Strong performances at State competitions for newly affiliated Katanning Croquet Club

The Katanning Croquet Club has burst on to the competitive scene with a couple of impressive performances across the State after becoming an affiliated club for the first time earlier this year. Based at the classic greens alongside Thompson Park Tennis Club, the club has been running all year round for decades to provide enthusiastic locals the opportunity to come together during the week and play croquet. Less than a year after celebrating its 100th anniversary, the club was officially incorporated with Croquetwest — allowing club members to represent Katanning Statewide in competitions for the first time. Club members Des Boxall and Greg Jessop have flown the flag for the club with some strong performances, including a one-two finish in the East Fremantle C-grade Singles Championship and were runners-up in the Nedlands B-grade singles country week competition. The club has also made appearances in the doubles at the C-grade championships in Bunbury and finished runner-up in the open section in York, where they beat State champion pair Brett and Janine McHardy from Forrest Park in the round robin phase of the competition. The club also made a social appearance alongside Beverley in Narrogin last weekend. Katanning Croquet Club president Trevor Kowald said he was thrilled to see the growth of the club competitively and socially considering where they were a couple of years ago. “We started 100 years ago and our club had a big membership base back then...but then the sport died out a bit where five years ago we had only three or four members,” he said. “Now our club has just grown and we are up to around 25 members and have quite a lot of interest around the community. “We officially play for two days of the week, but some of us play five days a week. “Wherever there is croquet competitions in the State, we will go.” The club will send about half a dozen members to the GC All Stars Moorabinda competition on October 23-24. It is also looking at upgrading the clubrooms to accommodate the recent growth of the club. Boxall said the club encouraged new players to come down and participate where they can get guidance from members on how to play croquet.