Speeches
Tuesday, 11 March 2025
Reception to open the 75th Eire Cup
Rod and I are delighted to welcome you to Government House on the occasion of the 75th Eire Cup competition.
I especially welcome those from interstate who have travelled here for the 2025 National Association Croquet Championships.
It’s a wonderful time to be in Adelaide during our Festival season.
I hope you will have time to enjoy our outstanding food and wine as well as experience the cornucopia of music, dance, theatre, and artistic magic that affirms Adelaide’s passion for sport and the arts.
However, I know that many of you will be concentrating on your matches.
While croquet is often seen by outsiders as a genteel sport, I know it is played with tactical precision, skill, and friendly rivalry.
That was certainly the case here on these Government House lawns last Christmas. While the grass is a bit on the soft side, croquet provided hours of family fun.
Friends
As players you have spent many hours training for these championships.
Alongside that many volunteers have devoted countless hours to the sport throughout the year. I thank you for giving the gift of your time and your commitment to the sport.
I thank also the Organising Committee and those volunteers who have brought these championships to life in the form of four national tournaments being held at Croquet SA Headquarters on Hutt Road as well as the South Terrace, North Adelaide and Norwood Croquet clubs.
Adelaide is pleased to be hosting and celebrating the 75th Eire Cup competition, particularly given our strong record in the event, including when played on home ground.
Clearly croquet has appeal across all ages.
After all the World Association Croquet champion in 2013 was then 20-year-old Robert Fletcher from Victoria.
And I understand Robert, his two brothers, and Edward Wilson from South Australia, who is in his mid-20s, recently came third in the World Golf Croquet Championships in Tasmania.
Croquet is a sport long built on tradition. I even understand the first history of the similar sports can be traced to ancient civilisations including the Egyptians, each contributing unique elements to the game.
Undoubtedly, congeniality and being playable at grass roots or elite level has endured.
I thank all the associations from across Australia for your work in raising the profile of the sport and encouraging participation.
I am sure that staging the championship will help lift it from what is often known as the “silent sport.”
I wish everyone an enjoyable championship.
It gives me great pleasure to declare the 75th Eire Cup competition open.
May you all play well and peg-out your games.