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North West Regain Pennine Croquet Crown

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North West Win Annual Pennine Cup 2nd July 2017

2017 Pennine Cup Players (photo: Phil Errington)

A team of 6 from The North East met up with the Team from The North West at Pendle’s Lawns on Sunday 2nd July.  The North East Team was lead by Charles Waterfield (2) and included Derek Watts (½) , Phil Errington (1), Roger Staples (3), Nigel Roberts (11) and John Fitzpatrick (16).  The North West Team was Captained by Liz Wilson (1 ½ ) and included Mark Lloyd (0), Peter Wilson ( ½ ), David Lloyd (8), Paul Dowdall (10) and Betty Bates (12). 

The morning doubles finished 2 – 1 to the North East with Liz and Betty just snatching victory on time to gain a valuable point.  The afternoon games were played as 3 Advanced and 3 Handicap.  Paul Dowdall won his game against Nigel Roberts in record time winning +24.   The other two handicap games had honours shared with Betty beating John but David losing to Roger Staples.  The Advanced games were won by Peter +18 (vs Phil Errington) and Mark Lloyd +15 vs Derek Watts.  The Captains’ match was looking like a white wash for Liz but she pulled it back in the last ½ hour and only narrowly lost – 8 against Charles.  Both the weather and the company were good. 

Thanks to Pendle for hosting.  And many thanks to the North West players from the manager.  The final score 5 – 4 to the good guys!  The trophy is back in the North West – Hurrah! North West Regain Pennine Cup.

Pendle Create a Croquet Clean Sweep in Midlands

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Pendle Make More Progress in Longman Cup

On Sat July 1, at a superbly appointed sporting club in Kenilworth, the Pendle & Craven Croquet team were greeted by the home team Captain, Cliff Daniel, to play on 2 immaculately tendered Courts. Play being started at approximately 10:30 am after a welcome cup of tea/coffee had been consumed.

A relative newcomer to the Associsation game, but experienced Croquet Golfer, Libby Dixon, demonstrated her ball hitting ability & hoop running skill, to overwhelm her opposition in both her games against Melvyn Harvey and John Leader.  The fast improving Paul Dowdall also beat Melvyn and also prevailed  against Captain Cliff Daniel, (+8).  All these singles games finished, well within the  3 ¼ time limit in double banked conditions.

By contrast, the Doubles and the two afternoon singles, played on the Court in front of the pavilion, were decided on time, at the end of 3¼ hours. Catherine Parnell & Robin Delves overcame Cliff Daniel and Ray Clipson (+5).  In the singles Catherine conquered John Leader (+13), having been in receipt of three Bisques.  Whilst in the other Singles, both Ray and Robin were off the same Handicap (10) so there were no Bisques and both are Octogenarians and this was a close run thing, but PENDLE were just able to complete a clean sweep.

A superb day was concluded with further kind hospitallity when tea, cake and buns were consumed to fortify the Pendle team for a three hour journey home.

Longman Cup Result: Kenilworth 0 Pendle & Craven 7

 

 

Bury Win 2017 Croquet Federation Festival

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Bury Win 2017 Federation Festival for Sixth Time

Bury – 2017 Federation Festival Champions

Fylde 2017 Advanced Winners
Westmorland 2017 Handicap Winners
Bowdon 2017 Short Croquet Winners
Bury 2017 Golf Croquet Winners


Another successful Federation Festival of Croquet at Southport on 24/25 June 2017. With weather from drizzle to glorious sunshine, players clad in a spectrum of team colours, Riggy and Hawkins dressed by Matalan, the play ranged from spectacular to crazy. What a great weekend celebrating not just Croquet in the north west but sheer enjoyment in the company of about 150 croquet players of all abilities, from beginners to experts, from clubs around our region.

If a team was short of a player – no problem – a quick free transfer from another club saved the day with only minimum confusion.

The south lawns were pristine and the north lawns continue to improve – a great tribute to Don Williamson and Terry Dunbar who manage these lawns.  The Southport club were not only great hosts but early risers, setting out 13 lawns each day plus all the accompanying bits and pieces like gazebos, tables, chairs, etc.  As always the catering team rose to the occasion par excellence!  

Ivan Wheatley thanked the club for making this Festival a wonderful occasion.  He also paid tribute to tournament manager James Hawkins whose efficient management ensured everyone were in their right places at the right time, (well almost everyone!).

Results:

Individual successes resulted in some handicap changes:
Betty Bates (Fylde) from 14 to 12; Mike Steer (Bowdon) from 4 to 3.5; Chris Alvey (Bury) from 18 to 16; Ivan Wheatley (Westmorland) from 7 to 6; Sue Pritchard (Westmorland) from 18 to 16.

Advanced Croquet event – Fylde won again for the third year in succession.
Short Croquet event – Bowdon won for the second year running.
Handicap Croquet event – Westmorland.
Golf Croquet event – Bury.

When all the points were aggregated, Bury Croquet Club emerged as 2017 Festival champions for the sixth time since the event was established in 1994.

Congratulations to all our worthy winners.

Same time (?), same place, next year – see you there?

Peruse the 2017 Festival photos below.  The top is simply an automatic slideshow – let your mouse hover on image to see titles.  Below the slideshow is a thumbnail gallery of all the slides – press on any thumbnail to start a manual slideshow (i.e. use navigation arrows to change slide) from that point in the gallery.

 

 

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