Well well well, approximately 50,000 people play Association Croquet and Golf Croquet BUT approximately six million people play Gateball!! Hows that for a statistic?
We had a chap over from the mainland (the other island) to show us how to play this weird game. There are five people in each team and you all get one shot with your own numbered ball. You line up facing the opposing team at the beginning, and you bow to each other!! Then you say something that sounded like "itchy bum" and off you go! The number is the same as the one on your 'bib' and boy, did the men need some help getting into their bibs, tell they don't have to wear a bra! You go in order and if you get through one of the three hoops (which is three balls wide so you would think that was easy - think again - it aint! you get another turn. Then there is something called "sparking" - again needs a bit of practice, but the game only lasts for 30 minutes and the team that has the most people through the most hoops is the winner.
There are lots of tactics to be learnt, am going to have another look on Youtube and see how it is done in Japan where it is the No. 1 Mallet Sport.
Don't we all look cute in our bibs?
4 comments:
Indeed, you do look cute! But what ideas they come up with down under.
Two days ago I got my bike out again hoping that spring had finally come - but then, last night we got about 20 cm of lovely, pure white snow again. I am sick of it, but will go out now, as the sun is shining and the sky is blue.
Excuse me, Gateball is NOT an Oz idea (for a change!) It started in Japan and quickly spread all over Asia.
You really are having a lot of snow this year, makes me quite envious (in a funnysort of way!) Be careful when you go out, don't forget your spikes!
Hi Hazel - great to see gateball in Tasmania! Do you have any more photos? I would love to include them on the Gateball Australia website - www.gateball.com.au. If you have the time to do a short write up, I'd be glad to include that too!
Hello Alex, I have a few more photos and would be only too pleased to do a short write-up of the fun time we had here in Tassie. Will be on to it shortly, Hazel.
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