Croquet in the North West

North West Federation of Croquet Clubs - for everything Croquet in the north west

You are here: Home / Archives for Paul Rigge

Storm Ellen Defeated by Croquet Millenium

by

NW Federation Millennium AC Advanced
21/22 August 2020 at Pendle & Craven Croquet Club

Sixteen players, sent by their clubs in the NW Federation to compete in this, the ‘Local Friendly Advanced Tournament’ against the people they meet in the local league teams…well that’s the idea anyway.

What we actually got was only fifteen competitors – one had to withdraw at 4am Saturday morning due to Government Covid Lockdown being slapped onto his borough but the rest were all desperate to play some competitive Advanced Croquet this year. The morning also brought other surprises – Storm ‘Ellen’ had ripped & shredded the Marquee into a heap, it was going to provide ‘socially distanced’ C-19 cover to the entries and two flooded lawns – plans of mice & men, etc.

With a mixture of multiple Cars & Sheds, sufficient rain shelter was available on a wet first day to comply with restrictions in place for the out-players. Play in the two stage blocks (A & B) progressed throughout the day as all four courts were restored to playable condition before noon. Dodging the showers by close on the first day ‘A’ flight had completed four rounds, with three credited to the ‘B’s.

Sunday brought brighter weather and the completion of the top flight’s all-play-all collimating in the ‘final’ between the two unbeaten contenders.

There can be only one winner and the ‘Neil Williams’ returns back to Bowdon in the happy hands of John-Paul Moberly this year.

JP Moberley receives the Millenium AC A Trophy from Paul Rigge

After Five rounds in the ‘B’, the only unbeaten player…Lorna Dewar.

Lorna Dewar receives the Millenium AC B Trophy from Paul Rigge with Manager Abdul Ahmad.

Thanks are due to the entire Pendle team for the successful hosting: Gill, Peter, Abdul & Riggey on Thursday. Abdul, Robin, Paul D & Riggey on Friday and of course Abdul for managing the players over the weekend.

Paul Rigge

JP Moberley Wins 21st Open Lanc Golf Croquet

by

21st Lanc Open Golf Croquet Winner J P Moberley

21st Lancashire Open Golf Croquet – 18/19th July at Pendle & Craven Croquet Club.

Quiz time – What do you call a mix of four International croquet players, four County Players, three members of the Junior development squad, their youth development director and four other Tournament Hackers?…why the 2020 Golf Croquet Lancashire Open, of course!

In a year when *all* tournament play has been either postponed or closed down, Pendle Croquet Club were delighted to host the Croquet Association leg of the Ascot Cup Qualifier.

With only three qualifiers being held this year (out of a schedule of eight), the entry field was the strongest yet with the Current English Captain, two Current English Team members and a Scottish international heading up the seedlings, throw in a fourteen year old, a 21 and a 22 year old from the youth development program and it was always going to be an interesting weekend, as well as a wonderful advert for this game – young & old, males & females, all mixing it up together in open contest.

2020 21 Open Lanc GC at Pendle

Format for the Sixteen players: Two All-play-All Blocks of 8. Top four Qualified for Bo3 KO Quarter Final in main event. Losing QF into Bowl KO to contest 5-8 places.

None qualifiers played cross-block all-play-all Plate with KO option to resolve any ties.

The Final couldn’t have been any closer between the English Captain and one of his team mates. One game all, 6-6 in third, so ‘golden hoop’ for the title – J-P Moberly held his nerve over Richard Bilton to lift the ‘David Hopkins’ bon bon dish.

Bowl – Paul Rigge from Callum Johnson and the Plate event lifted by Scotland’s Lorna Dewar.

Thanks are due to Pendle Croquet Club members: Gill for handing over a bug free environment, Paul D for mowing, Paul R for court creation, Abdul A for managing and to Richard Bilton for ‘CroquetScore’ postings and every attending player for a creating a great atmosphere whilst ‘socially distancing’ during these ‘difficult’ times…. Stay Safe.”

More Photos: https://fdsconsultants.box.com/s/qjkc5ew00fzd0s4qi3bc7v8hh52toz7u

Tournament Croquet Back at Pendle

by

Federation Millennium AC Handicap at Pendle 11/12 July 2020

Pendle Club Opened for tournament play again, hosting the Federation’s Millennium Hcp Fixture for 2020. Clubs in the NW region sent two players each to contest the tournament, vying to take the title in their own right upon Pendle’s four lawns under Gov & CA Covid guidance. The club laid on a outdoor marquee to shelter outplayers should the weather turn, but I’m happy to report that it wasn’t required.

Three rounds were played on the Saturday, and the fourth round got off to a sunny start with the Sunday morning producing a clear leader as Anne and Chris Alvey played each other having both won 3 matches on Day 1. Anne knocked Chris all over the lawn to take the win by 17. David Cornes, Paul Dowdall, Philip Bass, Barbara Young & Steve Skelton also took victories in the mornings play.

Pendle lawns hosting Millennium AC Handicap

The afternoon had the potential to make it a tie break situation for second place, but the final standings were:
Joint 3rd were John Henderson, David Cornes and Philip Snowdon all with three wins;
Runner Up Chris Alvey with four;
Tournament Winner Anne Alvey having won all five.

Anne reduced her handicap to 18 whilst David Cornes had his handicap reduced to 14 by tournament handicapper Paul Rigge.

Tournament under-manager Liz Wilson and all of the players would like to extend their thanks to Paul Rigge and Pendle & Craven Croquet club for their organisation and hospitality, we all felt safe & secure – it’s great to be back playing.

Find a Category

Webmaster – Chris Alvey (webmaster@croquetnw.co.uk)