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Ged Wins North West All England Croquet Heat

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Gediminas Smolskas won the A/C All England Area Final at Bury 21/22 August 2021

Gediminas Smolskas

Although Bury CC gave him a handicap adjustment to 14 just before the tournament Ged remained the bookies favourite to take a qualifying place in the final. Phil Snowden (Fylde CC) took the other place on offer. 

While many a good game was played the best rumble was between Ged and Phil in the final round played in strong Sunshine. It provided wonderful entertainment for the spectators: Ged was on 5 and peg, Phil on 1 and 1 when Phil got in and pegged Ged out. The ensuing three ball ending between these two talented players ( each with one bisque remaining) was a treat to watch. Both players favoured the direct break building approach without much hiding, lurking or taking pos. 

With Phil on peg and peg time was called Ged hit in from distance (This was the only game in the weekend that went to time). He made 10 and 11 and faced a shot to run Rover which would win the game +1, however it only jawsed, leaving the scores tied. Phil missed a 10 yarder at the peg and Ged ran the trivial Rover to take a clean sweep and an automatic handicap reduction.

Commiserations to Richard Leach (Bury CC) in third place who has a relaxed style and plays with a fast steady rhythm that is a pleasure to see.

The Coronation Park Venue was in terrific shape with the hoops set perfectly and the lawns playing reasonably easily. Jean Hargreaves made the tournament management look effortlessly easy. (Personal note: making this one of the most enjoyable I have played). Roger Schofield and Alan Moreton also made some fine play during the event.

This historic tournament has been running for almost one hundred years. First won in 1923 by J B Hubbard. It provides a wonderful experience for new tournament players who can experience the challenges of competition and also learn etiquette and possibly some of the finer points of the Laws as they play.

If your club has a rapid improver or two and you do not regularly enter, please take some time, perhaps at your next AGM, to consider organising a qualifying internal tournament and entering. Your young stars will thank you for their chance.

Peg Decides Fylde Croquet Winner

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GED SMOLSKAS WINS FYLDE SHORT AC JUBILEE TROPHY 24/25 July 2021

Ged Smolskas

As with so many tournaments this year our numbers were down, we had six. On the plus side it created single banked games and a pleasantly quiet atmosphere during the games. Two time winner John Henderson beat Fylde’s Phil Snowden in round 1 with a masterclass of patience. Gediminas Smolskas narrowly beat John in a nail biting finish. Phil beat Ged in the final round. Both players are learning the game rapidly, but Phil pegged Ged out and his extra experience got him home.

Unfortunately by this point we had two withdrawals from our already small field of six. Both absentees had very good reasons. Replacements were brought in.

After the last round with a three way tie out of only four players, the tie breakers all remained equal. Five areas at different distances from the peg were chosen with 2 points for the nearest (2 yards), six points for the farthest ( 8 yards). John, Ged and Phil were asked to secretly select three areas on paper, then cards were drawn to decide the order of play. Ged scored 3 and 4 but missed from 6, but that proved to be the winning score.

The lawns played fast.

Sun Shines on Dave Kibble Taking Away the Pendle Bowl

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PENDLE & CRAVEN MIDWEEK TOURNAMENT – Dave Kibble retains the Rose Bowl.

See all match details at Croquet Scores: https://croquetscores.com/2021/ac/pendle-craven/rose-bowl

Paul Rigge triggers to minus one and a half. Croquet welcomed Richard Harding back, playing smooth Croquet after a long absence from the game.

The week resolved four tournaments. Covid had reduced the number entering and so things were not as flexible as they are usually were. Therefore the Addict Trophy for the most games was re-branded for this year as the Peeling Bonanza Trophy. This did cause some variation in play as some rivalry was generated, especially from the high low doubles pairings.

A special mention is due to Tom Dewar who came as a spectator for the first two days but assisted in the catering and lawn maintenance throughout his time here. A second special mention to Roger Staples Fruit Salad. Unanimously voted the best fruit salad we ever tasted. Croquet lore says eating of the fruit salad improves your game and Roger has clearly eaten of the fruit salad recently, being half of the winning doubles side with Paul Rigge and winning the B Class (albeit by 1 Sonneborn–Berger  point).

While the rest of the country was awash with rain and low pressure Pendle was bathed in Sunshine.

Some other stuff happened too:

Richard received a loud spontaneous round of applause for his roquet jump shot over hoop one.

At the end of day two, opponents and  spectators fell silent at the ending of a doubles match. Lorna had been pegged out Steve then out drilled out a ball from the jaws of penult from 18 yards.  What followed was a magnificent three ball break to the peg and box to win the game.

However in his next game with time called and the balls in all the corners Steve hit a 14 yarder and then a thin take off from hoop three to inside the ball at corner four. That ball was rushed to corner one and then that one to hoop seven which was run. From there, a four ball break to peg out.

Photo shows Ken Jones trialing the latest technique for determining a wiring lift:


The manager, Liz Wilson, must get a mention for the choreography of four trophies accommodating several players only coming for two days and therefore two tournament meals at the Jade Palace. In addition the Euros semi final with England involved had to be factored in with a nice early finish on that day.

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