Bury — Page 16 — Croquet in the North West

Graham Good Wins B Level Golf Croquet down South

21 May 2015 by CA Website

Graham Good won the Wrest Park GC B-Level Tournament

by John Bevington at Wrest Park CC 20 May 2015 (Golf Croquet)

This is proving to be a popular tournament and was oversubscribed within days, aided no doubt by the club’s inclusion in the CA’s online entry system. The 16 players were divided into four blocks and after playing each other within the block the winners and runners-up from each block played a further round to leave two rounds of a knock-out to establish the winner.

Unfortunately manager Richard Keighley’s knee played up to such an extent that he was forced to leave the field during the afternoon, and it was by great good fortune that his wife Jean, who had volunteered to do the catering, happened to be there. We hope he recovers in time to enjoy his holiday.

The winner was Graham Good, who earned a handicap reduction from 3 to 2.

Final Results:

1st Graham Good; 2nd Roger Goldring; 3rd Louise Taylor; 4th David Thirtle-Watts.

Vi Richards Wins Millenium Golf Croquet

12 May 2015 by Jean Hargreaves

FEDERATION MILLENIUM HANDICAP GOLF CROQUET 9th May 2015

Vi Richards being presented with Millenium Golf Croquet trophy by David Barrett

The venue for the tournament had to be changed to Coronation Park after heavy rain made it impossible to mow Whitehead Park lawns for the event. Despite this and flooded lawns on Friday at Coronation Park the day started fine and the lawns had drained very well.

The morning was cold with one episode of rain but the weather changed for the afternoon to give a lovely finish to the day.

8 players from 4 clubs (Bowdon, Bury, Chester and Culcheth) joined in the tournament. The format was all play all. Chris Slater (Chester) started well by winning all 4 games before lunch.

The challenge was set – who could beat him in the afternoon? Answer – Chris lost his next 2 games so that at the end of round 6 Chris and Vi Richards (Bury) had each won 4 games with 4 other players having won 3 games each leading to a crucial final round. This round was fought extremely well but eventually Chris lost on the Golden Hoop whereas Vi won her game on the Golden Hoop having fought back from being 2-6 down! 4 players each won 4 games.

Congratulations Vi, and to all the players for giving us a good day of croquet.

David Walters Regains Golf Croquet Trophy

16 April 2015 by Paul Rigge

Lancashire 15th Open Golf Croquet Tournament 11/12 April 2015

David Walters receives the Lancashire Open Golf trophy from Bury Chair Paul Kenworthy

Heaton Park as a croquet venue, what can I report? Well because the Facility Club House had been booked by another organisation on ‘our’ weekend, we didn’t have morning main hut access, but after the ‘tool shed’ spring clean by Bury CC members, normal breakfast service was available from within that – it was also quite intimate and cosy for the Manager’s briefing with crew & players in there.

The playing surface outside continues to decline, lumps and bumps, tuffs and moss augmented the rabbit holes this year. Sad to see, but on a plus note Croquet is now being played on it’s 2014 Commonwealth built Bowls Facility in Glasgow – a great facility even further north.

The players this time were all in a single block, all play all, untimed 13 point games with the top four qualifying for the title run knock out (Bo3). A ranked consolation KO was available for those who failed to qualify.

All played nine games by home time on the first day, with the balance completed Sunday morning – although a few did want to leave earlier due to tired legs! (one pedometer reported 10.5 miles covered, but I don’t believe it).

The four highest ranked players were true to form & qualified for the KO which started an hour before lunch, with the final being fought by the two highest – could James retain the trophy for a second year? Err, No. He fell to the 2009 champion, David Walters.

The Consolation Singles KO title was won by Jane Pringle after a cracking match with Kath Wright.