Croquet player Sergeant David Short is targeting victory at the 2026 Eire Cup in Perth, with ambitions to earn a spot in the International MacRobertson Shield Centenary in England.
Ranked 15th in Australia and 68th globally, Sergeant Short's journey from a small-town childhood to national prominence shows how sport fosters fitness, mental wellbeing and Air Force values.
Raised in South Australia's Coobowie, a Yorke Peninsula town of about 250, Sergeant Short learnt croquet at eight from his grandparents - after junior footy, he and his sister watched their grandparents play at the local club, taking their first swings with a mallet.
"I loved it when three o'clock came around because that would be afternoon tea as well," he said.
"All the country women were there, cooking delicious food. I did enjoy the croquet but I think I had an ulterior motive for being there with my grandparents."
Those early days ignited a passion, though life's demands paused his involvement. At 19, he moved to Adelaide, stepping away from the sport for nearly three decades.
In his late 40s, facing a challenging divorce, Sergeant Short rediscovered croquet at the city's association courts.
"Croquet, I think, has been a godsend," he said.
The sport lifted his mental health, offering new friendships and purpose.
Now 55, Sergeant Short plays and officiates at state and national levels, with achievements including the South Australian Division 2 title in 2019, the CB Sharp Gold Medal in 2022 and the Norwood Open in 2024.
'Integrity and fitness and the camaraderie all comes together.'
An Air Force Sports Council elite athlete, he has competed in the SA Men's Championship and North Adelaide Men's Invitation for multiple years, and was runner-up in the Eire Cup in 2024.
Croquet, a strategic lawn game where players use mallets to hit balls through hoops, is like "chess on grass", requiring careful planning of multiple shots.
This aligns with Sergeant Short's role in the Surveillance and Response Systems Program Office, enhancing P-8 aircraft capabilities.
The 2026 Eire Cup, a prestigious interstate competition since 1928, is his next focus after a strong second-place finish last year. Success could lead to the MacRobertson Shield, a global event set for England from July 24 to August 9, 2026.
Sergeant Short embodies Air Force values, especially integrity, calling his own fouls on the court, even if it costs a match.
"If you foul the shot and it's not right, you own it and you're off the court," he said, highlighting the discipline that defines his play.
Keen to introduce the sport to fellow aviators, Sergeant Short is organising a croquet day for his 20-person section to try golf croquet, a simpler version where players take turns hitting balls through seven hoops.
"Integrity and fitness and the camaraderie all comes together," he said, likening sport to military life.
For young aviators, Sergeant Short's advice is clear: "Find a sport that sparks passion."
Croquet, available at clubs in every state except the Northern Territory, welcomes all ages, building mental and physical strength.
