Our club story
The Club’s croquet lawn has a history associated with both lawn bowls and croquet, which extends over a period of 60 years. Between 1957 and 1990 it was the home of the Hunters Hill Women’s Bowling Club; for its time quite an extraordinary organisation, as most sporting Clubs were male-dominated, with a smaller female membership.
However, bowls lost general popularity, and Hunters Hill Croquet Club took over the lawn in 1994, and has continued to use the site to the present. The tradition of women’s participation at Hunters Hill Croquet is still strong, with over 50% of members being female, as well as playing a central role in the Club’s leadership.
Hunters Hill Croquet Club Committee
The 2023-24 Committee is:
President: Robin Catalano
Vice President: Paul Margereson
Secretary: Toni Alexander
Treasurer: Ian Catalano
Membership Secretary: Patricia Hyde
Equipment Officer – Gillian Dockerill
Public Officer: Paul Margereson
Coach: Peter Kadar
Committee Members:
Patricia Hyde, Peter Kadar , Gillian Dockrill , Carmel Hughes , Robin Bowen , Lynne Webster
A brief history of croquet
The name “croquet” derives originally from the Old North French dialect for “hockey stick” or “shepherd’s crook”.
Croquet in Salem, Massachusetts 1926
Credit: Salem state archives
The modern game is reputed to have started in Ireland in the 1830s, and taken to England during the 1850s. It became an instant success; one reason being it provided the first opportunity for women to participate in an outdoor sport on an equal basis with men.
In 1900 croquet featured as a demonstration sport in the Paris Olympics, with players from France winning all medals.
During the 1940s the effects of World War II resulted in a decline the sport’s popularity, and the sport had a low profile until a resurgence in the 1960s. An injection of younger players added momentum, and there has been a gradual growth in the sport in recent years. Croquet is now as popular as it was at the end of the ninteenth century.
Watching international players competing at the elite level is inspirational, as Youtube clips will attest!!!