It began life in 1980 and has enjoyed various homes over the decades but Blue Mountains Croquet Club is looking forward to continuing a new tradition this year.
The club instigated a new competition last year – the Bill Haines Trophy – to coincide with the opening of its first ever independent croquet lawn next to the cricket oval at Leura’s Peter Carroll Field.
Until then club members had shared the oval after moving to Leura in 2015 following years at different venues in the Mountains.
Named after a club stalwart, the Bill Haines Trophy is a singles handicap competition for members. Mr Haines joined the club in 2005 when he came dressed in his whites, mallet in hand, ready to play. It was an indication of his approach to the game and the commitment he would give.
Bill continued to play over many years up until his death on August 13, 2016.
Club officials said Bill was a great supporter of the club and of croquet in NSW (the latter as an accredited referee) and held various positions on the executive – including president, treasurer, referee and captain. He was a mentor and fierce competitor and played in many inter-club competitions with great success. It seemed appropriate to the club that the new competition should remember him.
Play for the inaugural Bill Haines Trophy competition started in October 2017. Ian Strudwick won the grand final match and was presented with the trophy in December.
Ian is also CEO of the Blue Mountains Cricket Association and has provided enormous help to the croquet club in facilitating the joint use of the Peter Carroll Field facilities.
The club intends to repeat the competition on an annual basis, each spring, and to hold a doubles club competition, each autumn, with the first doubles competition to be held in April 2018.