Croquet Australia: Nationals

Queensland hosted the 2008 Australian Gold Medal, the Australian Men's and Australian Women's Championships and the Interstate (Eire) Cup over the period 26 March to 6^th April.

The weather stayed bright and sunny - for the most part - for the very full tournament and associated events calendar, and competitors were treated to typical Queensland hospitality at the seven club venues: East Brisbane (est 1905), Eildon (est 1940, Graceville (est 1929), McIlwraith (est 1924), Stephens (est 1923), Toombul (est 1928) and Windsor (est1914). Officials were ACA Events Manager Max Murray, Tournament Manager Carmel Donley, Tournament Referee Roy Donley, Tournament Handicapper Ernie Melville and Communications Officer Lindsay David.

A Player's Meeting was held at Toombul Club on Monday 31 March (the minutes can be found on the ACA Web Site).

A comprehensive summary of the 2008 tournament can be found on Croquet Australia's web site at
http://www.croquet-australia.com.au/Results/2008/ac-nationals/index.html
and
http://www.croquet-australia.com.au/Results/2008/isc/index.html

Details on the Plenary Session and ACA Annual General Meeting, held on 4 April, are provided elsewhere in the magazine.

A short summary of the tournament is as follows:

Australian Gold Medal

The 2007 Bronze Medal winners from each state contested the Australian Gold and Silver medals at East Brisbane Croquet Club on 26-28 March, the contestants being Peter Landrebe (NSW), Shane Davis (Qld), Peter Ross (WA), Mark Prater (SA), Kevin Beard (Vic) and Geoff Kingdom (Tas).

Peter Landrebe won the Gold medal with a final score of 8 wins, 229 for, 85 against, for a net of +144, defeating Shane Davis, who also had 8 wins, but who scored 233 for, 94 against, for a net of +139. They were followed by Kevin Beard and Mark Prater, both who scored five wins in the competition. Congratulations to all players.

Australian Women's Singles Championships -

31 women nominated for the championship, which was played at Eildon (Woody Point, Redcliffe), East Brisbane and Graceville Clubs, with the final on 1 April at Eildon.

Winner of the ACC Tray, Perpetual Trophy, Margaret Melville (Qld) defeated runner-up Creina Dawson (SA) 21-26, 26-3, 26-3.

In the Plate final, Miranda Morgan (SA) defeated Deidre Hardy (Qld) 26-0, while Alison Sharpe (NSW) defeated Betty Belz (Qld) in the Y Knockout (5^th to 8^th place).

Australian Men's Singles Championships -

46 men nominated for the championship, which was played at Toombul, Windsor and McIlwraith Clubs, with the final on 1 April at Toombul.

Winner of The English Cup, Perpetual Trophy, Bruce Fleming (Qld) defeated runner-up Trevor Bassett (Vic) 26tp-0, 14-26tp, 26tp-20, 26tp-0.

In the Plate final, Ken Bald (Vic) defeated Mike Hughes (NSW) 26-1. Rod Kirk (Vic) defeated Les Watson (Qld) in the Z Knockout (5^th - 8^th place) 26-14, 15-26, 26tp-0, while Peter Landrebe (NSW) defeated John Hardy (Qld) 26-14, 10-26tp, 26-8 in the Y Knockout (9^th to 16^th place).

The Interstate (Eire) Cup produced a win for Victoria, with Queensland as runners-up. Victoria won all their five matches with individual scores from team members being Simon Watkins 10 singles and 5 doubles; Stephen Forster 9 singles 8Tps and 5 doubles; Rod Kirk 5 singles 1Tp; Ken Bald 7 singles 4Tps; Claire Gorton 9 singles 5 doubles; JudyWembridge 9 singles and 4 doubles; Anna Miller 8 singles and 4 doubles; and Trish Devlin 6 singles and 5 doubles.

Victorian State Director of Coaching Adrian Masterman-Smith said, "We had two years of losses and things were not looking good for Victoria. The newly appointed coach Lowen Clarke . came into the position with the skills and experience to turn that situation around into a victory . he took on the job intending to bring the best and most powerful new coaching concepts to our team . well, the results speak for themselves."

Queensland, 5^th in 2007, under coach Steve Jones, lifted its overall position to runners-up, winning 4 of its 5 matches.

Congratulations to the players and all the behind-the-scenes personnel who made the Championships and Eire Cup such a resounding success.

Carolyn Ribone, Editor.

Photographs:

Victoria (left to right)

Lowen Clarke (Coach), Simon Watkins, Stephen Forster, Captain, holding The Eire Cup, Tricia Devlin, Judy Wembridge, Claire Gorton. Front Row: Anna Miller Vice Captain, Rodney Kirk, Ken Bald. Taken at Toombul Croquet Club at the conclusion of the final match, Victoria vs New South Wales. Photograph: Simon Watkins.

Queensland (left to right)

Shane Davis, Les Watson, John Hardy Captain, Steve Jones. Front Row: Willie Silk, Joycelyn Sutton holding runners-up Shield, Margaret Melville Vice-Captain, Helen Philpott. Photograph: Carolyn Ribone

South Australia (left to right)

Tony Foster-Brown, Gil Schupelius, Miranda Morgan, Wilma Bonner, Dean Paterson Captain/Coach, Brian Dawson Vice-Captain, Charlotte Morgan Vice-Captain, Neil Bonner (absent, Creina Dawson) Photograph: Geof McDonald

Tasmania (left to right)

Bob Beattie, Sue Beattie, Geoff Kingdom, Elaine Roomes, Mick Wood, Claire Bamford Vice-Captain, Rob McAdam Captain, Pam Hamilton. Photograph: Geof McDonald

New South Wales (left to right)

Tony Hall, Stephen Richards Captain, Tim Murphy, Chloe Aberly Vice-Captain,

Alix Verge, Mike Jenner, Alison Sharpe, Peter Landrebe, Nerida Taylor. Photograph: Geof McDonald

Western Australia (left to right)

Carl Perrin, Janine Hawker, Sandra Stevenson, Helen Collins, Helen Eagle, Chris McWhirter, Alan Sands, Eric Ayling, Colin Chynoweth non playing Captain/Coach, Kay Chynoweth. Photograph: Geof McDonald

Captains with the Eire Cup

State Captains Surrounding the Eire Cup - Stephen Richards (NSW), John Hardy (Qld), Rob McAdam (Tas), Dean Paterson (SA), Colin Chynoweth (WA), Stephen Forster (Vic). Photograph: Geof McDonald.

Margaret Melville (Qld) in final of the Australian Women's Singles Championships. Photograph: Johanna Lowe.

Peter Landrebe (New South Wales), winner of Australian Gold Medal, with ACA Treasurer Tony Hall at the Presentation Dinner, Virginia Palms International. Photograph: Carolyn Ribone

	AUSTRALIAN CHAMPIONSHIPS AND INTERSTATE (EIRE CUP) BRISBANE, 2008

	Queensland hosted the 2008 Australian Gold Medal, the Australian Men's and Australian Women's Championships and the Interstate (Eire) Cup over the period 26 March to 6^th April. The weather stayed bright and sunny - for the most part - for the very full tournament and associated events calendar, and competitors were treated to typical Queensland hospitality at the seven club venues: East Brisbane (est 1905), Eildon (est 1940, Graceville (est 1929), McIlwraith (est 1924), Stephens (est 1923), Toombul (est 1928) and Windsor (est1914). Officials were ACA Events Manager Max Murray, Tournament Manager Carmel Donley, Tournament Referee Roy Donley, Tournament Handicapper Ernie Melville and Communications Officer Lindsay David. A Player's Meeting was held at Toombul Club on Monday 31 March (the minutes can be found on the ACA Web Site). A comprehensive summary of the 2008 tournament can be found on Croquet Australia's web site at http://www.croquet-australia.com.au/Results/2008/ac-nationals/index.html and http://www.croquet-australia.com.au/Results/2008/isc/index.html Details on the Plenary Session and ACA Annual General Meeting, held on 4 April, are provided elsewhere in the magazine. A short summary of the tournament is as follows: Australian Gold Medal The 2007 Bronze Medal winners from each state contested the Australian Gold and Silver medals at East Brisbane Croquet Club on 26-28 March, the contestants being Peter Landrebe (NSW), Shane Davis (Qld), Peter Ross (WA), Mark Prater (SA), Kevin Beard (Vic) and Geoff Kingdom (Tas). Peter Landrebe won the Gold medal with a final score of 8 wins, 229 for, 85 against, for a net of +144, defeating Shane Davis, who also had 8 wins, but who scored 233 for, 94 against, for a net of +139. They were followed by Kevin Beard and Mark Prater, both who scored five wins in the competition. Congratulations to all players. Australian Women's Singles Championships - 31 women nominated for the championship, which was played at Eildon (Woody Point, Redcliffe), East Brisbane and Graceville Clubs, with the final on 1 April at Eildon. Winner of the ACC Tray, Perpetual Trophy, Margaret Melville (Qld) defeated runner-up Creina Dawson (SA) 21-26, 26-3, 26-3. In the Plate final, Miranda Morgan (SA) defeated Deidre Hardy (Qld) 26-0, while Alison Sharpe (NSW) defeated Betty Belz (Qld) in the Y Knockout (5^th to 8^th place). Australian Men's Singles Championships - 46 men nominated for the championship, which was played at Toombul, Windsor and McIlwraith Clubs, with the final on 1 April at Toombul. Winner of The English Cup, Perpetual Trophy, Bruce Fleming (Qld) defeated runner-up Trevor Bassett (Vic) 26tp-0, 14-26tp, 26tp-20, 26tp-0. In the Plate final, Ken Bald (Vic) defeated Mike Hughes (NSW) 26-1. Rod Kirk (Vic) defeated Les Watson (Qld) in the Z Knockout (5^th - 8^th place) 26-14, 15-26, 26tp-0, while Peter Landrebe (NSW) defeated John Hardy (Qld) 26-14, 10-26tp, 26-8 in the Y Knockout (9^th to 16^th place). The Interstate (Eire) Cup produced a win for Victoria, with Queensland as runners-up. Victoria won all their five matches with individual scores from team members being Simon Watkins 10 singles and 5 doubles; Stephen Forster 9 singles 8Tps and 5 doubles; Rod Kirk 5 singles 1Tp; Ken Bald 7 singles 4Tps; Claire Gorton 9 singles 5 doubles; JudyWembridge 9 singles and 4 doubles; Anna Miller 8 singles and 4 doubles; and Trish Devlin 6 singles and 5 doubles. Victorian State Director of Coaching Adrian Masterman-Smith said, "We had two years of losses and things were not looking good for Victoria. The newly appointed coach Lowen Clarke . came into the position with the skills and experience to turn that situation around into a victory . he took on the job intending to bring the best and most powerful new coaching concepts to our team . well, the results speak for themselves." Queensland, 5^th in 2007, under coach Steve Jones, lifted its overall position to runners-up, winning 4 of its 5 matches. Congratulations to the players and all the behind-the-scenes personnel who made the Championships and Eire Cup such a resounding success. Carolyn Ribone, Editor. Photographs: Victoria (left to right) Lowen Clarke (Coach), Simon Watkins, Stephen Forster, Captain, holding The Eire Cup, Tricia Devlin, Judy Wembridge, Claire Gorton. Front Row: Anna Miller Vice Captain, Rodney Kirk, Ken Bald. Taken at Toombul Croquet Club at the conclusion of the final match, Victoria vs New South Wales. Photograph: Simon Watkins. Queensland (left to right) Shane Davis, Les Watson, John Hardy Captain, Steve Jones. Front Row: Willie Silk, Joycelyn Sutton holding runners-up Shield, Margaret Melville Vice-Captain, Helen Philpott. Photograph: Carolyn Ribone South Australia (left to right) Tony Foster-Brown, Gil Schupelius, Miranda Morgan, Wilma Bonner, Dean Paterson Captain/Coach, Brian Dawson Vice-Captain, Charlotte Morgan Vice-Captain, Neil Bonner (absent, Creina Dawson) Photograph: Geof McDonald Tasmania (left to right) Bob Beattie, Sue Beattie, Geoff Kingdom, Elaine Roomes, Mick Wood, Claire Bamford Vice-Captain, Rob McAdam Captain, Pam Hamilton. Photograph: Geof McDonald New South Wales (left to right) Tony Hall, Stephen Richards Captain, Tim Murphy, Chloe Aberly Vice-Captain, Alix Verge, Mike Jenner, Alison Sharpe, Peter Landrebe, Nerida Taylor. Photograph: Geof McDonald Western Australia (left to right) Carl Perrin, Janine Hawker, Sandra Stevenson, Helen Collins, Helen Eagle, Chris McWhirter, Alan Sands, Eric Ayling, Colin Chynoweth non playing Captain/Coach, Kay Chynoweth. Photograph: Geof McDonald Captains with the Eire Cup State Captains Surrounding the Eire Cup - Stephen Richards (NSW), John Hardy (Qld), Rob McAdam (Tas), Dean Paterson (SA), Colin Chynoweth (WA), Stephen Forster (Vic). Photograph: Geof McDonald. Margaret Melville (Qld) in final of the Australian Women's Singles Championships. Photograph: Johanna Lowe. Peter Landrebe (New South Wales), winner of Australian Gold Medal, with ACA Treasurer Tony Hall at the Presentation Dinner, Virginia Palms International. Photograph: Carolyn Ribone

Email:	Last Modified: 16 July, 2008

AUSTRALIAN CHAMPIONSHIPS AND INTERSTATE (EIRE CUP) BRISBANE, 2008

AUSTRALIAN CHAMPIONSHIPS AND INTERSTATE (EIRE CUP)
BRISBANE, 2008