John Prince was a lad of 15 when he began playing croquet at Naenae in Lower Hutt 38 years ago.
Yesterday his services to the game, as a player and administrator, were recognised in the New Year honours list with a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit.
Prince began to build an impressive croquet CV as a player first. He captained New Zealand as a 24-year-old and later progressed to administration, where his record is as distinguished as it had been on the croquet lawn.
At 17, Prince became the youngest person to play in the MacRobertson Shield, croquet's equivalent of the world cup.
"A Welsh friend of mine asked me recently if I was now trying to become the oldest to play in the tournament. But I've got a few years to go to break that record," said Prince, now 54.
In two weeks he will play in his ninth MacRobertson Shield tournament, this time on his home green at the United club in Hagley Park.
Besides being a member of the New Zealand team, he has been on the organising committee for the tournament, and over the years has held a number of positions on the New Zealand Croquet Council. Last year he finished a four-year term as the national vice-president.
Prince's knowledge and expertise in the game has also been recognised overseas. He is a member of the management committee of the World Croquet Council, and in 1996 had the rare honour of being made an honorary member of the Croquet Association. The award was recognition for his contribution to the game and as an ambassador for New Zealand croquet.
Prince has won 36 New Zealand titles and captained the New Zealand teams that won the MacRobertson Shield in 1979 and 1986.
In 1990 he cut back his playing. "I didn't have quite the same enthusiasm, but in the last few years the enthusiasm has returned," he said.
Yesterday's award added the gloss for Prince on the old millennium.
The ideal start to the new millennium will be helping New Zealand win the
MacRobertson Shield for the fourth time.