The 2025 Association Croquet Bronze Medal was played over the three days 28 – 30 November at the New Town Croquet Club. In mostly fine conditions and on slick and true greens, the competition was hard fought with some games going beyond five hours, testing the endurance of some players. The winner was not known until right at the end of the final match and eventually it was Noel Davies from the Eastern Shore Club who came out on top and being undefeated. Ian Bassett from New Town was runner up. As the winner, Noel will represent Tasmania at the AC Gold Medal playoff to be held in Perth, Western Australia in April 2026.

Congratulations Noel and good luck in the national final.

Winner Noel Davies (left) with Ian Smith (Tournament Manager) and runner up Ian Bassett (right)

The 2025 Spring Golf Croquet Pennant season has just concluded. The Eastern Shore Division 2 team had an outstanding season and came out on top. Indeed, under the astute captaincy of Greg Jones, the team won all its matches and was simply a class above the opposition. The team, pictured below, comprised Greg Jones, Elaine Anderson, David Higgs, Annabelle Geddes, Rose Jones and Thea Arthur (absent).

Well done and congratulations.

The AC Gold Medal was held at the Sandy Bay Croquet Club over the three days 17 – 19 October 2025. The greens had recently been “refurbished” and were somewhat slow but ran truly. The weather however was mostly unpleasant with generally blustery conditions, bordering on horrendous on the Sunday.

As a result of the conditions, scoring was difficult. Nonetheless, it was an even and hard-fought competition with the winner being Graham Keating from Sandy Bay with four wins, two losses (plus 15 net hoops). Graham was particularly delighted at his victory and said at the presentation that “he did not think he would win an event of this nature”. Well done and congratulations Graham. The runner up was Noel Davies from the Eastern Shore Club with 4 wins, 2 losses (plus 8 net hoops).

Below is Graham being presented with his Gold Medal by Tournament Manager (and participant) Jane Hyland.

The AC Men’s Medal was held at the Eastern Shore Croquet Club over the three days 19 – 21 September 2025. In very trying and challenging conditions, the event was won by the old master himself Ian Bassett from the New Town Club. It was a keenly contested and close event and the winner was not known until the last few minutes of the final game.

Ian needed all his considerable guile and knowledge to come out on top, remaining undefeated. Runner up was John Lee-Archer from Devonport. Congratulations to both players.

A big thank you to those members who provided the wonderful food and hospitality and to the many helpers for making this event possible.

The winner Ian Bassett, presented with his Medal by Pam Hamilton

Seniors Week is coming

Seniors Week is a celebration for older Tasmanians and recognises them for the contributions they make to communities. It’s a week of events for older people, all over Tasmania and is being conducted this year between 13 – 19 October 2025.

The Eastern Shore Croquet Club is again participating in Seniors Week and the Club will be available on Monday, October 13 between 1.00pm and 3.00pm for older people who would like to try croquet, so come along and have a go. Club members will be available to provide general advice and tuition and the session will be wrapped up with an afternoon tea.

The AC Classic was held from the 22 – 24 August at the New Town Croquet Club. In mainly fine, yet at times chilly conditions, some very competitive croquet was played. Playing in the best of three game format with the loser eliminated, the final come down to our very own John Hutchison and John-Lee Archer from the Devonport club.

It was a closely fought and entertaining match and a third game was required. That game ebbed and flowed and could have gone either way but it was eventually won 16 -14 by John Lee-Archer and congratulations go out to him on his well-deserved victory. Another very meritorious runner up finish for our John.

Well done to all competitors for a good-spirited competition and a big thank you to the New Town Club for providing excellent lawns and marvellous hospitality.

Winner John Lee-Archer (left) and runner-up John Hutchison (right) with Ian Bassett at the Presentation

A Truly Entertaining Competition

The AC Hi-Lo Doubles again proved to be an extremely successful event. A total of twelve teams battled it out over the past three days (8 – 10 August) at the New Town Croquet Club in pleasant but somewhat cool conditions. The event was conducted in an alternate shot format in two blocks with the winner of each block going through to play the Final. Whilst the winner of Block B (Jane Hyland and Liz Madden from the Sandy Bay Club) became quite clear early in the final qualifying match, the winner of Block A was a fiercely contested affair with as many of four teams in contention within half an hour of the finish of the final qualifying match. In the end though, it was Eastern Shore Club combination of John Hutchison and Laurie Bourke, courtesy of a magnificent break of nine hoops, who came out on top.

The Final was an entertaining and high standard match with the result in the balance right through until the final few minutes. After an absorbing battle, it was John and Laurie who outlasted Jane and Liz with a final score of 14 -11. Congratulations to the winners on a wonderful performance. The victory completed a personal hat-trick of victories for John Hutchison, all with different partners. Word has it that John’s phone has been ringing non-stop since the finish with players wishing to be his partner next year.

The event was not only an outstanding success overall but it unearthed some newer players to the AC format who displayed some real ability and skill and are likely to develop into fine AC players.

All players deserve great credit for their participation and a very big thank you goes out to all the helpers across the three days and to the New Town Club for again hosting this popular competition.   

Here are some snaps of the teams and spectators.

The winners John Hutchison (left) with Laurie Bourke (centre), being presented with their trophies by Tournament Manager Ian Smith.

The Association Croquet Gold, Silver and Bronze Medals were held between the 18 October to 20 October 2024.

After a very wet first day at all venues, the last two days were played in lovely Tasmanian spring weather. The standard of play was very good and it was pleasing to see a few newer AC players having their first competition in the Bronze Medal.

The winners and runners up were;

Gold Medal: Held at Sandy Bay Croquet Club

Winner – Ian Bassett (New Town) Six wins, no losses (plus 71 net hoops)

Runner Up – John Hutchison (Eastern Shore) Five wins, one loss (plus 42 net hoops)

Silver Medal: Held at Kingston Croquet Club

Winner – Ben King (Sandy Bay) Five wins, one loss (plus 53 net hoops)

Runner Up – Geoff Tomlin (Eastern Shore) Four wins, two losses (plus 32 net hoops)

Bronze Medal: Held at Eastern Shore Croquet Club

Winner – Clair Tomlin (Eastern Shore) Four wins, one loss (plus 33 net hoops)

Runner Up – Rod Chisholm (Sandy Bay) Four wins, one loss (plus 16 net hoops)