From the President

Dear All,

It has been a pleasure playing with the newer members of the Club in the last few weeks. Their progress in mastering the game is impressive. We also have a few new members who are seasoned players, which is good for us all.

Summer Closing Day is on Saturday 29 April. After that, the WCC grounds staff will close the lawns for three weeks for a thorough renovation. We hope the treatment will improve or rid us of the star weed problem. The rainy weather and a staff shortage have helped to let it become rampant as the spraying was not done at the right moment. 

At a meeting with horticulturalist Chris Close last Friday, Brian Black, John S and I heard his ideas for making the northern garden border become both a wind break and an easy-care garden. Chris will write a specification and present it to the club. Chris is also a retired sportsground specialist. He said that the star weed is native to New Zealand and showed us its tiny seed heads visible at present. I can see why it spreads so easily! 

I am looking forward to playing in the winter when the lawns open again. Many days in winter are ideal for croquet - as long as one has plenty of warm clothes on.

Speedy Signs has made a large number of vinyl letters so we can continue to make name discs for new members. Also, an order has gone in to EFL in Granada for 12 items of Kelburn Croquet uniforms for members.

Following the recent Upton family memorial gathering at the club, the family has kindly donated Beverley and Robert’s mallets which will be added to the club’s collection.

On Thursday last, the committee agreed, with the support of our Privacy Officer, that we should have booklets available to members listing our email addresses and phone numbers. This will be useful when arranging games with other members. The information should not be used for any purpose not related to the club.

John and I are stepping down as President and Secretary of the club. I have had my role for two years while John has served five years as Secretary. We have enjoyed working as a team together with the committee.

Caroline Townsend Green, our treasurer, is also stepping down so there will be several new faces on the committee. Caroline has been a prudent steward of the club’s finances since 2012. 

Kind regards

Mary Stevens

Season closing day and prizegiving

Don’t miss out on this event on Saturday 29 April, when we celebrate completion of another busy season and the playing skills of our members.

After morning play, we join for drinks supplied by the club at 12 noon, followed by a shared lunch. Please bring along your special treats.

Then we will have the prizegiving at about 1:15pm. Be sure to be there to see who carries off the silverware! Will David Robinson need a wheelbarrow this year?

Annual General Meeting Saturday 27 May

Remember our AGM is on Saturday 27 May, when we farewell Mary Stevens as President, along with the retirement of some other committee members. The meeting starts at 10 am, with tea and coffee available from 9:30 am. Members will be sent the agenda and supporting papers the week before.

If you have any items you wish to raise, please contact the President or Secretary so that any background information can be assembled.

From the Club Captain 

Competitions

There are still some competitions in progress. Trophies are being returned for the upcoming prizegiving. Thanks to Kathleen for continuing to manage the trophy administration. Congratulations to winners and runners up, and thank you to all those who supported our competitions by competing, managing or refereeing. 

Winter season

We expect to start the winter season by 23 May; weather and council contractors permitting. The work to be done while the lawns are closed includes scarifying, top dressing with sand, with extra sand for the uneven areas, under-sowing with seed, fertilising, and vertidraining.

Start times will be 10.00 am instead of 9.30 am; and there will be half-hour sessions on GC club days. There will be GC non-AHS ladders over the winter, including one for the 12 -14 group. 

Jump shots aren’t permitted when the lawns are soft. We are considering using a rule which Plimmerton use when jump shots aren’t permitted: if a ball goes partway into a hoop, it can’t run the hoop in its next turn but is, instead, moved back a few metres. This helps prevent rabbit runs.  

Our Players’ Meeting will be held during the winter season: date to be confirmed after the AGM.

Congratulations

Jim Strachan is now on a GC handicap of 4.

Ron Rosenberg was the winner of a WCA GC Silver Badge as winner of 9 -16 handicap group.

John Corsham won our Ingram GC Open singles; Jim Brough was runner up. Lesley Meadows won the Ingram Plate; Pam Fuller was runner up. 

Callum McKinnon was the winner of the Third 16 AC invitation – Roger Murfitt Trophy.

For an update on CNZ event results  see link below: 

       https://croquet.org.nz/category/latest-news/

Wellington Croquet Association (WCA) 

The agenda and papers for the WCA's AGM on 10 June were received recently. The agenda items shown below have not yet been discussed by your committee, so it does not yet have a view on any of these items.

• Re-registration as an Incorporated Society – due to legislative requirements.
• Youth Recruitment (14-18 years) – it is suggested that clubs, after gaining agreement from members, commit to a membership drive in spring and early summer with the initial aim of recruiting 6-8 students.  Previously there has been reliance on support from schools and timing issues have made it hard to continue the momentum.
• Scorecard – the Executive recommends the trial of a Scorecard measuring the activity of clubs in various areas e.g., proportion of members to lawns, number of days tournaments are hosted, qualified coaches, number of tournament entries in relation to membership.
• Tournament Trophies – trophy engraving discontinued and replaced by place getter certificates. Trophies to be retained by host clubs and on hand for photographic opportunities. Trophies for discontinued competitions to be sold.
• Nomination form for WCA Executive.

Best wishes

Jane Norman
kmcc.club.captain@gmail.com

Where your fees go - levies

Croquet clubs are required to provide membership information and pay levies to Croquet New Zealand. Levies are also paid to our regional body, the Wellington Croquet Association.

CNZ levies for 2023/24 Season

The CNZ Board approved to increase the CNZ levies in accordance with CPI increases as previously presented to Associations. The levies for the 2023/24 Season are set as follows:

• Full Members:                                 $52
• New to Croquet Members:           $26
• Under 18 Members:                       $17

WCA levies

WCA levies remain at $10 for full members, $5 for new to croquet and $5 for junior.

Our recent news

You can also read our latest news and our Facebook items on the News page of our website.

Finally … 

Once again we have Brian Black to thank for this tidy set of parking bays for the croquet trolleys. You will note that there is as yet no number 3, as Bunnings were all out of number 3s at the time we took this photo.