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Brian Lewis Wins Inaugural Carol Lewis AC Trophy

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Southport Jubilee Handicap AC Tournament – renamed as the Carol Lewis Memorial Trophy – 19/20 May 2018

Brian Lewis – inaugural winner of the first Carol Lewis Trophy

On a wonderful weekend in Southport, eight contenders (including three local players) battled it out in the former Southport Jubilee Handicap Tournament, now renamed as the Carol Lewis Memorial Trophy.  With excellent weather and catering, after two days play, Brian Lewis of Southport scored a very popular victory beating Alan Clark from Watford by + 13 in an absorbing final.

Handicap reductions were earned by Jon Diamond (from 1 to 0.5) and Brian Lewis (from 7 to 6).

Players involved: Alan Clark (Watford); Jon Diamond (Tunbridge Wells); Barbara Haslam (Southport); Joe Lennon (Glasgow); Brian Lewis (Southport); Gail Moors (Southport); Nigel Roberts (Middlesbrough); Dennis Scarr (Middlesbrough).

Flying High at Chester Croquet on NCD

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 Chester Croquet Club gets a “fly by” on National Croquet Day – 13 May 2018

Beluga in Finkenwerder (photo courtesy of Airbus)

Chester members were enjoying the sunshine with a social last Sunday when we had a fly past by a spectacular plane – an Airbus Beluga. We would like to have thought the pilot and crew were merely flying over to watch croquet in action on National Croquet Day but in reality they were on a routine flight from near-by Broughton.

Perhaps I should explain: Airbus makes large commercial planes, notably the A380 plus series. The wings are made in Broughton but the final plane assembly is in Toulouse or Hamburg. Can’t stick the wings in the post so what do you do? The answer is an ingenious modification of an A300 into the Airbus Beluga which can take wings in its “belly”.

If you see an unusually large plane fly over your croquet club, you’ll now know what it is.

PS: an even bigger Beluga is under development to transport a pair of A350 wings in one go. The wings of the A380 which are too large for even the Beluga XL have to go by sea.

My thanks to Aeron Haworth of Airbus for providing the superb image and the accurate technical data”

John Dawson, Secretary, Chester Croquet Club.

Goode and Wilson are BC winners at Pendle AC Event

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Pendle B/C Level Play AC Tournament – 12/13 May 2018

Clive Goode won the B level and Garry Wilson won the C level.  With twelve entrants, the format was an Egyptian competition for the overall winner, but within it, an all-play-all for the three C level competitors trying to win the inaugural C level trophy. 

After the first day, the two B level favourites Derek Watts (1) from Tyneside and Clive Goode (1) from Nottingham were lagging behind Dennis Scarr (1.5) from Middlesborough, who had won all three of his games. His overnight lead was sustained with the first of his two Sunday games.  He had now won four games yet needed to play a fifth. The only player in possible contention was Clive Goode who could overtake Dennis, should he win.  The final game would provide the tournament winner and with a reversal of fortunes, Clive beat Dennis +16 to take the B level title by one point. 

The C Level was decided earlier with Garry Wilson (10) from Pendle beating Joe Lennon (8) from Glasgow on a golden hoop and then beating Rosemary Saunders-Robertson (8) of Edinburgh +7.

There were notable disasters for some and excellent scalps for others, but the weather made for enjoyable croquet no matter the outcome. The only handicap change was Garry triggering down to 9.

 

 

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