CROQUET - Club history of 'strong women'

THE thwack of mallet on ball is the only sound that disturbs the idyllic surroundings at the Whangarei Croquet club on Saturday morning.
The club's members play their sport on four of the club's six lawns nestled in the avenues, while Kathleen Leybourn instructs a group of prospective new members in the art of the game on a fifth lawn.
It's fitting that Leybourn is passing on her knowledge. A life member, she has been playing at the club since the early 1980's and is also the club historian.
The club celebrated 100 years earlier this year. Much of its early history would have been lost if not for the efforts of Leyburn, who compiled a history of the club for their 90th anniversary.
"I started it because I am interested in old history and as far as the club's past went, I didn't want it all to get lost, which would have been a real shame," she said.
Much of the research was done at the Whangarei Museum, rescuing data from fading and decaying minute books, but she also received other information as word spread about her self-appointed task.
What she came out with was an 88-page document that has some fascinating reading for club members, but there are always gaps and Leybourn has been badgered to add to the document for a centennial update.
"Unfortunately the minutes didn't always mention the things we wanted to know about, like when our clubhouse was built for example, that still remains a bit of a mystery," she said.
The club was started by women as an offshoot of the bowling club. They are very much in evidence at the club, both on the lawns and on the honours board in the clubhouse.
Leybourne herself was a club B grade champion before progressing to the A Grade and winning that as well.
"Nowadays I don't play too much, but I enjoy coaching, so if you know anybody that wants to learn, just let me know," she smiles.
Her love of the game and the companionship she's found at the club make her something of a croquet missionary and, although there are just over 30 members, they are always looking for more. "It's a very challenging game, you can be as competitive as you want to be or you can just enjoy a game and the company."
The increasing popularity of "golf" croquet - a new, quicker form of the game - has caused a bit of ruckus in the normally sedate sport.
"It's something similar to when they started one-day cricket - some of the members won't have a bar of it ... but some of our ladies who are still working really enjoy it, they can come and play two or three matches in the morning and then head off to work in the afternoon," she said
The club historian said some people come for the sport while others come more for the company and it has probably always been that way since a group of "strong" women started the club up over 100 years ago.