Bullen, Reid the main hopes for Kapiti
Two Paraparaumu players will be carrying the district’s hopes in next week’s North Island Croquet Champs, on their home lawns.
Brian Bullen and Pauline Reid are the only Kapiti representatives in the field competing at the Paraparaumu Croquet Club, and the Plimmerton Croquet Club.
Bullen, ranked 80 in the world and 13 in New Zealand, said he usually plays at nationals and not the North Island tournament due to costs.
He said he hoped the lawns give him an edge.
‘‘I hope its an advantage. You get to know your home lawns very well.
‘‘Because of all the rain we’ve had, they’ll probably play a bit slow, which evens out the field a little bit.’’
He said his aim was to win every tournament he played in, but the semifinals was a realistic target.
Reid, with a world ranking of 372, said she was just concentrating on playing well in a highcalibre field.
Levin Croquet Club’s Connell Leahy is competing in the higherhandicap division of the championships at Plimmerton.
The field is headlined by world number five Greg Bryant. Based in Westport, the New Zealand number two has won several national titles.
In all, 21 singles players and 12 doubles pairings from around the country will compete in the championships. Players from both islands are competing.
It is a tier-one tournament, the rung below the national championships in the New Zealand system,
Paraparaumu Croquet Club member John Robertson said he is expecting an exciting tournament.
‘‘This is a top tournament that attracts top players.
‘‘Players from all over New Zealand like coming here and to Waikanae because the lawns are so good.’’
Robertson said he hoped a strong crowd will be in attendance.
‘‘The important thing is there will be a lot of club members not playing who will come and watch ... if you don’t know what’s going on you only need to come and ask them.
‘‘It’s a game for all ages.’’
The tournament is from Wednesday, November 2 to Sunday, November 6, with doubles on the first two days and singles on the last three.
Play starts at 8.30am each day, and could go as late as 7pm depending on light conditions.