A century of croquet was celebrated at the West End Croquet Club last week.
The club was formed after an inaugural meeting on October 15, 1923 and originally started on lawns leased from the West End Bowling Club before moving to its current location in about 1930.
At the start of a new season, the three Aorangi clubs — Ashbury, Aorangi and West End — all come together to hold a gala day.
They take turns hosting and this year it was West End’s turn, which happened to coincide with the club’s 100-year anniversary.
The festivities are open to clubs from all over the region with many players arriving from areas including Ashburton and Oamaru.
West End Croquet Club president Colleen Woods said it was really just about everyone getting back together after the winter.
‘‘It’s just a fun day. Our club is 100 so we are giving everybody lollies and have the 100 balloon up to make it feel like a party.’’
As many as 80 people turned up to the gala day, which began with a small ceremony.
‘‘We start the season with the running of the hoop, which is where someone heads out, hits the ball through the hoop and everybody claps.’’
The day is spent with members socialising and playing both association croquet and golf croquet.
‘‘We usually only do two rounds but with the turnout today we are doing three.’’
The club is comprised mostly of older people and has about 40 members.
South Canterbury Croquet publicity officer and West End Club coach Carole Graham said the sport was facing the same problems a lot of other codes were.
‘‘People are only interested in playing socially.
‘‘They don’t want all the things that go with being part of the club.’’
Mrs Graham said she began playing croquet as a bit of something to do.
‘‘I hadn’t quite retired yet but I was looking for something to fill in the time so I thought I’d give croquet a go.
‘‘I went to the Citizens Advice Bureau and they gave me the details of the clubs and I got going from there.’’
Mrs Graham has been playing for 10 years and had just recently joined the West End club from Ashbury about a year ago.
Mrs Woods said she was initially brought along by a friend.
‘‘One of my girlfriends went to Keep Fit and the group were holding a day at the croquet club; she asked me to go with her.
‘‘I thought ‘OK, instead of doing the washing I’ll go play’.
‘‘I laughed my head off because I couldn’t hit the ball straight but neither could anyone else. We just had a lot of hilarious fun.
‘‘So I kept coming back and now it’s been 14 years.’’
The club holds association croquet on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday afternoons at 1.30pm and golf croquet on Monday and Thursday mornings at 9.15am, with Wednesday and Saturday afternoons an option for sharing the lawns with association players.
