Dear Kevin

Thank you for a great report. Please keep them coming if you can.
They could form the basis for an article for the ACA Magazine!!

Our regards to all the Aussies please.

Regards
Max M


On 05/03/2008, at 4:38 PM, Kevin Beard wrote:

> Kevin Beard
> 5th March 2008
>
> Tony Hall, Owen Edwards, John Levick and I have had a couple of days
> practice at the supurb facilities at The Country Club
> Johannesburg. There
> are 3 croquet courts nestled in amongst the lawns, the trees the
> gardens,
> the bowling club, the cricket ground, the tennis courts, the pool, the
> squash courts, etc. The venue is very much like Hurlingham in London.
>
> Our hosts are Esther Jones and Chris Bennett who have done
> everything to
> make us feel welcome. The warm up tournament hasn't eventuated.
> Jamieson
> Walker from Scotland and Victor Dladla from South Africa are the
> only other
> World Championship players. Victor is a black South African and is
> the
> Catering Manager of the Croquet and Bowls clubs. He plays an
> impressive
> game that features accurate hard hitting.
>
> Esther and Chris have arranged an Australia versus South Africa "Test
> Match" for tomorrow afternoon. The local croquet community have been
> invited and a feature will be chance to mingle with everyone over
> dinner
> and drinks.
>
> Personally I have played lots of competetive games while I have
> been here.
> My practice has been mainly on hitting harder while maintaining
> accuracy.
> Long hoops have also featured. I can see a noticable improvement
> already
> in both areas.
>
> This morning we have hired a minibus and Esther will drive us through
> Soweto and to various tourist destinations. A local historian/
> country club
> member will join us.
>
> Owen Edwards has conducted a couple of training sessions on the
> laws of
> Golf and Association Croquet with local and visiting players. They
> have
> been highly successful and Owen has been in his element.
>
>
> Kevin
>
>
>
>
>
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>