The first day, the teams event began on a cool Saturday morning with over 50 players who came from Queensland as far away as Rockhampton in the north and Interstate, Canberra and New South Wales- Toronto Club.  With 9 teams and 9 rounds to be played on Day 1 it was an extremely busy day with everyone either playing or busy with refereeing duties. Morning and afternoon tea were provided with hot food and delicious homemade savouries, sausage rolls and party pies, slices, short bread, cakes and fresh fruit , provided by the Southport players .  Lunch was BYO but because it was really cold weather, soup and bread was available.

Play continued till 4.00PM on Saturday then some of those players staying overnight plus Southport players went to the Queen’s Arms for dinner.

WIth an early start Sunday morning and three rounds to play the Teams Event was finished by Morning tea time. Marion, came as representative of our sponsor of many years, Michael Hare Vision EYEWARE Plus. She presented the many Raffle Prizes, the Lucky Door Prize and, the winners of the teams event.  Marion told us of some of the extra work that that the optometrists do by taking glasses and helping the people in various countries in the Pacific every year.

She then presented the winners of the teams with prize money and badges. The winners were:

First _ Moreton Bay Green,  Second - Caloundra and Third - Southport White.

After Morning Tea the Doubles event began.  This year there were 18 teams representing all the Clubs attending the Southport event. This meant 2 Blocks of 9 teams in each block using 6 courts (2 courts on each of the Croquet Courts). It was another full day. Play continued Monday morning with 5 more rounds to complete the blocks.  After lunch the finals were held.  There was a cross over draw between the first and second of each block. In the Semi Final was Cheryl and Steve Kele (Rockhampton) winner Block S played Lee Wentworth (Southport) and Peter Wood (Canberra) 2^nd in Block T and  Barbara Northcott and Kathie  grant(Southport ) winner Block T played Howard Williams and Ian Carr (Caloundra)Runners up in  Block S. It was followed by the final between the two winners Barbara and Kathie against Peter and Lee. This was a very close game resulting in drawn scores at the end and decided on a countback with Peter and Lee the Winners and Barbara and Kathie Runners Up.  A game between the other two place getters to decide a third place which was awarded to Cheryl and Steve, the winners of this game.  Nicole from Crown Currency, one of the original sponsors of this event presented the winner, runner up and third place with prize money and badges.

1st place Lee Wentworth and PeterWood  

Runner Up  Barbara Northcott and Kathie Grant                                        

3rd Place  Steve and Cheryl Kele

The whole event was very successful and made so by, firstly players entering the event and, secondly our volunteers who gave their time. In addition our members gave many donations of multiple raffle prizes; a wide variety of savouries and sweet things  for morning and afternoon tea; made soup; helped in many ways in the kitchen; helped in the office with entering scores etc; in preparation of the lawns; setting up on Friday afternoon – putting up the marquees; marking the lawns  and then in the morning the setting up of courts, tables chairs and each afternoon  putting  everything away and cleaning up.

There are so many to thank but in particular we really appreciated the two marquees we borrowed from our local MP Angie Bell and Matthew for picking them up and returning them; Charlie and his team  for the grounds and Donna for organising the raffle; Rob for the equipment; all the people who helped in the kitchen, especially Lyn not a member of the club but a good friend who organised  the kitchen daily, assisted by others -  Dennis Backer, Lois Rolls  and Murray Trainer - and all the Gateball players our club members and visitors. Above all we thank our Gateball Captain, Barbara Northcott who has overseen all the pre-preparation, setting up the courts daily with the help of others as well as being Tournament Referee. Finally, I thank my co manager, the tireless Julia Tai.

The success of the tournament can only happen with the cooperation of all.

Thank you everyone.

Julia Vickers