World croquet championship players welcomed

Hastings mayor Sandra Hazlehurst says the co-hosting of the Women’s Golf Croquet World Championship in Hastings next week is a testament to the quality of the local facilities and a great opportunity to showcase what the region has to offer.

This is the sixth Women’s World Golf Croquet Championship, which is being hosted this year by Croquet Hawke’s Bay and held between the Heretaunga and Marewa Croquet Clubs.

Running from February 2 to 9 it will feature 56 competitors from New Zealand, Egypt, Australia, Ireland, England, Scotland, Spain and the United States.

Tournament publicist Colleen Stephens says it’s not the first time the Heretaunga and Marewa Croquet Clubs have hosted a significant professional competition.

“We have held the New Zealand championships and other international events here before – the venues are very sought after as they are close together so both clubs’ lawns can be used.”

She says the organising committee has been preparing for the event over the last year, and is looking forward to the action both on and off the lawns.

Among the competitors will be Hawke’s Bay locals Sonya Sedgwick and Helen Reeves.

Sonya has played association croquet for 36 years, in 1994 winning the New Zealand Women’s AC Championship, and she has represented New Zealand in the trans-Tasman test.

Helen discovered golf croquet nine years ago and enjoys travelling to tournaments as well as fitting in playing whenever time allows.

Just returned from the NZ Golf Croquet champs in Nelson, Helen came runner up to the NZ Women’s champion, 16-year-old Eleanor Ross, in one of the events.

Mrs Hazlehurst, along with Napier mayor Bill Dalton and Tukituki National MP Lawrence Yule, will welcome the international visitors at the tournament’s opening ceremony at the Heretaunga Croquet Club in Havelock North on Friday, February 1.

She says it’s an exciting opportunity to host all the competitors and their supporters in Hastings and Hawke’s Bay.

“Hastings District Council is proud to support this fantastic event and I wish all the players the best of luck.

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“Both Heretaunga and Marewa Croquet Clubs will be great hosts for the tournament and I know we will see some great matches played here during the week.”

She encouraged those taking part to explore the region and all it had to offer in any downtime they had between competing.

Mrs Stephens thanked the generous sponsors who supported the event that will wrap up with a final dinner on February 9 at the Cheval Room at the Hastings racecourse.

Over the course of the event spectators are welcome to attend and watch at no charge.

ENDS

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