CROQUET NEWS:  Lismore's Sporting Stars

Lismore is a Breeding Ground for Sporting Champions

19 October 2009
Lismore Croquet Club, Lismore, Victoria, Australia
story by Sarah Hudson in Weekly Times, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
photo by Greg Scullin in Weekly Times, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

Croquet kings: Robert, Greg and Malcolm Fletcher.

For a town of about 300 people, Lismore produces its fair share of sporting greats.

On the Hamilton Highway west of Melbourne, it boasts no less than five national champions.

"It must be something in the water," suggests Stephen Forster, who grew up in the town and is ranked No. 2 in Australia for croquet.

The No. 1 ranking in croquet goes to fellow Lismore resident Robert Fletcher, 16, whose two brothers — Greg, 17 and Malcolm, 14 — are also national croquet champions.

And then there's 22-year-old golfer Stacey Keating, ranked No. 1 in Victoria and No. 3 in Australia for amateur ladies golf.

"I really think that country kids enjoy sport," says Stephen, a keen all-rounder who is also the state croquet team coach and has represented Victoria in men's netball.

"Compared to the city, you don't see many kids in the country playing computer games or vandalising.

"In a country town if you do something wrong everyone knows about it!"

Stephen, 45, attributes his love of croquet to his mother, who was playing the game in the local Lismore competition just two days before she gave birth to him.

"I was given my first croquet set when I was five and mum joined me in the local Lismore club when I was 10," he says.

The Fletcher brothers — who are home schooled on their parents' 160 ha sheep and dairy goat farm 50 km out of Lismore — attribute their prowess to the town's sporting facilities and generous community spirit.

They first became interested in the game five years ago when the local greenkeeper offered to coach them for free.

"Every week since then we've travelled into town for lessons and practise," says their mother, Cathy.

"Now they're on the state and national squad we travel more.

"This year they've been to New Zealand and the US for tournaments and Malcolm and Robert went to Egypt as well.

"Because we live in the middle of nowhere and they're home schooled, they can be flexible with their school holidays and use them for tournaments."

Greg says the brothers also love cricket but chose croquet, which he describes as similar to billiards and chess.

"It is addictive but I'm going to have to cut back next year with Year 12," says Greg, who hopes to study piano and violin.

His brother Robert says competition between the trio is healthy.

"On the court we certainly are competitive, but off court we're friendly," he says.

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