Croquet masters’ success bodes well
Croquet organisers are already looking for more venues next year as three lawns were not enough to meet the high demand of players at the South Island Croquet Masters last week.
The South Island Croquet Masters, hosted by the Aorangi club, and also played at the Westend and Ashbury clubs, attracted 140 doubles players but only 96 players could compete in the singles at all three clubs at once.
There was a waiting list of at least 30 more singles players, Aorangi Croquet Club golfcroquet captain Kevin McGlinchy said. ‘‘There were not enough lawns to play.’’
He said if there were the same numbers keen to play at next year’s South Island Masters Games, then the Geraldine Croquet Club lawn would be used as well.
He said the weather had been good up until Friday afternoon when the final game was called off in the rain.
Aorangi Croquet Club member Ann Weir said McGlinchy had organised the tournament well and there had been a lot of positive feedback from participants who had come from around the South Island.
She said a couple of players from Te Anau and Wanaka were disappointed they had not been fast enough to get on to the singles list, as it was on a first-register basis, but came to play doubles anyway. ‘‘There was a good atmosphere,’’ Weir said.
The one-off tournament was organised when the South Island Masters Games was cancelled this year, so the Aorangi club stepped up to ensure players didn’t miss out.
The South Island Masters Games will return to Timaru in October 2020.