Photo Archives - Annual Croquet and BBQ event
One of our most enjoyable social events started in 2014, is our Annual Croquet and BBQ event. It is held at the beautiful Sandringham Croquet Club on the foreshore, near the Sandringham Club. The Croquet is fun but the real point of the event is the BBQ Dinner with wonderful desserts. We’ve been lucky with the weather most years. It’s an event not to be missed.
The beginning – 2014
2026 Annual Croquet Event and Dinner
The annual Beaumaris Probus croquet tournament and spit roast was held on Friday 13 March at the Sandringham Croquet Club.
About 40 Probus members and partners attended with 24 participating in the knockout pairs golf croquet tournament. Greg Every, John Green, Malcolm Sawle and Roy Seager assisted me signing in participants and running the tournament, while Geoff Bransbury did a magnificent job in arriving early to prepare the spit roast, helped by Paul Crompton in serving the meat. Merry Bransbury produced some wonderful roast potatoes, which were served with sour cream along with three appetising salads. Delicious desserts followed, served with an ample quantity of thickened cream.
David Hone, Malcolm Sawle, Derek Skues (presenting the trophy) and Tony Phillips My wife, Deb, set up the tables with matching table clothes and napkins and served biscuits and cheese to accompany pre-dinner drinks. Following the evening entertainment, she rallied others to clean up and wash the many croquet club glasses. This year we had a first with three players making up the winning partnership.
Malcolm Sawle and David Hone won their first two rounds, however, as David was recovering from a broken hip repair he had to withdraw so Malcolm called on Tony Phillips as a replacement. I presented the trophy to them on the basis that they equally share it until next year.
Everyone appeared to enjoy the day with many sitting around the new external tables, having drinks while overlooking the three Croquet courts and watching the closely fought matches.
It was a fine afternoon and evening, which made the event even more enjoyable. I thank everyone who attended, especially Geoff Bransbury, those who assisted in cleaning up after the event, leaving the venue as we found it, and the three members who provided instruction and refereed the matches
Derek Skues Functions Coordinator 7
2025
The annual Beaumaris Probus croquet tournament and barbecue was held on Friday 28 March at the Sandringham Croquet Club. About 40 Probus members and partners attended with 24 participating in the knockout pairs croquet
tournament.
Our new President, Tim Harding, presented our newsletter editor, Vivienne Fry, with a well deserved name badge to signify her special relationship with our Probus club. Bob Wigg and Malcolm Sawle assisted me in running the tournament while John Green and new member, Ray Wyld,
managed the barbecue. Again, Geoff Bransbury provide enormous support as did my wife Deb. To make up numbers for the tournament I filled in, pairing with Ken White, and embarrassingly won the event, ultimately playing the final against Leon Laragy and Marlene Byass. The trophy was presented by the 2024 winners,Geoff Bransbury and Bob Wigg.
Everyone enjoyed the day with many sitting under the new Bendigo Bank market umbrellas, having drinks while overlooking the three Croquet courts and watching the closely fought matches. It was a balmy afternoon andevening, which made the event even more enjoyable.
I thank everyone who attended, especially those who assisted in cleaning up after the event, leaving the venue as we found it and the four volunteers from the Sandringham Croquet Club who provided instruction and refereed the
matches, Andrew and Lyn White and Paul and Julie Adams.
Derek Skues – Host
Sadly the photos have been misplaced
2024
This was the ninth annual Beaumaris Probus Croquet event held at the Sandringham Croquet Club. Just under 30 people attended with 20 participating in the mixed knock out pairs competition. Four members ofthe Croquet Club, along with Derek Skues, helped instruct and referee the individual matches. Bob Wigg arranged the pairings and the draw.
A barbecue, cooked by John Green, with salads followed by desserts seemed to be enjoyed by all.Derek Skues presented the perpetual trophy to the winners, Geoff Bransbury and Bob Wigg, who defeated Robert Kerr and our President, David Rushworth, in an exciting final.
2023
It was our seventh Croquet Event and perhaps the best ever. 36 players played for the Trophy but only one “pair” could win. Congratulations to Vivienne Fry and Ian Marchment.
The weather was perfect and the food superb. Our Chef was Howard Hoskins. We had a BBQ with lamb chops, salads and delicious desserts. If you didn’t come, maybe join us
next year.
Host was Geoff Bransbury and much Thanks to Leon and Michele Laragy, Ken and Margie Beadleand Derek and Deb Skues for your help.
2022
At last we were able to hold the Croquet event again. The first time since 2018
We had 31 players and 36 attended It was a great evening The competition winner was Ian Marchment but our 99 year old champion George Montgomery made the semi-finals! President Jim Duggan presented the trophy to Ian Marchment
Peter McGregor cooked us beef on the spit and we had very tasty desserts.
Thanks to Jennie Bowles, Nova Ball and Derek Skues for helping with the croquet, Peter for acting as chef and our special helpers, Leon and Michele Laragy, Ian Marchment, and Tony Bowles
2018
A wonderful day. Warm and sunny but not too hot. Perfect.
This year the winner was Robert Kerr and Merry Bransbury was a gallant runner up.
This year we had a total of 27 players divided into 6 groups of 4 and I group of 3. Playing on an individual basis winners progressed to round 2-one group of 4 and I group of 3-and the 2 winners were in the grand final.
John Beaty was the MC and organiser, John Green ran the competition. Tony and Jenny Bowles and the kind helpers from the Sandringham Croquet Club managed the playing of the event. Roger Wilson awarded the trophy to Robert Kerr.
This year we had a new Chef…Geoff Bransbury, assisted by Paul Stephens. Geoff was “trained” by Peter McGregor who had been the chef on all previous occasions..
The dinner consisted of a topside roast, salad and potatoes followed by the usual magnificent cakes from Brodams in the Concourse.
This is a wonderful event and now in its fourth year. Thank you to all those who helped out.
2014-1017
The event was first run in 2014 before the beginning of this website (2016) therefore sorry, we don’t have photos of the earlier events. The first “Chef” was Peter McGregor and our winners have been: 2014 -Keith Ross, 2015 – Rod Kelly -2016John Smyth – 2017 Barry Amond and 2018 Robert Kerr
