Killara Croquet Club’s Alison Sharpe is ready to take on the country’s best at her home club in the Australian championships this month.

Sharpe has been a NSW team member for three years.

Killara, Warrawee and Chatswood croquet clubs will host the national competition from March 21-24.

“To have the championships on my doorstep is going to be very exciting,” she said.

Sharpe, 48, of Gordon, started playing as a teenager in her grandmother’s backyard in England. But she didn’t pick up a mallet for 27 years after her grandmother died.

“When I moved to Gordon and found out that there was a croquet club I decided to give it a try and take some lessons,” she said.

“It’s been great. In 2007 I was in the NSW team that won the Interstate Cup for the first time in 27 years.

“I have an absolute passion for croquet.

“As a result I am motivated, and because I’m motivated I keep improving. I have a great desire to win.”

Sharpe finished fifth at last year’s Australian championships. “I’d like to believe I can do better this year,” she said.

“I’m training and practising with the belief that I can.

“My biggest problem is that I’ve only been playing seriously for a couple of years now and most of the top players have been playing for about 15.

“So I don’t have the same level of experience when it comes to tactics.”

In croquet, each player has turns at hitting each of two balls through 12 hoops, then hitting a wooden peg, using a mallet.