Much More than Relative Success for Greg in New “Roll

New Event – Visitors’ Day

We decided to host a “Visitors’ Day” every month with the objective of exposing our Recreational members to the experience of playing with and against players from other clubs. We believe that this exposure will improve the standard of croquet within our own club, introduce members from other clubs to our members; and to encourage our members to participate in competitive play in future. From all reports this initiative has been a resounding success. The games were non-competitive, although individual scores were kept for interest. The highest scores of the afternoon were achieved by two of our members – Sandy Boon (a new member but a very experienced player) and Chas Bader – a relatively new Recreational player. Congratulations to them both! These events been suspended until early 2021 when our croquet courts are again available.

Croquet – played in the Paddock

Yes, that’s what it really feels like. When our greens were undergoing renovation we played on the soccer field which is used for school activities and the circus! When greens aren’t mowed it is a marathon task to hit our balls to the next hoop, but it is a challenge. Players came along with their deck chairs, Thermos, etc and we had some fun. A big thank you to Terry and Jan Craddock for looking after our equipment, the setup, the pack up, measuring out the playing fields and marking the area, while at the same time, making sure we didn’t interfere with the Soccer markings. – Kerry Bomford

Much More than Relative Success for Greg in New “Roll”

Frank Bomford must have thought all his Christmases had come at once when Greg Boyd joined the Sorrento Bowling Club.

For starters, Frank, who has been with us for around 15 years, has his son, and very promising bowler, Steve at the Club and his wife Kerry is firmly entrenched as Captain of the Sorrento Croquet Club. Then a couple of years ago Frank’s family tree at the Club became larger when Greg, whose daughter, Tania, is married to Steve Bomford, decided to try his hand at bowls after an open-day event. And like most of us who have “dipped their toe in the water” Greg was bitten by the bug and, after a stint at social bowls, has graduated to pennants.

But the temptation was always there for Greg. On many occasions as he left the adjoining Sorrento tennis courts after playing Pennants for that club, he couldn’t help looking over the fence and wonder if he would ever play, as he put it, “that old man’s game”.

After all Greg’s father had been a very good bowler and had tried, unsuccessfully despite a few roll ups, to get him hooked. As it turned out, it took a much younger man in Steve Bomford to entice Greg to make the transition, and as a result Sorrento has gained a valuable addition to its ranks.

Before he retired, Greg spent 30 years working for the Commonwealth Bank and, when he left, intended to spend the next half dozen years working as a courier for Messenger Post. However, he enjoyed the work so much he continued for around 20 years, the last four or five working half days.

Then, like many of our very versatile members at Sorrento, Greg added another string to his bow by filling in as Santa at Myers in Joondalup and Karrinyup. He says working with children was an unforgettable experience and, strangely, has had many adults sitting on his knee. On one occasion an adult arrived to see Santa with two laser swords and requested a photo of himself sparring with him. Greg always got