Wynnum Croquet players Len Frankland and George Nakhoul. Photo: Supplied.
CONTRIBUTED BY WYNNUM CROQUET CLUB
Wynnum Croquet Club held its first tournament of the year last month, proudly sponsored by George Hartnett Metropolitan Funerals. The event, known as the George Hartnett Metropolitan Challenge, was a Golf Croquet doubles-level play tournament that attracted a full field of 32 players.
Competitors travelled from far and wide, with players coming from as far north as Hervey Bay and as far south as Byron Bay. They were greeted by hot, humid conditions, making the day a true test of stamina and skill.
In a traditional tournament format, top-seeded players are matched against bottom-seeded players in the opening round. One of the standout stories of the day featured Wynnum players George Nakhoul and Len Frankland.
George is an established player, and Len has been only playing for 10 months. Between them, they brought 172 years of life experience and a combined handicap of 21! Their first opponents had an impressive combined handicap of minus one. There was never much doubt about the scorelines.
Each doubles team played seven games. It was a demanding test of determination and focus. Len commented, “You really have to think playing this game”. George and Len kept playing game after game, knowing the odds were stacked against them. It didn’t help that George is blind in one eye!
They didn’t win a game, but earned plenty of respect. Tenacity, good humour and a willingness to compete no matter the challenge were on full display. George and Len headed home exhausted but proud after a hard-fought day, perfectly capturing the spirit of resilience and camaraderie that defines croquet at Wynnum.
Find out more about Wynnum Croquet by visiting www.wynnumcroquet.au.
