2009 TRANS-TASMAN TEAM
The Australian Selectors wish to announce the Trans-Tasman Team for 2009. The ACA Executive would like to thank the Selectors for their diligence in the selection process. Congratulations to those selected and we wish the team every success.
Men Women
Bruce Fleming Claire Bassett
Stephen Forster Elizabeth Fleming
Mike Jenner Margaret Melville
Peter Landrebe Miranda Morgan
Reserve Reserve
Ken Bald Chloe Aberley
The Management Team is
Captain Stephen Forster
Vice Captain Peter Landrebe
Coach Consultant Steve Jones
Team Manager Steve Jones who will be assisted by Trevor Bassett
In this Spring issue, you will find profiles on the men in the team, with profiles on the women in the Summer edition.
STEPHEN FORSTER
What is your home club?
Belmont Croquet Club (Geelong Croquet Association, Victoria)
How and when did you start to play croquet?
My Mum played up to two days before l was born, so you could say l came into the world with a mallet in my hand. So l was brought up with the game. At the age of 5, Santa gave me a Croquet set. At 10, Mum joined me up with the Lismore (Victoria) Club.
What motivates you to play representative croquet?
To play for your State and Country is just the best feeling you can have. Especially in Sport, it is the pinnacle, playing at the top elite level and still wanting to improve. To tell people that you have just met, that you have played for Australia makes them want to know more about your sport. And don't we all want to tell everyone about this Fantastic game?
How many representative teams have you played in?
Ballarat Regional Champs, Geelong Regional Champs, Victoria 12 times; Australia : 2 MacRobertson Shields, 3 Trans-Tasman's.
What was your most memorable experience in representative croquet?
My debut in the Mac Shield 2003. First day completing Two Triples in the Doubles with Steve Meatheringham against New Zealand . Another two Triples against Stephen Milliner ( Great Britain ) in the Singles.
What factors are important to you in producing your best form on the day?
Focusing on each individual shot to be played. Feeling confident, doing the same routine each day. Staying calm. In the company of positive people.
Can Australia win the Trans-Tasman series and if so how can we do it ?
Yes, Australia can win the Series: focus on each day as it comes. When we've had a successful day, we have to get ready for the next day. Keep the standard of top quality play each day. Enjoy the whole experience.
Do you like playing in NZ conditions?
I don't mind them.
Do you have to make any adjustments to your playing style in NZ conditions?
New Zealand is almost like Victoria . Hot, cold, wet and windy (in one day) so l don't have to make many adjustments weather wise. The courts can be different in pace and grass coverage. Learning to read the courts is a good advantage.
How do you prepare for tournaments ?
I mainly practice roquets. Sometimes my son comes to the club with me and he stands on the side of the court and makes like he is the crowd, clapping, cheering and whistling. He even makes out he is a commentator saying "This is it folks, so far Steve has hit 16 out of 16 so the pressure is really on. Can he get all the way to 20 to make it 100%?" Then he goes silent as I am in my back swing. This helps me focus, as you cannot let the outside uncontrollable factors distract you.
Do you have a personal coach?
I do not have a personal Coach.
What changes would you like to see in the sport?
At this point l cannot think of any.
General comments?
When l told my work mates that l was going to play for Australia in the Trans-Tasman, they were really happy for me. They have never met anyone who has played for Australia before, let alone the Captain of an Australian Team. Most of the comments they give me are "Steve, you need to make the profile of Croquet bigger. Get it in the Newspapers and on the Television. You need a streaker, that will do it." I just laugh and say "Yeah right boys, as if." Always maintain a good practice routine. Keep the standard up of what you are good at and improve the strokes that you are not so good at. I really feel that watching the top players helps you become a better player because you can learn from them. So this is for every player in Australia . Never be afraid to ask a top player for help. We had to learn somehow too.
I'm looking forward to winning the Trans-Tasman for all the players in Australia.
PETER LANDREBE
What is your home club?
Cammeray Club, North Sydney
How and when did you start to play croquet?
I started playing croquet in 1989 , Timaru Club - Timaru New Zealand . I was playing quite a few sports at the time and was having a struggle with injuries at Rugby ( knees and a few head knocks ) and took a year off from playing., Besides returning to golf I looked for something new and challenging, which croquet provided. Timaru is a city of approx 30,000 people but had four clubs all with four lawns , so I was always aware of croquet as a sport.
What motivates you to play representative croquet ?
I think it is getting more and more challenges from the sport. I'm always looking for that new high and adrenaline that I get from achieving or playing well, therefore putting oneself up for selection, to be recognised and given the opportunity to test yourself against the best, either in an individual tournament or a team environment. I enjoy the history of past players and like to be part of what has been achieved prior and in the future of very prestigious events. One of the big motivators over the years has been the good feelings I know my family and close friends have, because I have dedicated myself to the sport.
How many representative teams have you played in?
This will be my debut playing in an Australian Representative team., I have played in nine consecutive interstates for NSW , and if selected, playing in my tenth in Sydney 2009 will be very special for me,
What is your most memorable experience in representative croquet?
Without doubt , winning the interstate Eire Cup 2007 , the first victory for NSW in 29 years,
What factors are important to you in producing your best form on the day?
Many factors, Practice needs to have been going well, plus the time and the right lawn conditions. If I can have clearly in my mind that I have done the work or put the correct amount and right practice in, then it goes a long way in me succeeding. I factor in my planning of tournaments to play in followed by rest in between, by learning a lot from past tournaments and results, then accurately and honestly appraising my own commitment to each tournament's results. I need to be hungry and not to slip into the going-through-the-motions attitude that sometimes slips in , especially after a run of success. Hours of sleep and where I sleep are very important. Over-analysing things out of my control can affect my day, which means I sometimes need to avoid players or conversations that stay with me too long. Getting up early enough to properly prepare for the day, not have that rushed feelings, having lawn practice time before a day's play, be it 15 minutes to 30 minutes is a good thing for me, but knowing it is not always possible and being able to deal with this accordingly. Also, food for the day and week needs to be suitable.
Can Australia win the Trans-Tasman and if so, how can we do it?
Yes we can win the Trans-Tasman. We can do it by all players contributing - at their best or close to their best form. Belief and trust in your own game and your team mates' games are a must.
Do you like playing in NZ Conditions?
Generally I like NZ conditions, growing up there makes playing in cool or windy conditions not as daunting as some players find it, the heat affects my play more than cold, I like the grass and speed on most NZ courts,
Do you have to make any adjustment to your playing style in NZ conditions?
Not too much, I have very little back swing so the wind does not affect me to a great extent. Firmer in-the-ground hoops in NZ can take a bit of adjusting to, and I need to have plenty of lawn time to adjust what is necessary to be comfortable and confident with hoop running. I need not to be stressing or edgy about hoops as then I slip into a more conservative approach to the game.
How do you prepare for tournaments?
Goal setting is always in my planning., I practice as much as I can for a two or three week period before playing a tournament and I like one very good or long day four or five days out from the first competition day, coupled with regular practice months before- hand in which I practice and explore new and any changes in my game that is needed,
Work can always play havoc with my scheduling and attempt to have cope strategies and back up plans if my practice gets interrupted. I walk a lot and am mindful to walk more and increase the amount a month out of competition. My eating habits have improved a lot over the last year and are more careful on what and how much. I start hydrating about a week before competition,
Do you have a personal coach?
No, I watch a lot of top players and copy and introduce a lot of what I think will work for myself, I talk croquet a lot with close croquet friends and that helps.
What changes would you like to see in the sport?
As far as rules changes, I would like none. I am very happy with how the game is played now. Most improvements in croquet deal with lawn conditions.
BRUCE FLEMING
What is your home club?
Windsor Croquet Club in Brisbane
How and when did you start to play croquet?
I started to play in 1982 when my wife expressed a desire to play. It seemed like a good sport we could both play and enjoy.
What motivates you to play representative croquet?
I relish the competitive environment and representative croquet adds a little extra spice and prestige to the competition and the sport. I think without National and State Team events the sport would lose a lot of its significance and appeal.
How many representative teams have you played in?
I have played in thirteen Queensland Teams and nine Australian Teams. I have also played in a Rest of Australia team verses South Australia in the late eighties when South Australia would have been a match for most international teams. I can't remember who won but I have a suspicion it was SA. Another team I have played in was the Rest of the World verses North Carolina at Pinehurst. The Rest of the World was an awesome team with almost all team members being in the world's top ten and they definitely won.
What was your most memorable experience in representative croquet?
Being captain of the Mac teams for Christchurch , NZ and West Palm Beach , Florida . They were great venues to play at and great teams to be the captain of.
What factors are important to you in producing your best form on the day?
Having sufficient lead up preparation and a little prior practice at the venue. It helps a lot if the team is well lead and supported and everyone is ready to play. I also like to get some practice during the event and I like to focus on shooting to keep my swing in good shape which helps all other stroke production.
Can Australia win the Trans-Tasman series and if so how can we do it?
Of course we can win and we will do it by preparing properly and ensuring every team member is valued and supported.
Do you like playing in NZ conditions?
New Zealand usually provides very good court facilities for the Trans-Tasman and often spectacularly varied weather conditions. It is often a challenge and I do enjoy it, probably more so, now that they are using Dawson balls.
Do you have to make any adjustments to your playing style in NZ conditions?
I will probably come down the mallet a bit if it gets very windy. Probably the one change I have made over the years based on NZ experience is to play with a slightly heavier mallet.
How do you prepare for tournaments?
I usually practice hard on all aspects of the game ranging from specific drill work to openings, leaves and peeling finishes. Closer to the tournament I concentrate on shooting and error eradication.
Do you have a personal coach?
My wife Lizzie and I practice together and we act as personal coaches for each other. I probably get the better service as Lizzie is a gifted coach and psychologist.
What changes would you like to see in the sport?
Number one on my wish list would be to have a competitive environment which provided a large number of quality open tournaments that were well supported by Australian players, equivalent to the CA tournament programme. Another wish would be to have an annual event in Australia that attracted the world's best players. This could be the Australian Open or another invitational style of event similar to the Sonoma Cutrer or The Resort events that were played in the USA .
General comments?
I would like to see the sport continue to progress down a path of continuous improvement and professionalism in its administration.
MIKE JENNER
What is your home club?
I am an At Large Member (ALM) with Croquet New South Wales (CNSW) and one of three members of the Prairie Lights Croquet Club of Manhattan, Illinois, a suburb about 50 miles South West of Chicago, near Joliet (of Blues Brothers fame).
How and when did you start to play croquet?
The middle school I went to in England had a small croquet lawn abutting the headmaster's house. I seemed to get the whole angles and weights thing better than my fellow classmates, but probably only played five times total in seven years at the school. On graduation from the University of Bath in 1987, I bought a house in Kingston -upon- Thames, a suburb of London , knowing no one in the area. I was interested in making new friends so when I saw there was a local croquet club, I joined up and became a social member of Surbiton Croquet Club.
I moved to the States in 1991 to go to business school in Boston . I was completely unaware croquet existed in the US until I was reading the "What to do this weekend" section of the Chicago Tribune in 1998. The Evanston Historical Society (a suburb of Chicago ) was having a croquet event that weekend. I persuaded Maurya, my wife, to play doubles with me and off we went. There was a guy there collecting names of folks who wanted to play after the weekend and I signed up. I played my first official tournament, the Houston Invitational, in November 2000 and got hooked. I played 17 tournaments across North America in 2001 and lowered my handicap from 7 to -0.5 in twelve months. And now I'm here!
What motivates you to play representative croquet?
The sport of Croquet. Gary Fox of the ACA specifically is responsible for me being able to live in Australia . Gary sponsored my visa application for residency and I owe him, the ACA, and the sport a great deal for the life I lead today. The least I can do to repay that debt is to represent my adopted country to the very best of my ability.
How many representative teams have you played in?
I was picked to play in the Solomon Cup for the US against England in 2004 but our son was scheduled to be (and indeed was!) born at the time of the event. I played under the US flag at the World Championships in Cheltenham in August 2005.
What was your most memorable experience in representative croquet?
How gobsmacked I was to get a call from Trevor to tell me I had been picked to play in this Trans-Tasman team!
What factors are important to you in producing your best form on the day?
I have a congenital hip complaint, so for me the keys are a good night's sleep on a hard mattress and a lap-pool to swim in so I can stretch the hip out after a day's play.
Can Australia win the Trans-Tasman series and if so how can we do it?
For sure we can win. I think our best chance is for us to strive to be the tightest, most united group that has ever represented Australia and for each and every one of us to have the back of each and every other one of us so we feel totally supported irrespective of what gets thrown at us from outside.
Do you like playing in NZ conditions?
I'll let you know in the middle of February next year!
Do you have to make any adjustments to your playing style in NZ conditions?
I'll let you know in the middle of February next year!
How do you prepare for tournaments?
Historically, in a very unsystematic way, so proper preparation is a new thing for me. Everything I am doing in croquet between now and February is with the aim of playing the very best croquet of which I am capable for the eight days in Palmerston North next February.
Do you have a personal coach?
I don't know if I could call him my personal coach, but I've learned more from Pete Landrebe about croquet than everyone else I've ever interacted with put together. I have nothing but the greatest respect for his knowledge of the game, his openness to share, his intelligence and his all-round-good-guy-ness. He's a total stud.
What changes would you like to see in the sport?
I think croquet works so well in the UK . I know we have distance challenges here in Australia but the three things I would really like to see us move towards are:
availability of more handicap tournaments; abolishing the ACA-mandated hoop width for tournaments and allowing tournament organisers to decide on and publish the hoop clearances to fit the nature of their tournament and their ground conditions (tightest for 8s and nationals, wider for silver, bronze etc); utilising tournament players as referees rather than having well-intentioned, but less qualified volunteers in the role.
General comments?
Thanks for doing this!