Croquet newbie Bob Imray wins Geraldton croquet handicap singles event

Bob Imray has only been playing croquet for just more than a year, but seems to be picking up the game at rapid speed after winning the Geraldton Croquet Club’s Trevor Hansen Handicap Singles last weekend.

Triumphant in eight out of nine games over the two-day event, Imray was in fine form as he won the trophy in very windy conditions.

Humble in victory, Imray said his high handicap gave him a very handy head start over the rest of the competitors.

He said he was shocked to hear his name called out as the winner.

“I honestly didn’t know I had won it. I knew I had done fairly well, but as they went through the names and mine wasn’t on it, I thought they had forgotten me,” he said.

“But mine was on the top, so it was a big shock.”

Imray’s only loss of the weekend came against Geraldton croquet gun Wendy McDonald.

In a tense matchup that went right down to the wire, McDonald won 7-6.

“She was tough competition,” Imray said.

“She is a very good player. It was very close, it really was a battle.”

For someone who can’t play lawn bowls or golf because of back and knee issues, Imray said croquet was an injury-friendly alternative.

“The game is intriguing — I find it fascinating,” he said.

“You are constantly thinking ahead, it’s like chess on grass.

“I have back troubles and knee troubles like everyone else my age. But with croquet you are basically standing up and there’s no problem at all.”