“Suka!” is what the captain shouts when a ball goes through a gate.

Elizabeth and Bruce Fleming are No.2 and No.21 in the world of croquet. Elizabeth is President of the Queensland Croquet Association and Bruce is Vice-President of the Australian Association.

Both are on the current Australian Trans-Tasman Team, due to play their next match against New Zealand in February.

Bruce is an old Goondiwindi boy, who went to school with croquet enthusiast George Sloss.

What is Gateball? Think snooker crossed with croquet. It’s a fast-paced Japanese game, where teams of five players and a non-playing captain compete to get a ball through a series of three gates.

When the ball goes through a gate, the team captain shouts, “Suka!” Players must get their ball through the first gate before they are allowed to continue.

Players can knock other players balls out of play, rather like bowls. Games usually last only 30 minutes, and players have just 30 seconds to make their shots. The mallets and the balls are lighter than in croquet, and the team captain does a lot more shouting.

“When it’s a top-level game, the players are absolutely running,” said Elizabeth, who said Gateball is a great game for school students.

“Everyone gets lots of chances to have a go,” she said.

“I’d love the ball to go through the gate sometime,” said Jillanne Savill, who got there in the end.

Robyn Pegler was a demon on the course as was Faye Pfingst, but Don Pfingst showed remarkable skill for a beginner, getting his ball through all three gates.