There are many awards for croquet competitions besides salvers and silver cups etc, take for instance, the Twisted Mallet trophy.

The little town of Maldon, Victoria, lays claim to investing the most crooked game in history.

Serious, and the not so serious players, have a fun filled day battling with a twisted mallet, to complete six hoops and a peg, in the least amount of strokes, to gain top honours.

A freelance photographer has never tried straight croquet but comes to Maldon each year, for the unique challenge of the crooked game.

He has never won any competition in which the winner, on award evenings is presented with the magnificient Old Sock Award (and this can only be won once).

It was taken from the foot of the first winner, washed, and then mounted upon on oval board.

In very cold weather the Southern Highlands croquet Club commenced their first handicap doubles competition.

Lunch times were filled with the aroma, of most, enjoying hot pies, from the corner store.

And those hot pies endeared the players to name the first doubles the Hot Pie Handicap.

No, the award was not a hot pie mounted on a board, but two silver goblets, donated by a member, in time for the presentation and renamed the Kelso handicap doubles.

This did not deter the members enjoying to this day, their hot pies.

Learners classes commence in August.

Come and learn a new skill in time for the club’s gala day.

Contact 4884 4302, 4861 3441 or 4871 1079.