Croquet star completes double in Nelson

Nelson croquet fans were treated to top level play by the game’s elite young players last week.

The Nelson Hinemoa Croquet Club staged the annual New Zealand Golf Croquet Championships with 19 players vying for the title.

Golf croquet (GC) is the quicker version of the mallet, balls and hoops game as opposed to association croquet (AC).

Not that it made much difference to Logan McCorkindale who claimed both titles last year.

The 25-year-old, originally from Ashburton, started a busy week in Nelson by taking out the doubles with his younger brother, Reece 7-3 7-3. He finished that final in style with a shot enthusiasts were still talking about four days later.

“I was off the boundary on hoop nine and I ran the ball at the hoop. It went through and proceeded to hit the next hoop as well. So, two hoops in one shot,” Logan recalls.

It is that pace, power and precision which has taken him to a -5 handicap, just one short of the highest in the game.

Logan has made a habit of coming from behind in his matches and trailed another Cantabrian, Josh Freeth, 2-1 in the best of five games singles final. Josh, 28, was coming off winning the South Island AC Croquet Championships in Christchurch last month.

Logan dominated the final two games 7-4 7-2 to win 3-2 and retain his crown. Again, he produced a stunning finish on the ninth hoop, driving the ball from off the edge through the hoop. The match lasted more than five hours and the threatening rain stayed away.

“I have come from behind in best of five finals before. I have always managed to pull it out in the biggest moments.

“I played in an New Zealand Open final that took 11 hours. I love that it is drawn out and technical. It is a mental game because you have enough time to consider every possible outcome,” declares the former basketball player, who won his first GC national title in 2019.

“These tournaments take a lot out of me,” confirms Logan, who is taking a year off from his bachelors and masters sports science studies at Canterbury University.
As one observer commented, it is like bowls with weapons as you aggressively take out your opponent’s balls to improve your own position.

“There is a common perception that club croquet is dominated by older women and that is true. But it is the younger male players who feature at elite level,” Logan comments.

As he was reflecting on the week, one of the other 18 singles players walked by - 89-year-old Doug Nottage was one of four Nelson entries.

“I would probably like to play at that age but I would also like to take a break over the years, here and there,” concludes Logan.

Tournament manager Annie Henry, a former croquet champion herself, says the sport is rebuilding after losing its momentum during the pandemic.

“There was a very strong secondary schools programme.”

Nelson-based Annie proclaims the host club is in great shape with nine lawns and the rain made for ideal playing conditions.