categories of Referee on Appeal and Spectator Referee. Also, there is provision to play handicap tournaments with lifts and contacts. As there is not likely to be need for the Laws book to be re published in the near future we will print out the complete new Regulations and this will be supplied to all current holders of the Laws Book. When the Laws book is updated and re printed at a later date it will include these new Regulations and may at that time also include the ORLC (Official Rulings of the Laws Committee).


Trans Tasman Test Series

The Trans Tasman Test Series will be hosted by the Wellington Croquet Association at the Paraparaumu Croquet Club (used as the reserve venue for the Wellington 2002 World Croquet Championships) and Waikanae Croquet Club from Saturday 21 February to Saturday 28 February 2004.


Insurance

As a result of inquiries being made it should be noted that when affiliated players are at a club and getting paid for such activities as coaching or general maintenance work (lawn mowing etc) they are not covered by our insurance policy and they should take steps to have their own policy if they want insurance cover. It is claimed that people in these activities are acting in a private capacity and not on behalf of a club or a Croquet Association. All coaches should take particular note.

Future Program

MacRobertson Team Practice, 23/24 August 2003 Melbourne
President's Eights, 3 - 6 October 2003 Brisbane and Melbourne.
National Handicap Tournament, Rich River, 18 - 24 October 2003
National Golf Croquet, Horsham, 26 - 28 October 2003.
National Gateball, Caloundra, Qld, 31 Oct - 2 November 2003
MacRobertson Shield, Florida, USA, 1 - 15 November 2003.
Development Squad Practice, 22/23 November 2003 Melbourne.
Development Squad Practice, 24/26 January 2004 Melbourne.
Trans Tasman Test, Wellington, NZ, 21 - 28 February 2004.
Australian Championships, Albury/Wodonga, 20 March - 4 April 2004
Easter, Good Friday 9 April 2004
WCF World Championships, possibly England in 2005.


Terry Speers,
ACA Secretary,
4th August 2003

Australian Rankings List (28 July 2003)

The current Australian Rankings and Handicap Listing is attached.
The current World and Australian Rankings are always available on Chris William's web site. http://www.butedock.demon.co.uk/

Qualification, 10 games in previous 12 months
**(xx) indicates number of games played all time in system when xx is fewer than 30.

Grade Gms Wins Index %
Handicap
1 Bruce Fleming 2599 72 58 2562 80.6 QLD
2
2 Martin Clarke 2581 75 56 2676 74.7 WA
2
3 Trevor Bassett 2555 122 92 2509 75.4 VIC
2
4 Ian Dumergue 2476 24 13 2418 54.2 WA
2
5 Jeff Newcombe 2476 59 47 2544 79.7 WA
2
6 Simon Hockey 2466 80 56 2457 70.0 SA
2
7 Les Watson 2454 81 60 2458 74.1 QLD
2
8 Jocelyn Sutton 2447 78 58 2458 74.4 QLD
2.5
9 Helene Thurston 2420 74 56 2485 75.7 WA
2.5
10 Brett Rogers 2409 80 57 2499 71.2 NSW
2.5
11 Greg Bury 2406 77 55 2434 71.4 QLD
2.5
12 Stephen Forster 2400 75 43 2466 57.3 VIC
2.5
13 Stephen Meatheringham 2399 103 75 2391 72.8 ACT
2.5
14 Alan Sands 2364 88 62 2408 70.5 WA
2.5
15 Albert Rutten 2329 29 18 2300 62.1 SA
2.5
16 Peter Landrebe 2323 106 80 2293 75.5 NSW
2.5
17 Ken Bald 2307 103 78 2356 75.7 VIC
2.5
18 Creina Dawson 2299 147 111 2171 75.5 SA
3
19 Robert Lowe 2282 37 30 2418 81.1 NSW
3
20 Kevin Beard 2276 104 69 2275 66.3 VIC
3
21 Simon Watkins 2259 83 57 2315 68.7 VIC
3
22 Bryan Dawson 2259 74 46 2259 62.2 SA
3
23 Ian Bassett 2255 119 84 2189 70.6 VIC
3
24 Colin Pickering 2250 14 8 2194 57.1 SA
3
25 Mark Prater 2240 75 53 2177 70.7 SA
3
26 Dean Paterson 2227 112 79 2272 70.5 SA
3
27 Rod Kirk 2213 60 35 2188 58.3 VIC
3
28 Max Donati 2206 77 47 2158 61.0 QLD
3
29 Tony Hall 2195 153 92 2218 60.1 ACT
3
30 Shirley Carr 2147 56 36 2171 64.3 SA
3.5
31 Chris Prater 2146 88 57 2179 64.8 SA
3.5
32 George Latham 2123 79 40 2114 50.6 VIC
3.5
33 Ray Howell 2093 37 15 2050 40.5 SA
3.5
34 John Philpott 2086 61 36 2041 59.0 QLD
3.5
35 Liz Fleming 2076 90 53 2222 58.9 QLD
3.5
36 Mark Senior 2073 54 31 2071 57.4 SA
3.5
37 Chris Borlase 2066 61 37 2114 60.7 NSW
3.5
38 Greg Whymark 2052 47 28 2091 59.6 QLD
3.5
39 Eric Miller 2045 81 46 1978 56.8 VIC
4
40 Ross Marshall 2036 49 32 2047 65.3 WA
4
41 Kenn Boal 2034 57 32 2098 56.1 VIC
4
42 Margaret Melville 2029 114 67 2045 58.8 QLD
4
43 Ted Singleton 2028 78 47 2020 60.3 QLD
4
44 John Hardy 2002 48 27 1996 56.2 QLD
4
45 Nick Macoun 1992 67 37 2035 55.2 NSW
4
46 Ernie Melville 1987 59 31 2039 52.5 QLD
4
47 Jan Murdoch 1987 55 32 1945 58.2 QLD
4
48 Rosemary News 1985 52 26 2023 50.0 NSW
4
49 John Levick 1981 23 15 1961 65.2 NSW
4
50 Anna Miller 1980 111 69 1950 62.2 VIC
4
51 John Riches 1979 25 13 1982 52.0 SA
4
52 Vinko Mestrovic 1978 76 41 2033 53.9 QLD
4
53 Steve Harden 1977 33 16 2000 48.5 NSW
4
54 Owen Edwards 1960 49 27 1893 55.1 VIC
4
55 Greg Rowberry 1959 70 32 1898 45.7 SA
4
56 Dennis Faggotter 1958 54 29 1990 53.7 NSW
4
57 Bernie Gleeson 1951 64 35 1982 54.7 QLD
4
58 David Shipston 1947 10 9 1981 90.0 VIC
4.5
59 Betty Belz 1946 11 4 1912 36.4 QLD
4.5
60 Stephen Richards 1928 27 16 1960 59.3 NSW
4.5
61 Miranda Morgan 1924 51 29 2031 56.9 SA
4.5
62 Peter Tavender 1918 39 22 1953 56.4 ACT
4.5
63 Mike Walker 1913 22 10 1943 45.5 NSW
4.5
64 Gill Schupelius 1912 67 35 2000 52.2 SA
4.5
65 Fred King 1901 26 11 1822 42.3 SA
4.5
66 Jim Curtis 1891 97 45 1897 46.4 SA
4.5
67 Graeme Gallus 1888 70 43 1919 61.4 NSW
4.5
68 Gary Fox 1879 30 9 1825 30.0 TAS
4.5
69 Roger Bird 1877 48 23 1889 47.9 VIC
4.5
70 Noel Young 1875 72 31 1931 43.1 SA
4.5
71 Doug Amey 1861 83 36 1850 43.4 SA
5
72 Don Close 1848 19 11 1805 57.9 QLD
5
73 Wendy King 1840 22 5 1786 22.7 SA
5
74 Sue Beattie 1831 55 28 1831 50.9 TAS
5
75 Gordon Porter 1827 58 27 1795 46.6 VIC
5
76 Garry O'Dell 1810 39 19 1886 48.7 NSW
5
77 Lois Kirk 1809 40 16 1756 40.0 VIC
5
78 Susan Wharton 1808 23 6 1763 26.1 WA
5
79 Roger Buddle 1806 81 31 1759 38.3 SA
5
80 Eric Delaney 1801 19 10 1758 52.6 QLD
5
81 Mike Phillis 1801 59 21 1801 35.6 SA
5
82 Irene Wardell-Johnson 1801 30 16 1768 53.3 WA
5
83 Willi Silk 1795 40 18 1806 45.0 QLD
5.5
84 Ian Hulme 1787 31 15 1782 48.4 QLD
5.5
85 Tim O'Leary 1784 15 6 1833 40.0 SA
5.5
86 Adrian Masterman-Smith 1784 56 24 1677 42.9 VIC
5.5
87 Christine Pont 1775 57 28 1772 49.1 NSW
5.5
88 Judy Wembridge 1770 33 22 1772 66.7 VIC
5.5
89 Graham Scott 1768 34 18 1748 52.9 NSW
5.5
90 Judith Faulkner 1765 23 9 1710 39.1 WA
5.5
91 Helen Philpott 1747 42 17 1752 40.5 QLD
5.5
92 Rob McAdam 1743 42 19 1774 45.2 TAS
5.5
93 Ken Edwards 1742 61 27 1719 44.3 NSW
5.5
94 Graeme Morrison 1736 17 8 1733 47.1 VIC
5.5
95 Claire Gorton 1733 60 27 1824 45.0 NSW
5.5
96 Lorraine Le Blang 1729 58 25 1638 43.1 NSW
5.5
97 Jonathan Bowen 1725 34 17 1653 50.0 NSW
5.5
98 Penny Krstev 1713 70 32 1773 45.7 VIC
6
99 Michael Bidencope 1704 14 3 1649 21.4 NSW
6
100 Charlotte Morgan 1704 56 19 1667 33.9 SA
6
101 John Byers 1701 44 13 1679 29.5 NSW
6
102 Doron Gunzburg 1695 50 23 1788 46.0 NSW
6
103 Bill Turner 1694 34 13 1673 38.2 WA
6
104 Geof McDonald 1692 60 26 1742 43.3 NSW
6
105 Gordon Cook 1690 13 10 1795 76.9 VIC
6
**(13)
106 Daphne Alcorn 1670 11 6 1706 54.5 VIC
6
107 Lo Hearne 1665 47 23 1678 48.9 NSW
6
108 Andrew Usbourne 1657 30 6 1656 20.0 SA
6
109 Ann Crow 1654 40 16 1718 40.0 VIC
6
110 Nerida Taylor 1651 39 13 1637 33.3 ACT
6
111 Gladys Thompson 1650 13 5 1624 38.5 VIC
6.5
**(22)
112 Ken Schilling 1649 14 2 1616 14.3 VIC
6.5
113 Judy Evans 1646 36 12 1662 33.3 VIC
6.5
114 Tricia Devlin 1645 57 26 1700 45.6 VIC
6.5
115 Peter Presneill 1644 20 8 1668 40.0 QLD
6.5
116 Jenni Mitchell 1627 30 13 1588 43.3 VIC
6.5
117 Roy Bryant 1625 19 12 1753 63.2 NSW
6.5
**(19)
118 Doug Richmond 1625 13 3 1619 23.1 NSW
6.5
119 Lance Kershaw 1625 15 6 1651 40.0 WA
6.5
120 Greg Hill 1624 10 4 1643 40.0 VIC
6.5
**(10)
121 Barbara Wheelhouse 1623 25 11 1631 44.0 VIC
6.5
122 Bill Roy 1621 39 12 1564 30.8 WA
6.5
123 Norma Amey 1616 14 7 1684 50.0 SA
6.5
**(24)
124 Bob Hutchinson 1614 31 8 1602 25.8 TAS
6.5
125 Jim Byrne 1596 16 9 1671 56.2 VIC
6.5
**(22)
126 Neil Bonnar 1591 10 8 1672 80.0 VIC
6.5
**(10)
127 Marie Calthorpe 1585 30 11 1606 36.7 VIC
6.5
128 Judy Lewis 1583 12 4 1587 33.3 QLD
6.5
**(28)
129 Ed Skipsey 1583 10 2 1519 20.0 NSW
6.5
130 Terry Speers 1578 31 7 1608 22.6 WA
6.5
131 Kate Fox 1575 58 20 1634 34.5 TAS
6.5
132 Claire Bamford 1574 49 17 1586 34.7 TAS
7
133 Peter Stevenson 1573 18 6 1549 33.3 QLD
7
134 Gwen Anderson 1572 17 6 1531 35.3 WA
7
135 Shirley Starbuck 1571 32 13 1566 40.6 VIC
7
136 Christopher Wilson 1571 45 17 1494 37.8 ACT
7
137 Anne Tothill 1569 12 4 1559 33.3 WA
7
138 Harley Grattan 1557 11 3 1579 27.3 ACT
7
**(22)
139 Maurice Taylor 1554 17 6 1582 35.3 QLD
7
**(20)
140 John Carter 1552 27 7 1498 25.9 QLD
7
**(27)
141 Fay Stove 1543 10 4 1539 40.0 NSW
7
142 Murray Blatchford 1536 24 3 1490 12.5 SA
7
143 Fay Pearson 1533 14 2 1432 14.3 VIC
7
144 Greg Diprose 1532 10 5 1593 50.0 ACT
7
**(10)
145 Lesley Smith 1528 28 10 1539 35.7 NSW
7
146 Maxwell Wiltshire 1527 20 8 1546 40.0 NSW
7
**(20)
147 Peter Ballard 1522 14 4 1554 28.6 QLD
7
**(27)
148 Barry Sutton 1518 18 7 1553 38.9 QLD
7
**(26)
149 Darrell Whitney 1517 14 1 1444 7.14 VIC
7
**(14)
150 Vince Carbery 1516 13 6 1575 46.2 QLD
7
**(16)
151 Ray Lakeman 1513 13 4 1568 30.8 SA
7
**(27)
152 Roy Machen 1510 12 2 1459 16.7 QLD
7
153 Pam Gentle 1507 26 8 1533 30.8 NSW
7
154 Elizabeth Allen 1505 62 17 1562 27.4 VIC
7
155 Brian Reither 1501 25 6 1473 24.0 VIC
7
156 Peter Rich 1501 25 4 1477 16.0 TAS
7
157 Valda Jones 1496 14 6 1522 42.9 SA
7.5
158 Eldyne Smith 1481 10 1 1432 10.0 SA
7.5
**(10)
159 Bill Blaikie 1475 11 1 1447 9.09 NSW
7.5
**(11)
160 Iris Williams 1472 25 8 1495 32.0 VIC
7.5
161 Lorna Williams 1469 14 3 1433 21.4 VIC
7.5
**(14)
162 Joy Makepeace 1462 28 4 1400 14.3 VIC
7.5
163 Thelma Burnell 1462 24 3 1385 12.5 QLD
7.5
164 Rosemary Newsham 1461 15 4 1455 26.7 NSW
7.5
**(18)
165 Pamela Hamilton 1460 36 11 1510 30.6 TAS
7.5
166 George Smith 1458 11 2 1437 18.2 WA
7.5
167 Marilyn Miller 1455 10 2 1403 20.0 VIC
7.5
168 Roger Bowles 1453 26 7 1488 26.9 TAS
7.5
**(26)
169 Robyn Stock 1452 21 2 1407 9.52 VIC
7.5
**(21)
170 Jim Neale 1446 21 3 1451 14.3 QLD
8
**(21)
171 Neil Hartley 1443 28 4 1449 14.3 NSW
8
172 Carol O'Dell 1439 12 2 1425 16.7 NSW
8
**(18)
173 Lorraine Singleton 1437 37 9 1431 24.3 QLD
8
174 Lance Turner 1432 13 3 1420 23.1 QLD
8
**(13)
175 Clem Joyce 1426 17 2 1392 11.8 VIC
8
176 Gwen Hindhaugh 1422 16 3 1419 18.8 VIC
8
**(16)
177 Ella Sait 1416 13 1 1334 7.69 VIC
8
**(17)
178 Carl Perrin 1409 18 6 1437 33.3 WA
8
179 Elisabeth Dolby 1401 26 4 1358 15.4 QLD
8
180 Keith McLeod 1399 26 4 1414 15.4 VIC
9
181 Carmel Statham 1399 20 3 1358 15.0 NSW
9
182 Lowen Clarke 1394 24 1 1335 4.17 VIC
9
183 Vic Gleeson 1381 10 2 1385 20.0 NSW
9
184 Claire Wilson 1377 22 2 1322 9.09 NSW
9
**(28)
185 Elizabeth Giutronich 1375 27 4 1368 14.8 NSW
9
186 Snow Evans 1357 23 1 1344 4.35 VIC
9
187 Pretoria McGee 1327 21 0 1281 0.00 NSW
10