The Kerikeri Croquet Club recently hosted 10 students from Bay of Islands College as part of a Croquet New Zealand initiative designed to encourage secondary school students to try their hand at the game.
Kerikeri croquet spokesperson Gaye Fletcher said the group featured a number of students who apparently weren't super keen on sport in general. However, they all entered into the spirit of the occasion which ensured the venture had been worthwhile, she said, adding the students all used different grips on the mallet, with each finding their favourite.
The students must have enjoyed the experience because the same 10 returned for another crack three weeks later: "It was great! Their teacher in charge Lynda has every hope of including croquet in their curriculum in the near future and is now keen to set up a croquet green at the college.
"They all plan to return before Christmas to show us how much they have improved and also to have a challenge match against club members. Judging from some of the shots seen at the croquet grounds, they are going to be a force to be reckoned with!"
Fletcher said the local members were looking forward to the students return and on behalf of the club, thank Scott for bringing them north to try out a new sport. A similar experiment was also conducted at the Kaitaia Croquet Club earlier this month.
