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Forbes Phoenix

Another Great Week For Forbes Croquet

November 14, 2024 by Elvy Quirk

Members of the Croquet club pictured with Sponsors Colleen and Kevin Gunn.

Aussie Croquet was played on Saturday 9th November on a lovely, not too warm morning and all who attended enjoyed the game and the social catch up. Once again Catriona Hunt (Robin Pols daughter) came to have a game with us.

On the day, two games won by John Browne, John Cole, Frank Donohoe, Caro­lyn Neilsen, Fay Picker, Robin Pols, Elvy Quirk, Vince Roberts, Kevin Rubie and Pe­ter West. Well done to those players.

All three games were won by David West and May Jones. David is now showing his style at winning and of course youth is be­hind him. We hope David can encourage some other younger players to come along as we would like to see some more young people join in.

Our past player Bob Murray is not too well at present, but we hope to see him back soon enjoying a cuppa with us. Cher­ylin Cole is at present a patient in Orange Hospital and hopefully it will not be too long before we see her up and about again.

Last week our most senior member Bruce Field celebrated his 97th Birthday.

Congratulations to Bruce who still shows his style on the Croquet lawns.

President Elvy laid a wreath on Remem­brance Day on behalf of Forbes Croquet Club. The wreath was capably made by John Browne – a special thanks to John.

Our monthly luncheon was held at the Forbes Sportsmans Hotel on Tuesday 12th November where all birthdays for Novem­ber were celebrated.

Our new summer start time is 9am with arrival by 8.45am to get names in the draw.

Our Christmas celebrations are coming around fast and our special Christmas luncheon and prize giving is being held at the Vandenberg Hotel on 17th December, so please put that date on your calendar.

By Elvy Quirk

Forbes Croquet Notes

November 7, 2024 by Elvy Quirk

John Browne deep in concentration.

Aussie Croquet was played on Saturday 2nd November on a warm morning. All three games were won by just one player, May Jones whilst two games were won by Russell Anderson, Bruce Field, John Job, Noel Jolliffe, Fay Picker, Elvy Quirk, Vince Roberts, Rex Toole and David West.

Aussie Croquet is fast becoming popular as it is much more challenging than Golf Croquet.

Golf Croquet was played on 5th Novem­ber and it was a very warm morning, even though we got off to an earlier start at 9am.

Melbourne Cup sweeps were the order of the day with many taking part.

All three games were won by John Browne, Ray Burridge and Rex Toole. John Browne is yet again showing form after his recent back surgery.

Starting time for the summer season is now 9am with arrival at 8.45am to get your names into the draw. The bi-monthly lunch­eon is to be held at the Forbes Sportsman Hotel (Golf Club) next Tuesday, 12th No­vember with arrival at 12pm for 12.30pm serving.

The Christmas season is just around the corner with arrangements already made at the Croquet Club, but will be published later when closer to the time.

Playing Croquet is a gentle form of exer­cise, helps with hand and eye co-ordination and a very social aspect. Should you wish to try the game come down to Halpins Flat at 8.45am on a Tuesday and you will be teamed up with an experienced player to get to know the ropes. Flat soled shoes are needed. Mallets are available to use.

By Elvy Quirk

Nissan Classic Weekend A Success

November 7, 2024 by Roxane Manley

A-Grade Scratch Winner Cooper Giddings (Dubbo) being presented with the trophy by Michael Spice (sponsor).

Over the weekend the Annual Forbes Nis­san Classic was held with good fields on each day bathed in sunshine.

The main event was on Sunday with the Classic Stroke event, the field for which was 136 including men and women. The visitors, all 54, were drawn from over a dozen clubs.

On Saturday the ‘Forbes Advocate’ 4BBB was played, with 124 players participating.

This Saturday, 9th November, is the No­vember Monthly Medal, with a Stableford Medley on Sun 10 Nov. Also on this week­end is the NSW Country Championships, being played at Parkes GC. Wishing the La­chlan Valley team luck.

Forbes Croquet News

October 31, 2024 by Elvy Quirk

The Thomson Grandchildren- James, Evie, India, Mac­Kenzie and Vivian.

Thoughts at the Forbes Croquet Club turn to our amazing Scorekeeper and Publicity Officer, Tony Thomson, who unfortunately passed away last Wednesday night. Tony will be long remembered by our Croquet Club as a well respected and caring mem­ber as he so dutifully kept score sheets and delivered the news to the local papers.

Although Tony’s illness over the past few months slowed him down he was such an inspiration playing croquet with us only the week before his untimely passing.

To Pam and her lovely family, members of the Forbes Croquet Club extend to you all our deepest sympathy and our thoughts are with you all as you try to come to terms with the loss of a much loved family man.

As a mark of respect last Saturday Cro­quet players wore Black armbands in hon­our of Tony and stood in silence to remem­ber him. Tony may you Rest in Peace after a “life well lived”.

Aussie Croquet was played on Saturday 26th October and it was so lovely to have the Thomson Grandchildren join us for a game together with a friend Abey Downes.

Please note the new starting time as from Saturday 2nd November will be 9am.

Our Birthday Luncheon will be held at the Forbes Sportsman Hotel (Golf Club) on Tuesday 12th November and your names need to be recorded asap.

By Elvy Quirk

Strong Finishes In Championships

October 24, 2024 by By Short Putt

Head Pro Will Gunn and Mens Captain Steve Betland flank Peter Dawson, the Mens A-Grade Scratch and Vets Scratch Champion.

The 2024 Forbes Golf Club Individual Championships finished with worthy win­ners who completed the final day with strong performances. The weekend pro­vided near perfect weather with the course playing well despite some heavy rain in the lead up. While some pin placements were challenging the field managed to cope well.

The final winners in the Scratch event after the four day event were:

• A-Grade Scratch: P Dawson (293); Run­ner-up: S Betland (295)

• A-Reserve Scratch: P Duke (344)

• B-Grade Scratch: P (350); Runner-up: N Duncan

• C-Grade Scratch: N Morrison (381); Run­ner-up: N Roach (382)

• Vets Scratch: P Dawson (293)

• Junior Scratch: R Murray (307)

The Handicap trophies had close finishes with some good young talent featuring across the board. Congratulations to all win­ners, and to all participants.

Results in the daily competition that was played alongside the championship rounds on each day were:

• Day 3 Div 1: T West (69 nett), A Alley (71)

• Day 3 Div 2: N Morrison (69), B Thomas (69)

• NTP’s: 9th S Betland; 18th Alf Davies

• Super Pin (3rd ) J Hall (Trundle)

• Ball sweep to 75 nett on count back

• Day 4 Div 1: J Pendleton (69), on count back from P Dawson (69)

• Day 4 Div 2: A Quirk (62), N Morrison (70)

• NTP’s: 9th A Quirk; 18th S Grallelis

• Super pin (3rd ) B Thomas

• Ball sweep to 74 nett on count backPlayers are reminded of the change to the Golf Program for Saturday 26th October, which is now a 4BBB Stableford Aggregate Medley. A reminder to get your partner or­ganised for the Mixed Foursomes Champi­onships to be held on Sunday 27th October.

This is played over 27 holes. The timesheet for the Forbes Nissan Classic weekend is filling up so get your name in now.

By Short Putt

Tight Leads In Golf Champs

October 17, 2024 by Short Putt

At the halfway point in the Forbes Golf Club Individual Champs the lead in each Grade is still very tight. The first two rounds of the Championships were played on Saturday and Sunday. The Grade leaders after two rounds are:

• A-Grade Scratch: C Hanrahan (146), S Betland (147)

• A-Reserve Scratch: J Coulthurst (170), S Uphill (172)

• B-Grade: N Duncan (171), J Reid (173)

• C-Grade: N Roach (191), N Morrison (193)There is a strong contest in the Juniors with Reggie Murray leading in both the Scratch and Handicap results.

A Daily Comp was also played alongside the Champ rounds on each day. Results for those are:

• Day 1 – Div 1: J Reid (68 nett) on count back, R Murray (68)

• Day 1 – Div 2: B Everest (67), G Falvey (71)

• NTP’s: 9th G Webb; 18th A Grierson

• Super Pin (3rd ) J Coulthurst

• Ball sweep to 75 nett on count back

• Day 2 – Div 1: C Hanrahan (69), N Dun­can (73)

• Day 2 – Div 2: K Sanderson (70), N Mor­rison (71)

• NTP’s: 9th D Quirk; 18th C Alley

• Super pin (3rd ) P Dawson

• Ball sweep to 76 nett on count back.

Rounds three and four will be played next weekend, with a seeded draw for the main contenders for the final round.

Players are advised of a change to the Golf Programme for Saturday 26th Octo­ber. The format will now be a 4BBB Stabl­eford Aggregate Medley.

Do not forget to get your name down for the Forbes Nissan Classic weekend. The time sheets for both days will be available at the Pro Shop.

By Short Putt

Forbes Croquet News

October 17, 2024 by Pegging Out

Aussie Croquet on Saturday 5th October saw 31 players attend. There were three players that won three games – Kevin Ru­bie, Lyn Simmonds and Neville Spry. The big winners on the day were 14 – 8 John Fa­rah, 14 – 9 Neville Spry and Lyn Simmonds.

The mid-winners of 14 – 10 included Kevin Rubie and Geoff Coles, Robin Pols and Barry White, Vince Roberts and David Williams.

It was another nice morning for Golf Cro­quet on 8th October. There was a larger than normal number of players to win three games, including Bruce Field, Noel Joliffe, Kevin Rubie, Bill Scott, Mal Smith, Neville Spry, Rex Toole and a new player who only just started, Kevin Wenning.

The big winners on the day were 11 – 2 Rex Toole and Frank Donohoe and 10 – 3 Peter West and Ray Martin, Allan Jones and Bruce Field.

The mid-winners of 9 – 4 included Neville Spry and Geoff Coles, Sherly Chamberlin and Bill Scott, Robin Pols and Barry White, Rex Toole and Enid Baker, John Job and Mal Smith, Alan Jones and Bruce Field, Wayne Wright and Noel Jolliffe.

Come down to Halpins flat on a Tuesday morning by 9.15am to get your name put into the draw for a 9.30am start.

That’s it until next week.

By Pegging Out

2024 Forbes Spring Races

October 10, 2024 by Roxane Manley

Spring is a great time to go racing and Forbes Jockey Club has a host of enter­tainment planned for this Saturday, 12th October at the TAB race meeting.

Local racing has certainly been a part of many conversations over the past week following the win by rank outsider Sneak Preview in the $150,000 Dubbo Gold Cup.

The veteran galloper trained at Dubbo by Peter Nestor and ridden by his nephew Kody Nestor, is part owned by Peter Maher and Matt Coady from Forbes.

Sneak Preview was backed by numer­ous supporters at odds of $100 and cel­ebrations will likely continue on Saturday at Forbes Spring races.

Leading trainers from a wide area are bringing starters to Forbes and the action on the track will be backed up by other highlights including the Fashions In The Field offering big prizes for several catego­ries.

There is entertainment planned for all the family and the Yabby races with an auction for the chance to have a starter will be a lot of fun.

Gates will open at 11.30am and music throughout the afternoon will add to a great day out at Forbes races.

Golfers Enjoy The Weekend Sunshine

October 10, 2024 by By Short Putt

John Betland prepares his approach to the 15th while partner Andrew Dukes watches keenly.

There was plenty of golf over the weekend, the fields were smaller than usual, yet the good scores were there.

Saturday’s Men’s Event was a Canadi­an Foursomes comp, sponsored by Peter Dawson. The winners were Phil Maher and Brian Everest who managed a 66 nett off a 9 handicap. They were the last group in but paced themselves well a par score on the front-9 and only 3-over on the back-9.

Runners-up were Clayton Alley and Paul Pymont, who were among the first groups to go out. They managed a 38-40 split to finish with a nett 69.8.

The ball sweep went to 73.5 on count back with the NTPs going to: 9th Steve Grallelis; 18th Les Little. The Super Pin was won by Phil Maher who hit a tidy shot to 205 cm, then converted for ‘2’.

On Sunday enough players ventured to play in the Stableford Medley and make it a competition, while enjoying the sunny weather once again. The winner was Sam Jarrett with a tidy score of 35 points. The NTPs went to: 9th ED Cummins (Went­worth); 18th Ollie Patterson.

Monday had a good field contesting the Stableford Medley. The winner was Shane Sallaway with 40 points, which is an out­standing result off a 1 handicap. His split of 33-36, with only one bogey all day was a marvel to watch. Runner-up was Jake LeBrocque on 39 points. His back-9 was the better game, which capped off a good weekend after greeting his second child into the world. NTP’s went to: 9th Nil; 18th Carolyn Duncan. Todd Callaghan, both of whom scored their 2’s.

This Saturday, October 12th, starts the Individual Club Championships. There are daily comps on each of the four days, with the Championship crowning on Sun 20th October.

By Short Putt

Forbes Croquet News

October 10, 2024 by Roxane Manley

We had 29 players for Aussie Croquet on a nice warm morning on Saturday 28th. There were 3 players that managed to win three games, Phillip Moran, Kevin Rubie, and Neville Spry.

The big winners on the day were: 14 – 8 Harley Stewart and Neville Spry, John Al­legri and Phillip Moran, John Browne and Kevin Wenning.

The mid winners were: 14 – 10 Carolyn Neilsen and Kevin Rubie, John Farah and Fay Picker, Neville Spry and David West, Kevin Rubie and Ros Rennick, Bruce Field, Robin Pols and John Cole.

We had 39 players for Golf Croquet on a warmer morning on 1st October. We had 2 visitors Olivia Hunt and Dick.

There were four players who managed three wins Noel Jolliffe, Barry White, Geoff Coles and a new player and first time winner Pammie Thomson.

The big winner on the day was 10 – 3 John Farah and Noel Jolliffe. MID WINNERS9 – 4 John Browne and Lyn Simmonds, Bar­ry White and Noel Jolliffe, John Allegri and Phillip Moran, Lyall Strudwick and Pammie Thomson, Margret Dent and Robin Pols.

PLEASE NOTE The annual general meet­ing to be held on Tuesday 8th has been postpone to a later date.

By Pegging Out

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