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David Cornes on way to National Croquet Final

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National GC B Series – Pendle Round – Saturday 15th May 2021

David Cornes being presented with the Pendle GC B Series Trophy from Paul Rigge

This year, the series comprises of 24 rounds across the country with only 3 awarded to clubs north of the midlands. Our round, held this weekend, was the first of those. 

Despite the forecast (wet), players gathered from Leicester, Crake, Bury, Ripon Spa, Durham as well as Pendle’s own to complete for not only our tankard, but a place in the National Final at season end.

Play was organised into a single all-play-all block, and the players ‘peddled on’ impressively with the workload – the manager kept sending them back out to contest the next round as soon as a game score had been handed in!

At the presentation, the manager thanked the field for putting on such a strong show, some playing  in their very first tournament and noted that playing standard improved during the day as did the weather. The majority of scores being a tight 7-6 or 7-5. 

National points were earned by McCann, Leach & Daines but the Tankard and top spot was taken, by a very solid NW Federation member David Cornes.

Jack Good Wins Southport Handicap

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

Southport President Brian Lewis presents the Carol Lewis Trophy to Jack Good (Bury)

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.

Jack Good (Bury)

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.

Alan Pidcock (Southport)

CA COVID-19 GUIDANCE UPDATED FROM 17th MAY 2021

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The CA’s Covid-19 guidance for clubs and players has been updated from 17th May to reflect the relaxation of restrictions for Step 3 of the government’s roadmap. A risk assessment has been provided to underpin it, which clubs are invited to adapt for their own use. The practical changes from the version published on 7th April are that occupancy limits for courts are removed; use of clubhouses is permitted, but with a gathering limit of six (or two households if greater) and use of face coverings; and car sharing is now permitted. The guidance for tournaments has also been updated.

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