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Canberra
Friday, October 25, 2024

Injury no barrier to playing croquet for Canberra woman

After a severe injury two decades ago, Margaret Freemantle thought she would never be able to play sport again – but she has overcome adversity to learn how to play croquet.

Ms Freemantle, a 71-year-old Canberra woman, broke her neck in a fall 21 years ago. Before, she was a keen golfer, and led a busy and active life. The injury left her with weakness in her right side, affecting her balance, a dropped foot, and a spastic right hand. Doctors told her she might not walk again.

After eight months in hospital and intense rehabilitation, Ms Freemantle built up the strength to walk, albeit a little crookedly. However, she did not consider any sport a possibility.

In September, she joined a University of the Third Age class, ‘Learn to Play Golf Croquet’, coached by Judy Tier at the Canberra Croquet Club (CCC).

Margaret Freemantle playing croquet. Photo provided.

Golf croquet is the fastest growing form of croquet in Australia, and attracts people of all ages and health conditions, the CCC said. The game provides gentle exercise in the fresh air. Players develop friendships; others compete across Australia.

Golf croquet is played with a mallet with a round shaft that the player grips firmly with two hands and swings through to contact a ball, while ensuring the body is well balanced and focused on a target.

Ms Freemantle could not grip the mallet with her right hand, or balance and centre her body for an accurate shot.

Sharp-eyed Susie Linge, a CCC member and class coach, remembered a mallet a one-armed person had used. She became the conduit to ensuring Ms Freemantle could manage the game.

Kevin McGlynn, another CCC member, had obtained a specially designed mallet for his wife who had suffered a stroke which resulted in weaknesses similar to Ms Freemantle’s. This mallet, designed and made in Perth, has a support the right hand can rest on, and gives balance.

Ms Freemantle ordered the new mallet, received it two days later, and used it for her last two classes this week.

She has joined the Canberra Croquet Club.

The CCC has offered the U3A class since 2014 to 152 participants; nearly 100 joined the club.

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