May AC Hcp Tournament for the Carol Lewis Trophy 15 May 2021 at Southport & Birkdale Croquet Club

Southport held their first Croquet tournament of the season yesterday in a day of two halves – west weather gear being needed in the morning followed by bursts of glorious sunshine in the afternoon. This popular AC Handicap tournament is usually held over a weekend each May, but in these Covid safety times, the event was restricted to one day and only eight competitors.

The event attracted players with a handicaps ranging from -1.5 to +24, including rising star Jack Good from Bury alongside the experienced Alan Pidcock and Don Williamson from Southport. Southport also provided the defending champion Peter Williams and the field was completed with Sue Pritchard and Neil Adams from Westmorland and brothers Richard and David Harding from Llanfairfechan. Interestingly Richard is a former member of Southport and planning to make a very welcome return to the game.

The Trophy was decided via a ‘knock-out’ format over three rounds, Neil, Jack, Don and Alan winning through to the second round, on lawns that played well but could be variable in places. The lawns have only opened in the last ten days and still showed evidence of the maintenance contractors efforts.

The final was an interesting battle between experience and brilliant young skills, as Alan and Jack produced a match which kept the watching spectators enthralled. The trophy went to Jack Good who completed the day unbeaten and earned handicap reduction from 16 to 14.

The defending champion, Peter came close, only losing one match, as did Alan and Neil.

The trophy was presented by Brian Lewis and the event was very ably managed by Don and Diana Williamson.