Brian Storey Takes the Cavendish Clock
(Crake Valley Advanced Weekend – 17/18 August)

Saturday morning  the  players gathered for a weekend of competition  and anticipation     As  we sat down for  lunch the heavens opened  and not a ball was struck  in the afternoon.  Most of the competitors  retired to the Farmers Arms  at  Lowick, where  the tournament  dinner was held that evening, and yet again a  fine Meal was provided  by  Angus and  Debbie.

Sunday  brought fine weather  and a drying wind. The  lawns played as good as ever.

The  final of the event  was between  the veteran  66 year old from  Bowdon, Brian Storey  and the  shy retiring youngster from  Bury,  Paul  Rigge.  Paul progressed to the final  beating  “The  Wilsons  of  Fylde”  and  Dave Nick +24tp.  Brian  beating  Peter Wardle of Crake  Valley +26tp  in the semi final  with his second  TP  of the weekend.

The sayings: ” An old dog for a long trail,  and  experience  will beat exuberance”, certainly  held true  with Brian being the event  winner  +15.  Congratulations to Brian on his  handicap change to minus one

Results:
M  HOLMES    BT     J  ALLCOCK    +26
D  NICK   BT    P  WARDLE       +9
B  STOREY  BT  L  WILSON   +I5
P  RIGGE    BT    P  WILSON    +23
P  WARDLE   BT   J  ALLCOCK    +6
D  NICK     BT       A   BRANDWOOD   +13
P  RIGGE   BT     L  WILSON    +26
B   STOREY   BT   P  WILSON    +15
B   STOREY       BT     P  RIGGE    +6TP
D  NICK        BT      J   ALLCOCK   +15
P  WILSON      BT      L  WILSON     +2
B  STOREY    BT   P  WARDLE    +26TP
P  WILSON      BT      J  ALLCOCK     +12
L   WILSON    BT    A  BRANDWOOD   +2
P  RIGGE       BT     D   NICK    +24TP
A  BRANDWOOD   BT   P  WARDLE  +15
L WILSON     BT       J   ALLCOCK   +15
P   WILSON   BT    D   NICK    +1
B  STOREY    BT   P  RIGGE   +15

Brian Storey won the Leven & Crake Valley Advanced Croquet Weekend

Brian Storey won the Cumbria Cup, beating Tom Griffith in the final +20, +3.

Sixteen competitors met for the usual well managed and hosted weekend at Crake Valley Croquet Club on a gloriously hot and sunny weekend. In a first round upset, Peter Moore from Nottingham beat Dave Nick with the other rounds going with handicap. In round two Peter Moore continued his wining streak beating Peter Wardle +1T. Other winners in the quarter finals were Lee Hartley, Tom Griffiths, and Brian Storey. By semi-final time four competitors were playing in bare feet and most were showing a quantity of bare flesh. Tom Griffith took on Peter Moore and Brian Storey played Lee Hartley. Both Tom and Brian were on cracking form and won their matches easily setting up a best-of-three final for the Sunday. An excellent and hearty meal for 20 followed on the Saturday night with a fiendish anagram quiz to entertain.

Sunday dawned equally sunny with the first game of the final being won easily by Brian Storey +20. The second game, however, entertained for hours with Brian coming out the eventual winner +3, giving him a 2 – 0 win and the Cumbria Cup.

The plate was tied between Ray Lowe and Alan Pidcock and was settled by a shoot out at the peg which was won (eventually) by Alan. Well done to Dave Nick and the Crake Club for hosting a splendid event and well done to Brian Storey for his win.