From the President

Dear All,

The committee met last night and worked through a full agenda. We have a committee with a breadth of experience and talents and it is a pleasure to work together for the good of the club.

There was plenty to discuss, including the heavy infestation of starweed on the lawns and the uneven surface on lawn one. Discussion included the possibility of the club funding some levelling off of lawn one and investigating other measures to control the starweed. There are also plans afoot to make the flower border less labour intensive.

With approval from the committee, John Stevens purchased a leaf blower/vacuum to use when the lawns are littered with pohutukawa leaves and Pádraig will purchase a black and white printer for the club, useful for tournament results and printing notices for the noticeboard. We also agreed that I may purchase some more white vinyl letters which allow us to reuse and rename the blue name discs used for draws on club days. I have enjoyed doing this little task at home for the last seven years but my hand is getting too shaky and I need someone else to do it now. Will anyone with a steady hand be willing to take it over from me?

John Corsham presented a paper on developing a strategic plan for the club so that we have agreed goals and aims to aspire to. Next meeting in March the committee wants to be ready to find consensus on our most important activities and how to improve our performance.

All members are asked to make a special effort to make visitors, potential members and new members feel welcome. Please do not leave it to anyone else! We are all hosts. A smile and a greeting make all the difference when you are in a foreign environment and the newest people don’t know you may feel quite new yourself.

It is recommended that you buy a cap, a white polo shirt, short or long sleeved with the club logo on it and also a name badge. These can be purchased through the club (see Mary S for the clothing and Lesley for the name badge). Most new players like to play for a year or so before thinking of buying a mallet for themselves.

Advantage croquet is a new way of giving new players extra turns. It is a much easier system and we will try in on a Saturday morning soon.

A first aid course will be offered to members soon.

If you notice that any kitchen supplies are needed, please note it on the small whiteboard by the fridge for Pam, who takes care of the restocking.

Finally, Kelburn Croquet were ably represented at the Women’s World AC Tournament in January by four of our players. Congratulations to you all and to Pádraig who did very well in the Arthur Ross tournament - another Kelburn AC player! There seems to be a renaissance of Association Croquet going on at Kelburn.

Kind regards

Mary Stevens

Gathering at the club for Robert and Beverley Upton

There will be a few long-term members in the club who will remember Robert Upton and his wife Beverley. Their son Stephen has been in touch to say his two older brothers David and Andrew, who now live overseas, are visiting New Zealand and the four brothers will be in Wellington on Sunday 26 February to intern Robert’s ashes with Beverley, who died over six years ago.  Robert died  two years ago but because of Covid the brothers were not able to get together for a commemoration.

Stephen is arranging a morning tea at the Club Rooms at 10.30 am for any friends and club members who may like to be there to share a story or two of Robert. 

If you would like to attend, please could you let me know for catering purposes. Email mary@egley.net or phone 04 385-0603 before Friday 17 February. I am meeting with the caterer that day and would like to give her an approximate number for morning tea.

Mary Egley

From the Club Captain 

Club competitions

• On Wellington Anniversary Day 14 members played non-AHS GC singles. Freddy won the pool B with Caroline runner-up, and Ron and Barry were joint winners of pool A.

Coming up 

• Twilight GC Aggregate doubles will be held on 14th and 15th February.  I will manage the first day and John Corsham the second day.  Mary Stevens will be ordering pizzas on the second day.
• GC handicap doubles, managed by John Corsham, will be held on 25th February.

Croquet New Zealand/World Croquet Federation

• The GC World U21 is being held from 8 -12 February, in the Bay of Plenty, with Robbie Spooner, Jessica and Nathan Bullen from the Wellington area. 

Membership

• Pat Scott's application for membership has just been approved, while Margaret Morrell, Shirley White and Anwer Rahi have signed up for the introductory offer. Thanks to those who assisted with the Have a Go days and particularly Lesley who also did promotional work. Karen Watson and three of her friends signed up for the introductory offer before Christmas but have not been able to come along very often. 

Congratulations 

• This weekend Ron Rosenberg is representing Kelburn in the WCA GC Don Reyland handicap singles competition. Pádraig O’Connor represented Kelburn at the WCA AC Arthur Ross Memorial handicap singles and came second to Matthew Spooner who will represent the Wellington Association at the national final.
• Colette MacKenzie is now on a GC handicap of 12, and John Corsham on 4. We now have seven members on a GC handicap of 4.  Which of these will be the first to join Jim Brough on 3?
• Alison Robinson, Marion McInnes, Baubre Murray and Janet Boutel competed in the 3rd AC Women’s World Championship. Alison and Marion reached the top 16, with Alison going on to finish 6th, losing to Miranda Chapman. Baubre competed in the Plate and Janet was a referee for the knock-out stage.

Useful information

• See link below for Jenny Clarke’s tips on what to do. Jenny is a previous AC Women’s World Champion, and runner-up in a GC Women’s World Championship.

https://www.sporty.co.nz/asset/downloadasset?id=5a53105b-6e01-4ae6-b33d-251802527979

• Link to other information relating to playing croquet

https://www.kelburncroquet.nz/kelburn-members-1/links-to-related-information-1

Jane Norman
kmcc.club.captain@gmail.com

Name badges being ordered now

Name badges are very helpful for new members and when you are helping visitors at a corporate event or similar function. There is a small charge for name badges, which are ordered in bulk from an Auckland company to spread the added delivery cost. You can choose either a pin fixing ($18) or a magnet fixing ($20). 

Order by 28 February by emailing Lesley at Kelburnmcc@gmail.com, specifying which type of badge you want.

Pay by direct credit to the club account, putting the word “badge" in the payment details. Kelburn Municipal Croquet Club bank account: 03-0518-0184916-00

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