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Margaret Anderton Wins Regional All England AC Heat

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The All England Croquet Handicap NW Regional Final 1st – 2nd August 2012

Manager Don Williamson with Tony Thomas, Margaret Anderton and Alan Morton.
Manager Don Williamson with Tony Thomas, Margaret Anderton and Alan Morton.

Despite the inclement weather and a disappointing number of competitors, players gathered at Southport for the All England Croquet Handicap Regional final – the prize at stake – a trip to Ramsgate for the national final!.  Although a bit squelchy under foot, the lawns were in excellent condition under the circumstances.  A hugely enjoyable weekend followed as players battled it out with the threat of a Ramsgate journey never far away.  The event was excellently managed by Don Williamson who kept games flowing efficiently and as always the catering was 'par excellence' by Margaret Flemington.

Happy players dreaming of Ramsgate - l to r - Garry Wilson, Tony Thomas, Alan Farrell, Alan Morton, Margaret Anderton, Richard Harvey.
Happy players dreaming of Ramsgate – l to r – Garry Wilson, Tony Thomas, Alan Farrell, Alan Morton, Margaret Anderton, Richard Harvey.

The first day saw Alan Morton (Fylde) becoming the 'bookies favourite' but as evening approached other players acclimatised to the lawns (or were fortified by a superb lunch!) with Margaret Anderton (Bury) and Tony Thomas (Southport) coming into contention.   As the light rain cleared away on Sunday, the Southport sunshine encouraged improving play from Richard Harvey (Bury) and Alan Farrell (Southport).  New kid on the block Garry Wilson (Crake Valley) gave a spirited performance and is one to watch next season.

Eventually Margaret Anderton and Tony Thomas provided an entertaining finale to the watching spectators.  With Margaret on Peg and Penult, Tony on Peg and Peg, he roqueted Margarets peg ball onto the peg – ( a semi greivous?).  In his next turn, he went one better and did a 'proper grievous' leaving only two balls on the lawn.  Margaret hit in and two-balled the final hoops and pegged out – a well deserved victory.

The steady play of Alan Morton gave him third place and after much discussion was awarded the honour of representing the North West at the Ramsgate final.

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Pendle Win Best Ever Festival

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Pendle Win 2012 Federation  Jubilee Festival of Croquet

Successful Pendle team – Federation Jubilee Festival Champions 2012
Whatever did we do to upset the weather gods?  They threw everything at us during the 2012 Federation Festival of Croquet  –  dark clouds, heavy rain, high winds, thunder, even a few hailstones, before relenting their punishment to give us glorious sunshine for our presentations.  This was the biggest Festival tournament to date and the 27 teams representing 9 clubs seemed to agree it was also the most enjoyable.  The Southport club take great pride in hosting this event and provided an environment that would be difficult to better.  The amount of work involved in preparing and setting out 15 lawns each day is staggering not to mention the awesome standard of catering which served about 80 players daily.  The infamous North Lawns were in their best ever condition demonstrating the progress made since the club took full responsibility for their maintenance earlier this year.  The opportunity to meet so many croquet players from across the region in one event makes this Festival unique and continually reminds us why we have a strong North West Federation – together we succeed in making Croquet a competitive endeavour played in a spirit of great friendship.The Golf competition was won by Pendle who won all their matches.  Similarly, Westmorland won the Handicap competition , remaining undefeated in this event.  Llanfairfechan only lost one of their Short matches to take the Short trophy.  In a tense final match, Fylde won the Advanced shield (for the second year running).Team performance in each event gains points to determine the championship club.  By a small margin Pendle were declared 2012 Festival Champions with Westmorland a close runner up.
SHORTGOLFHCPADVPtsPlace
Bowdon5-----2-----78
Bury233197
Chester444-----123
Culcheth-----2----------29
Fylde3153123 =
Llanfairfechan75----------123 =
Pendle68----------141
Southport1612106
Westmorland-----76-----132
Advanced Winners – Fylde
Handicap Winners – Westmorland

 

N.W. Fed. Festival of Croquet 2012

The teams they came from Timbuktu,
All decked in colours, red and blue.
The challenge rang the North West through,
For Southport’s croquet lawns.

Frantic members measured lines,
Laid the hoops twice, fifteen times,
Spread tea and buffet super fine,
For Southport’s croquet lawns.

Gazebos raised defied the rain.
And sure enough the rain it came.
But wind and hail don’t stop the game
On Southport’s croquet lawns.

Black clouds thundered overhead
And to the clubhouse spectators sped,
But on they played the North West Fed
On Southport’s croquet lawns.

Four events, twenty seven teams,
Hundred plus players walked the greens,
Made a real inspiring scene
On Southport’s croquet lawns.

Brave at golf Rod Sutton played,
Newly joined, but not afraid,
To join in matches here assayed
On Southport’s croquet lawns.

Our Advanced team scooped up second place,
The Golf team’s third did not disgrace,
But trophies eluded every chase
On Southport’s croquet lawns.

The Advanced was won by Fylde I reckon
The Short went west with Llanfairfechan
Westmorland’s Handicap won collection,
From Southport’s croquet lawns.

But Golf gave Pendle pride of place,
The sun shone to light the winners’ face.
Best in the North West is no disgrace
On Southport’s croquet lawns.

The hoards of players dissolved away
Reflecting on friends they made at play
But will return another day
To Southport’s croquet lawns.

By Kath Thomas, SBCC, 2nd July 2012

Short Winners – Llanfairfechan
Golf Winners – Pendle

Gallery – press any image to start slideshow:

Pennine Cup Stays in North East (Charles Waterfield reports from Earby 24 June 2012)

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North East beat North West by 6-3 in Pennine Cup at Pendle

Pennine Cup Teams at Pendle – June 2012

 

Croquet North (once again without Yorkshire Federation representatives) won this year’s ‘battle of the Roses’. The NE team, led by Charles, retained the trophy they won last year (just as well, as they had omitted to bring the cup with them!). Lancashire had earlier been instructed by Paul Rigge (not present this time) to make sure they finished the morning session three up, which they duly did.

The usual generous Pendle lunch, and possibly the sunny afternoon (after it having been exceptionally wet over the previous days), must have reinvigorated the NE contingent, because all the afternoon singles went their way –in the end!

Many thanks owed to all the Pendle members for making three lawns available, setting out the equipment and being so hospitable once again.

 

Teams:
NW Fed: James Hawkins (½), Roger Schofield (2.5), Dennis Graham (3), Mike Steer (4), Terry Vernazza (6), Sylvia Steer (7).
NE Fed: Charles Waterfield (½), Phil Errington (2.5), Peter McDermott (2.5), Roger Staples (4.5), David Turner (7) & Alice Fleck (12).

Results (NE names first):
Doubles: Charles & Alice lost to Dennis & Mike 16-22T; Phil & Roger lost to James & Sylvia -15, Peter & David lost to Roger 16-23T.
Singles: Charles beat James +8, Phil beat Roger +3, Peter beat Dennis 19-10T, Roger beat Mike +17, David beat Terry 24-23T, Alice beat Sylvia 20-17T.
[Roger Staples’ HC changed from 4.5 to 4]

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