Overcast skies, drizzly showers and even a very uneven and bumpy green could not spoil a great day of croquet at the Bay Audio Handicapped Singles tournament held in Kaitaia on the last Friday in November.
Hosted by the Kaitaia Croquet Club, the annual event was played over six small lawns with players split into three groups of eight, each group identified by a colour, and everyone playing seven games.
A report from the event noted earning points for each hoop scored ensured that the competition was tight, while the handicaps applied meant games were even and fiercely fought. A full field of 24 participated made up of players representing clubs from all over the province and the end results were in doubt right up to the finish.
The top placegetters in each group were, Red section, seniors: Drago Yelavich (Kaitaia) 1, Peter Hartnall (Doubtless Bay) 2; juniors: Janet Sole (D Bay) 1, Kaye Bridge (D-Bay) 2. Blue section, seniors: Evelyn Christensen (Maungakaramea) 1, Godfrey Rogers (Waipu) 2; juniors: June Tafa (Waipu) 1, Margaret Kernot (Kta) 2. Yellow section, seniors: Brian Stitt (D Bay) 1, Gillian Bond (D Bay) 2; juniors: Clyde Wood (Kta) 1, Neville Miller (Kerikeri) 2.
The trophies for the overall points winners went to Brian Stitt from Doubtless Bay in the senior section, and Kerikeri's Margaret Lindsay in the junior section.
