Ararat Alexandra Croquet Club

17/03/2026

Ballarat and District Croquet Association Div 1 GC Championships
Best of 3

Darren Lester, 2 (Ararat)
Def.
Mark Shanks, -1 (Ballarat Alexandra)

2-0

Game 1 : 7-4
Game 2 : 7-3

23/03/2025

Ararat member Darren Lester receiving his Gold medal in Hobart at the Australasian Police and Emergency Services games for the doubles in GC
He also won Silver in the GC singles

27/09/2024

Ararat member Darren Lester travelled to Kyneton for their Hi/Lo Doubles tournament

He came away with the win with his partner for the day Paul Williams from Castlemaine Croquet Club

In Picture : Darren making the winning hoop with a jump shot

18/06/2024

Today we celebrated Sr. John Spurrs 85th Birthday
She was also presented with life membership to the Ararat Croquet Club

Happy Birthday Sister

20/04/2023

At the start of this week I travelled up to Swan Hill to represent the Ballarat District Croquet Association in section 4 of the Association Croquet Regional Championships.

Stepping out of my Golf Croquet comfort zone was a different experience as it is a whole new ball game

Playing 8 x 2.25 hour games spread over 3 days was tiring both mentally and physically exhausting. My record ended up at 5 wins and 3 Losses which was good enough for 3rd out of 9 in section 4

Sitting at the presentation at the end of the third day, I had already handed back my representative polos to the team captain.
Lo and Behold I heard my name get announced ! It took me a second to realise that I had been awarded the Wimmera Perpetual Trophy for the section 4 participant that shows the most future potential, this is awarded by the tournament referees, to say I was shocked was an understatement !

Also whilst competing I had the opportunity to speak to one of Australia’s best AC players, Stephen Forster, first off I was amazed that he even knew who I was.
He spoke about how good it was to seeing me having a go at AC and how it will compliment my GC game as well, it’s truly humbling that these fantastic players know who this nobody is !

- Darren Lester

16/03/2023

Recently our member Darren Lester and his doubles partner Jeydon Nancarrow went to New Zealand to compete in GC at the Australasian Police and Emergency Services Games in Rotorua
played against a breathtaking backdrop the 2 gents brought home the Silver

Since being back, Darren has claimed the GC Division 1 champion for the BDCA region for the second year running and has now ventured into AC where he was runner up in Division 4 but due to the winner being unable to compete in Swan Hill, he will be representing the BDCA in Division 4 in AC

A pretty good 3 weeks

23/02/2023

Our member Darren Lester is off to NZ

18/02/2023

Today we had our golf croquet social day
We had 28 competitors and used 4 of our 5 lawns
The Winner on the day was Denis Thurgood from Beaufort with 4 Wins and +14 net hoops
3 players tied for 2nd each on 4 Wins and +8 net hoops
Ararat member Darren Lester won the ensuing hit off from Colin and Graeme

03/09/2022

Ararat member Darren Lester received his plaque for being the 2022 B&DCA Golf Croquet champion
Congratulations 👏

31/08/2022

30/08/2022

Ararat member Darren Lester competed in and won his first association croquet tournament in Warrnambool.
Congratulations 🎉