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Riggy Retains Golf Croquet Crown

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Federation Millennium Level Play Golf Croquet  Tournament – 14/15 May 2016

David Barratt presents the Federation Millennium Level Play Golf Croquet trophy to winner Paul Rigge
David Barratt presents the Federation Millennium Level Play Golf Croquet trophy to winner Paul Rigge

Paul Rigge defended his Federation Title from last year, won at Chester, at Coronation Park, Bury, this weekend.

But he didn’t make it easy for himself, dropping block game after block game on the first day, but did enough by Sunday lunch to qualify for the KO stages.

Breezed through the semi’s to meet Dave Widdison in a Bo3 Final. Having gone 1 game up, he quickly lost the first 4 hoops in the second before recovering form to take the title 7-3, 7-4.

Was good to see our own Ken Eccles also fighting further down the field and he finished with points up on the weekend, he continues to climb the rankings.

CA Women defeat Fed Fellas’

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Boys Second Best at Bury

Miranda Chapman in action against David Openshaw (photo: Derek Deadman)
Miranda Chapman in action against David Openshaw (photo: Derek Deadman)

The CA Women won an inaugural match against the reigning Division 2 Inter-County Champions, Lancashire. The match was held to be a success and it is hoped that it can be repeated next year.

Of the match itself, James Hawkins writes:

The CA Women’s Squad played members of the Lancashire Inter-Counties squad at Bury’s Whitehead Park on 7/8 May. The Women won the match 6-3. The new lawns needed particular care from the players, resulting in several long matches. The outcome could have tipped in favour of either team, but congratulation to the Women for a deserved victory.

Results (Lancashire names first):

Paul Rigge and Lee Hartley beat Ailsa Lines and Beatrice McGlen -6T +17 +17;  James Hawkins and John Haslam beat Annabel McDiarmid and Liz Wilson +14 +11;  Dave Nick and Peter Wilson lost to Miranda Chapman and Sylvia Steer -1T -2T.

David Openshaw lost to Miranda Chapman -23 -20; James Hawkins lost to Annabel McDiarmid -12 -23;  Paul Rigge lost to Ailsa Lines -18 -8;  Dave Nick beat Beatrice McGlen +2 +21;  John Haslam lost to Liz Wilson -2T app ret;  Peter Wilson lost to Sylvia Steer -11 -1T.

 

Pop Up Croquet Tournament at Fylde

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South Shore Advanced Tankard Weekend, 16/17th April

Matt Holmes with the Spencer Ell trophy
Matt Holmes with the Spencer Ell trophy

Due to lawn conditions, Southport had to cancel the April Jubilee Tankard tournament planned for last weekend, however, Fylde jumped into the breech and invited all the entries to play on their dry courts.

Because of or in spite of an incorrect weather forcast, only Lancashire players turned out for this impromptu “Not Southport Tournament” or “Three-a-Day Advanced” with the same manager being retained for the new “venue”.

As it happens, shorts were in order on both days with loads of blue sky and early season sunshine – even Lee Hartley was seen without a scarf and coat, it was that warm!

Format was all play all over the two days and both Bury club members finished top of the heap with Matt Holmes having the Bragging rights over Paul Rigge  on who beat who.

Many thanks to FCC for Hosting at such very short notice and as an illustration of how much fun was had – all combatants stayed until the very last stroke.

Liz Wilson from Fylde also writes:

The Pop-Up Tournament

Following the cancellation of the Southport and Birkdale Advanced Tournament 7 entrants (Hartley, Hawkins, Holmes, Nicholson, Rigge, Wilson and Wilson) decided to play an impromptu tournament at Fylde over the weekend. As one of the players said “It is difficult to negotiate a whole weekend off to play and is therefore a shame to have nowhere to compete”. Fylde is lucky in being one of the few clubs in the North West who seem to have conquered their drainage problems and thanks to the hard work of Philip Bass and the other members of the club the lawns have been playable for most of the winter. Manager James Hawkins entertained and managed in equal measures and warm help-yourself whenever casseroles were provided to counteract the Arctic Winds. Both days had a fair dose of sun and more than one of the players complained of sunburn (or was it wind burn). It was run as an all play all with only the non-played match being Wilson vs Wilson. There were many amusing incidents, grievous peg-outs and crazy misses along the way and the whole tournament was played in Great Spirit with Nick playing his usual entertaining cat and mouse game with Liz Wilson (well I like to give you a chance!).   The “final” was between Paul Rigge and Matt Holmes with Matt running out the winner. In my opinion these pop-up tournaments are something for the Fed to consider – perhaps one day turn up and play events with a winner at the end of the season.

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