It goes without saying that Helene is one of WA’s and Australia’s most decorated players.
Helene first started playing at Como in 1984 and her coach was Verna Waterhouse. She would go on to hold various positons at the club including Captain and delegate to WACA.
I never had the good fortune of seeing Helene play, but from what I’ve read and been told, she played with great control and determination. Below is an extract from Day 1 of the 1997 World Championships.
National Team Representation
MacRobertson Shield –2000, 2003 (reserve)
Trans Tasman – 1992, 1994, 1997 (Captain), 1991, 2000, 2003-05, 2007
World Championship – 1997 – Last 16 – Plate Winner
The archives from Croquet World Online for the 1997 Championship is well worth a read.
Sonoma-Cutre – 1998-2001
State Representation
Association Croquet – EIRE CUP – 1990-2000, 2003-2005, 2007
Playing Record: 93 Games 76 Wins 17 Losses 81.7%
In 2004, both Helene and Martin Clarke won all their Singles matches.
National Titles
- ACA Open Doubles – 2003
- ACA Open Singles – 2001
- ACA Women’s Singles – 1992, 1996, 2000, 2003-05, 2007
- ACA Silver Medal – 1997
- A.B. Morrison Trophy 1990
State Titles
- WA Open Singles – 1992, 1997-2000, 2002
- WA Women’s Singles – 1994-99, 2001-02, 2005-07
- WA Handicap Singles – 1988
- ACA Bronze Medal – 1994, 1997
- WA Open Doubles – 1994-97, 2005-06
- Ida Thorpe Trophy – 1991, 1995,2000, 2003
- Champion of Champions – 1995
- McBride Cup – 1995, 2006
- Australia Day Singles – 2006
- WA Div 2 Singles – 1991
- WA Div 2 Doubles – 1991
- Majorie Parry Star – 1989
- Northam Trophy Div 3 – 1989
- Women’s Maskew – 1988-89, 1990, 1992
- WA Women’s Doubles – 2006, 2008
And to top if off, the Sheila McDonald Award on 3 occasions – 1990-92
Helene recorded her first triple peel in 1996.
In 2000, she was the only women playing in the MacRobertson Shield. She won the Wendy Ey Masters Award three years in a row – an award that recognizes women in sport at an elite level.
Helene was one of six Western Australians to receive an Australian Sports Medal in 2000.
Apart from her playing prowess, Helene was a dedicated servant to the sport of Croquet. She was a referee and President of the Western Australian Croquet Association between 1997-99 and again in 2003.
