As ever there was a grand early turn out to put out the lawns, get the timers ready, put the flag out, get the kettle on, check handicaps, sort out bisques, go through the briefing for players and timekeepers and even get in a few minutes warm up – not bad for a Sunday – and just after 10.00 the first round was in full swing.
A lot of laughter in the warm sunshine as players rushed across lawns (I do mean players, but balls were rushed too), fielded more or less successfully for each other and generally tried not to get in the way but to work as a team.
It was great to see some relative novices play alongside experienced players and to see some excellent partnership work and good spirit in the face of defeat and generosity in victory.
The timekeepers too deserve a special mention – Mike, Mary, Libby and assorted players provided excellent and concentrated support in a task that is more demanding than might be expected.
And thanks to Geoff for checking the clocks before the competition.
This is a light-hearted day’s competition but the basic laws and rules of croquet must not be neglected – we all learned a lot about the importance of keeping our mouths shut when we are itching to say something about a game; and referees were called upon several times as players got caught up in the maelstrom of their games.
After tea we enjoyed the semi finals between Kathy & Brigit v Pat & Neil, and Peter & James v Richard and Violet.
The partnership between Peter Dyke and James Galpin was outstanding in its teamwork and they gained a well-deserved place in the final where they will face Pat Long and Neil Devine.
The results
Blocks
| Block A | Linda
Sandra |
David
John |
Peter
James |
Pat
Neil |
Wins | Points | Pos’n |
| Linda
Sandra |
-5 | -11 | -6 | 0 | 4 | ||
| David
John |
+5 | -4 | -8 | 1 | 3 | ||
| Peter
James |
+11 | +4 | +12 | 3 | 1 | ||
| Pat
Neil |
+6 | +8 | -12 | 2 | 2 |
| Block B | Rob
Doreen |
Richard
Violet |
Kathy
Brigit |
Geoff
Terry |
Wins | Points | Pos’n |
| Rob 4
Doreen 8 |
+4 | -11 | +8 | 2 | -7 | 3 | |
| Richard 3.5
Violet 8 |
-4 | +5 | +10 | 2 | +1 | 2 | |
| Kathy 2
Brigit 5 |
+11 | -3 | +2 | 2 | +8 | 1 | |
| Geoff 0
Terry 7 |
-8 | -10 | -7 | 0 | 4 |
Semi final
| Winners of Block A
Peter and James |
v | Runners up of Block B
Richard and Violet |
14:3 | Peter and James |
| Winners of Block B
Kathy and Brigit |
v | Runners up of Block A
Pat and Neil |
14:3 | Pat and Neil |
Final
| Peter and James | v | Pat and Neil |
