2021 — Page 6 — Croquet in the North West

Ged Wins North West All England Croquet Heat

23 August 2021 by Peter Wilson

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

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.

Lou Pell Wins Fed 2021 Millenium Hcp Golf Croquet

23 August 2021 by Liz Wilson

*Simon Robins (Crake Chair) presents Lou Pell with Millenium GC Hcp Trophy*

The North West Federation Millenium Handicap Golf Tournament featured 12 players (handicaps 7 to 12) from seven different clubs – Westmorland, Chester, Fylde, Penrith, Pendle & Craven, Crake Valley & Bury

A heavy soaking of the lawns the night before meant they ran slow to start but speeded up as the sun smiled and the standard of play was high.

2 blocks of 6 meant everybody got 5 games at the end of which it was calculated who had won most games and most hoops if equal to determine semi finalists

Howard Bowron (Penrith & North Lakes), despite giving free shots galore being a 2 handicapper, still managed to get to the semis where he succumbed to Chester’s Tom Grievson 4-7. The other semi was contested between David Carpenter, of Pendle & Craven, losing out to Fylde’s Lou Pel also 4-7.

Tom and Lou then contested the final, watched by all competitors, with Lou coming out the eventual winner 7-4 !

2 trophies were awarded, one to be given back next year and another that Lou will keep for ever presented by Simon Robbins

A big thank you to Sandra Cornes who ran the tournament in a truly beautiful location.

(Some additional information provided by David Cornes)

Pendle Retain Festival Cup in Record Breaking Event

18 August 2021 by Chris Alvey

Covid prevented it in 2020, delayed it in 2021, but it finally happened … the Great North West Annual Festival of Croquet made a very welcome return at Southport last weekend for the 26th time. Was it worth the wait? Well record numbers provide the answer – 41 teams played in the five competitions and it is estimated over 107 people attended each day, supporting the claim this event is the largest gathering of Croquet players in the UK (some claim the world!). It started in sunshine, finished in sunshine, between we had wind and rain, but this could not deter the wonderful ‘great to be back’ atmosphere at Southport & Birkdale Croquet Club.

Teams clad in different colours, the mix of beginners and experts, contesting five different croquet competitions, produce an unrivalled spectacle of excitement and enjoyment making this the premier event in the north west croquet calendar.

The Southport club presented 16 lawns in excellent condition, a tribute to the many weeks of preparation led by the Grounds Manager Don Williamson and over the weekend the club members who arrived early to set out all equipment needed and kept refreshments flowing throughout the event.

The number of games required to be played put pressure on the lawn availability and gave a logistical headache to Manager Ivan Wheatley, who managed the event superbly. As always, the Federation was willing to try new ideas – Triple Banking was used again in the Level Play AC event, the strange colours not causing too much hassle, whilst Doubles teams were controversionally utilised in the Short AC event without causing any major problems – another first for the Federation.

As always, some excellent croquet was played, with rounds of applause from watching spectators in abundance, of course not forgetting cries of anguish from players who fluffed their shots. The standard of play was high with many close contests in all sections. Tales of games ‘given away’could be heard all over the weekend. The most outstanding performance was produced by the two youngest players – Jack Good and Will Mellor representing Bowdon, who won every match they played and securing the Level Play Golf Croquet shield for their club.

*Pendle 2021 Festival Champions*
Back Row: Sharon deMaine, Paul Dowdall, David Carpenter, Garry Wilson, Gediminas Smolskas, Andrew Webb, Bob Burnett, Paul Rigge.
Front Row: Karen Bamforth, Libby Dixon, Gabiji Smolskiene.

And the Winners Were:
Level Play AC Winners – Pendle.
Full Lawn Handicap AC Winners – Westmorland.
Short Lawn Handicap AC Winners – Fylde.
Level Play Golf Croquet Winners – Bowdon.
Handicap Golf Croquet Winners – Pendle.
The overall Festival Champions – Pendle (who also won in 2019).

Federation Chair Paul Rigge thanks everyone

Paul Rigge, Federation Chairman summed it all up in his closing remarks – “Isn’t it great to be back, what a wonderful weekend, thank you everyone for making this Festival such an incredible event”.