DESPITE the restrictions on community sport in 2020, Rich River Croquet Club still managed to complete most of its competitions.
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Organised play started on January 2 and was suspended due to COVID-19 restrictions from March to May when play resumed under severe restrictions.
On July 21 NSW borders were closed to Victorian members, and play continued with NSW residents until the borders were re-opened in September.
The Goulburn Valley Croquet Association Golf Croquet Open Singles tournament was held in mid-February, with a total of 32 entrants from 14 clubs.
Rich River’s James Gunn was runner-up in section three, winning six games out of seven and only two hoops behind the winner.
Anne Dodd was unlucky to miss out on a podium finish, finishing a mere two hoops behind the runner-up in section two.
On February 21, we held our "twilight" Kingball competition.
Fifteen members played three games of Kingball, the last few hoops played in the dark, and then enjoyed a sausage sizzle.
Rich River hosted the annual GVCA Association Croquet Singles tournament in late February, with a field of 15 players from 11 clubs.
Ian Grant was runner-up in section two and Russ Smyth won section three.
Our annual social day on March 10 attracted 56 entrants from 13 clubs.
Playing four games each, five players won all four of their games: Ron Wrest (winner), Jan Mierswa (runner-up), Trevor Peters and Anne Dodd and Russell Smyth.
Our AGM was held on July 7 as we welcomed new committee members Alan Holding, Anne Dodd and Dave Maher, and thanked departing members Nannette Tehan, Maree Maher and Ian Grant.
The official opening of the season occurred on August 5 with Rich River chief executive Shane Gloury, president Peter Boek and director Peter McLaughlin joining 13 club members.
Shane, Peter and Peter ran the first hoop, which was won by Shane.
We had four visits from students and teachers from Moama Anglican Grammar and were pleased to see their enthusiasm for the game.
We may have some contenders for teams to compete under our umbrella in the GVCA interschool competition.
The inaugural GVCA-NEDCA Invitational Challenge was held on October 5 with Russ Smyth representing Rich River in division one.
The GVCA team took the honours in a closely fought contest where many of the games went to the maximum hoop score of 7/6.
On October 7, the 2020 GVCA Pennant season finally got underway.
Rich River had two teams in golf croquet pennant.
The Emus finished the season in fifth position, and the Kangas in second.
Defeating Shepparton in the preliminary final, the Kangas went on to win an exciting grand final, beating Echuca Moama six games 70 hoops to six games 64 hoops.
At season’s end the association croquet team finished third.
We held two come and try days in October with the first attracting 26 visitors.
For the second we had cold, blustery winds and were down on numbers.
Melbourne Cup Day was one of the club’s social highlights, with members dressing up with bright colours, hats, fascinators and happy smiles.
Our club championships were run on November 9 and 10, played in three handicap sections.
Section one winner was Ian Grant and runner-up was Russ Smyth.
Dave Maher won section two, with Ruth Mole in second.
Section three winner was Helen Brierley, and runner-up was James Gunn.
On November 17, we held a social day with Deniliquin, Kyabram and Echuca Moama to celebrate the spirit demonstrated by these clubs opening to players who were cut off from their own clubs during border closure.
In all, 32 players competed in three games of doubles, with the result being a dead heat between Trevor Peters of Echuca Moama and Leo Barry of Deniliquin.
It was a long day with the temperature at 34 degrees when The Rich River Perpetual Trophy for Association Croquet was played on November 20 between Mooroopna, Shepparton and Rich River who entered teams of four, each playing two games.
Rich River took first place with Mooroopna in second.
The John Kelly Kingball competition was played in late November with 13 vying for the trophy.
Heather Kelly presented the trophy to the winner Russ Smyth who had a score of two-and-a-half games, making it three years in a row for Russ.
Runner-up was Ruth Mole with one-and-a-half games.
The Vincent Shield was played on December 1 in wet and wild conditions.
Mae and Roy Vincent were on hand to make the presentations to the winning partnership of Ian Grant and Jay Grant.
Runners-up were Russ Smyth and Maree Maher.
For Ian this match was a three-peat. He has won all three years since the competition started.
We had our combined Christmas party and presentation night on December 8 where presentations were made to competition winners throughout the year.
We’re all looking forward to a more normal year in 2021.
Happy hooping everyone.
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