We all know I shouldn’t be standing here making this address. It should have been Geoff Young. Geoff touched all our lives in so many ways, so I’d like you all to be upstanding for a one minute silence in honour of Geoff. Thank you.
As a Scotsman, I’m always interested in money, so I’d like to make sure you all have paid your $5 a day clubhouse fee. This allows for catering morning and afternoon teas and a bit of grazing. If paying online, please see the bank account correction in the Commentary section on Croquet Scores.

We are having a Tournament dinner on Tuesday at 7 pm at a cost of $30 per head, please make sure you’ve indicated on the sheet that Paul has at registration, if you intend to come as we need to know the numbers for the kitchen. It will be a set buffet menu of main course and desert. If you have any special dietary requirements, please let us know.

In case of emergency, a siren will go off. The assembly places are in the carpark, for those of us who are in the clubhouse at the time. For those on the lawns, you must assemble on lawn 1. You must not come back into the clubhouse for any reason until the siren stops.
Health and safety. We have a defibrillator in case of emergency. If you have a tattoo on your chest saying Do Not Resuscitate, we’ll leave you alone, otherwise we’ll do our best to save you. We also have two first aid kits. Hopefully we won’t have to use them
On the lawns, watch out for the ball stopping tubes, hoops and corner pegs and flags, especially if walking backwards.

We’ll have double banking on Lawns 3 and 4. There will be rotation throughout the day so everyone will have their share of double banking. The DB lawns may change too.
Block play today will be 3 x 3 hour time limit, with the top two in each block qualifying for the KO tomorrow, qualification will be on wins and then net points. Based on feedback, the first KO round deviates from the original letter by being 2.5 / 5 / 7.5 in order to fit in B.O.3. The semi’s and final will also be subject to change based on speed of play in order for the tournament to reach a conclusion.
The clocks are out there, so please check that the time is correct before you begin.
You can have a 5 minute warm up, but please don’t smash through the hoops.

Prizes are for the winning pair, the runners up and the plate winner.
Just a heads up for tomorrow morning, the Mount Triathalon is taking place here and traffic could be held up as a result. So please allow extra time for your travel and arrival time.
I now need to draw your attention to the first two days of the singles. We have arranged the use of the Club’s minibus on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday. It can transport 9 people including a driver.
On Wednesday we are sure there will be sufficient private cars available to transport players.
On Monday morning, Block C will be going to Katikati, and on Tuesday it will be Block D because they are both a full blocks. I am asking for volunteer drivers for each day. Assembly is at 7.00 am with a departure no later than 7.15 am. Travel time to Katikati is approximately 45 minutes. I intend to put up a notice saying which players are involved each day. There will also be a space to let us know if anyone will be driving themselves and who won’t use the transport in the mini bus.

The Appeals Committee comprises of Jim Gilligan, Tournament Referee, and any two of Steve Clarke, John Christie and Greg Bryant.
The question of the lack of umpires arises. Jim Gilligan is The Tournament referee and will be wandering around. We basically will have to referee ourselves so perhaps call on another experienced player from an adjacent lawn Can I have a show of hands from those referees willing to help.
Finally, you may already know that due to Phyllis Young being unwell, I have been drafted in to her position as a partner for Carey. So not only am I a false Tournament Manager, I’m also a false Phyllis.
Dallas has kindly taken my place for the management duties for the doubles.
I hope you have no questions, as I’m sure I won’t have the answers.

2025 NZ Open Championships Opening Address
We all know I shouldn’t be standing here making this address. It should have been Geoff Young. Geoff touched all our lives in so many ways, so I’d like you all to be upstanding for a one minute silence in honour of Geoff. Thank you.
As a Scotsman, I’m always interested in money, so I’d like to make sure you all have paid your $5 a day clubhouse fee. This allows for catering morning and afternoon teas and a bit of grazing. If paying online, please see the bank account correction in the Commentary section on Croquet Scores.
We are having a Tournament dinner on Tuesday at 7 pm at a cost of $30 per head, please make sure you’ve indicated on the sheet that Paul has at registration, if you intend to come as we need to know the numbers for the kitchen. It will be a set buffet menu of main course and desert. If you have any special dietary requirements, please let us know.
In case of emergency, a siren will go off. The assembly places are in the carpark, for those of us who are in the clubhouse at the time. For those on the lawns, you must assemble on lawn 1. You must not come back into the clubhouse for any reason until the siren stops.
Health and safety. We have a defibrillator in case of emergency. If you have a tattoo on your chest saying Do Not Resuscitate, we’ll leave you alone, otherwise we’ll do our best to save you. We also have two first aid kits. Hopefully we won’t have to use them
On the lawns, watch out for the ball stopping tubes, hoops and corner pegs and flags, especially if walking backwards.
We’ll have double banking on Lawns 3 and 4. There will be rotation throughout the day so everyone will have their share of double banking. The DB lawns may change too.
Block play today will be 3 x 3 hour time limit, with the top two in each block qualifying for the KO tomorrow, qualification will be on wins and then net points. Based on feedback, the first KO round deviates from the original letter by being 2.5 / 5 / 7.5 in order to fit in B.O.3. The semi’s and final will also be subject to change based on speed of play in order for the tournament to reach a conclusion.
The clocks are out there, so please check that the time is correct before you begin.
You can have a 5 minute warm up, but please don’t smash through the hoops.
Prizes are for the winning pair, the runners up and the plate winner.
Just a heads up for tomorrow morning, the Mount Triathalon is taking place here and traffic could be held up as a result. So please allow extra time for your travel and arrival time.
I now need to draw your attention to the first two days of the singles. We have arranged the use of the Club’s minibus on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday. It can transport 9 people including a driver.
On Wednesday we are sure there will be sufficient private cars available to transport players.
On Monday morning, Block C will be going to Katikati, and on Tuesday it will be Block D because they are both a full blocks. I am asking for volunteer drivers for each day. Assembly is at 7.00 am with a departure no later than 7.15 am. Travel time to Katikati is approximately 45 minutes. I intend to put up a notice saying which players are involved each day. There will also be a space to let us know if anyone will be driving themselves and who won’t use the transport in the mini bus.

The Appeals Committee comprises of Jim Gilligan, Tournament Referee, and any two of Steve Clarke, John Christie and Greg Bryant.
The question of the lack of umpires arises. Jim Gilligan is The Tournament referee and will be wandering around. We basically will have to referee ourselves so perhaps call on another experienced player from an adjacent lawn Can I have a show of hands from those referees willing to help.
Finally, you may already know that due to Phyllis Young being unwell, I have been drafted in to her position as a partner for Carey. So not only am I a false Tournament Manager, I’m also a false Phyllis.
Dallas has kindly taken my place for the management duties for the doubles.
I hope you have no questions, as I’m sure I won’t have the answers.

2025 NZ Open Championships Opening Address
We all know I shouldn’t be standing here making this address. It should have been Geoff Young. Geoff touched all our lives in so many ways, so I’d like you all to be upstanding for a one minute silence in honour of Geoff. Thank you.
As a Scotsman, I’m always interested in money, so I’d like to make sure you all have paid your $5 a day clubhouse fee. This allows for catering morning and afternoon teas and a bit of grazing. If paying online, please see the bank account correction in the Commentary section on Croquet Scores.
We are having a Tournament dinner on Tuesday at 7 pm at a cost of $30 per head, please make sure you’ve indicated on the sheet that Paul has at registration, if you intend to come as we need to know the numbers for the kitchen. It will be a set buffet menu of main course and desert. If you have any special dietary requirements, please let us know.
In case of emergency, a siren will go off. The assembly places are in the carpark, for those of us who are in the clubhouse at the time. For those on the lawns, you must assemble on lawn 1. You must not come back into the clubhouse for any reason until the siren stops.
Health and safety. We have a defibrillator in case of emergency. If you have a tattoo on your chest saying Do Not Resuscitate, we’ll leave you alone, otherwise we’ll do our best to save you. We also have two first aid kits. Hopefully we won’t have to use them
On the lawns, watch out for the ball stopping tubes, hoops and corner pegs and flags, especially if walking backwards.
We’ll have double banking on Lawns 3 and 4. There will be rotation throughout the day so everyone will have their share of double banking. The DB lawns may change too.
Block play today will be 3 x 3 hour time limit, with the top two in each block qualifying for the KO tomorrow, qualification will be on wins and then net points. Based on feedback, the first KO round deviates from the original letter by being 2.5 / 5 / 7.5 in order to fit in B.O.3. The semi’s and final will also be subject to change based on speed of play in order for the tournament to reach a conclusion.
The clocks are out there, so please check that the time is correct before you begin.
You can have a 5 minute warm up, but please don’t smash through the hoops.
Prizes are for the winning pair, the runners up and the plate winner.
Just a heads up for tomorrow morning, the Mount Triathalon is taking place here and traffic could be held up as a result. So please allow extra time for your travel and arrival time.
I now need to draw your attention to the first two days of the singles. We have arranged the use of the Club’s minibus on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday. It can transport 9 people including a driver.
On Wednesday we are sure there will be sufficient private cars available to transport players.
On Monday morning, Block C will be going to Katikati, and on Tuesday it will be Block D because they are both a full blocks. I am asking for volunteer drivers for each day. Assembly is at 7.00 am with a departure no later than 7.15 am. Travel time to Katikati is approximately 45 minutes. I intend to put up a notice saying which players are involved each day. There will also be a space to let us know if anyone will be driving themselves and who won’t use the transport in the mini bus.

The Appeals Committee comprises of Jim Gilligan, Tournament Referee, and any two of Steve Clarke, John Christie and Greg Bryant.
The question of the lack of umpires arises. Jim Gilligan is The Tournament referee and will be wandering around. We basically will have to referee ourselves so perhaps call on another experienced player from an adjacent lawn Can I have a show of hands from those referees willing to help.
Finally, you may already know that due to Phyllis Young being unwell, I have been drafted in to her position as a partner for Carey. So not only am I a false Tournament Manager, I’m also a false Phyllis.
Dallas has kindly taken my place for the management duties for the doubles.
I hope you have no questions, as I’m sure I won’t have the answers.