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Liverpool Members Battle for Southport Croquet Title

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Southport Jubilee Advanced Tournament (22/23 April 2017)

SBCC Chairman Don Williamson presents the Jubilee Adv Trophy to Winner James Hawkins

Two members from Liverpool Croquet Club, James Hawkins and Paul Rigge, battled it out in the Southport Jubilee Advanced tournament.  Under wonderful sunny Southport weather, the two finalists demonstrated Croquet skills of a very high order, but with James Hawkins producing sublime shots to take the title.

Manager James Hawkins reports:

There was much to entertain the spectators on the Sunday. In the deciding game of their best of three semifinal, Peter Wilson pegged out one ball leaving a three-foot shot to finish next turn, with Hawkins far behind on 2 and 4b. James hit his last shot, played 11 hoops under control, wired Peter from the peg and left him a 30-yard shot. Peter missed and James immediately finished with a +1 score.

James then faced an identical scenario in the final against Paul Rigge. Paul had several attempted shots at the peg, but was tempted into one trap too many and James limped round to steal a second consecutive +1. In the second game, Paul failed to capitalise on James’s messy play around hoops. By the time he’d pegged out James’s forward ball he was already too far behind, and James took the final 2-0.

SBCC Chairman Don Williamson presents the Runners Up prize to Paul Rigge

RESULTS:

KNOCKOUT:  James Hawkins bt Liz Wilson +22;  Dave Nick bt Alan Pidcock +23;  James Hawkins bt Dave Nick +3;  Peter Wilson bt Peter Taylor +19;  Paul Rigge bt Jerry Guest +13;  Richard H Smith bt Mark Lloyd +21;  James Hawkins bt Peter Wilson +4 -14 +1;  Paul Rigge bt Richard Smith +24 +17;  James Hawkins bt Paul Rigge +1 +14.

CONSOLATION EVENT:  Peter Taylor bt Liz Wilson +1T;  Peter Wilson bt Alan Pidcock +1T;  Jerry Guest bt Mark Lloyd +10;  Dave Nick bt Peter Taylor +17;  Liz Wilson bt Alan Pidcock +11;  Mark Lloyd bt Peter Taylor +12;  Richard Smith bt Dave Nick +9;  Peter Taylor bt Paul Rigge +15;  Mark Lloyd bt Dave NIck +6;  Richard Smith bt Liz Wilson +20;  Alan Pidcock bt Jerry Guest +7;  Richard Smith bt Peter Taylor +15;  Mark Lloyd bt Liz Wilson +22;  Dave Nick bt Peter Wilson +10.

Finalists Paul Rigge and James Hawkins with SBCC Chairman Don Williamson

Five Croquet Courts for Five Winners

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Easter Celebrations at Pendle  (John Beech Memorial Tournament 14-17 April 2017)

Pendle at Easter – It really doesn’t matter when this Croquet event falls, the Earby weather always helps to test croquet players in varied conditions: cold, warm, wet or windy, pick your day and/or combination. Only 13 entries this year dipped in and out of the four day event, even the manager was part time this year!

Because of the low numbers entered, it was a huge treat to play all croquet rounds across the five superb courts as single banked – no mucking about with markers required.

Catering of course was well up to this club’s very high standards (although this reporter was upset to miss out on Fridays home made Hot Cross Buns).

OK, back to the croquet, by Monday we had winners for all the various trophies available:

John Beech Handicap Trophy – Roger Staples
Peter Dowdall Cup (adv) – defended by David Walters.
Under 10 Handicap Trophy – Andy Brandwood
10 & Over Handicap Trophy – Joe Lennon
Fastest Game – Betty Bates (54mins Vs R Essler)

Thanks to David Walters for publishing the games on Croquetscores (https://croquetscores.com/2017/ac/john-beech-memorial).

Manager Paul Rigge presents the John Beech Handicap Trophy to Roger Staples.
Manager Paul Rigge presents the Peter Dowdall Cup to David Walters.
Manager Paul Rigge presents the Fastest Game Trophy to Betty Bates.
Manager Paul Rigge presents the 10 Plus Handicap Trophy to Joe Lennon.

PRESS UPDATE Another Triple First Success for Fylde

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North West Federation Millennium Association Advanced – 8/9 April 2017 at Fylde

David Walters receives the Federation Millennium Trophy from Fylde Chairman Martin Bradshaw

 

Ian Hall receives the Millennium Adv B Level trophy from Fylde Chairman Martin Bradshaw

Six B class and eight A Class players assembled at Fylde for this event

The B Class was played as all-play-all (5 games over two days) with players from Keswick (Ian Hall and Jim Wilson), Bury (David Barrett), Southport (Alan Pidcock), Fylde (Nathan Baker) and Bowdon (Charles Harding).  The 5th game on Sunday afternoon turned out to be the final between Ian Hall and Alan Pidcock with Ian Hall winning and thus winning the B Class Event.  A special mention to Jim Wilson playing in his first ever Advanced Match and only forgetting one lift!

The A class had players from Pendle (Peter Wilson and Robert Essler), Bury (Paul Kenworthy), Liverpool (Paul Rigge and James Hawkins), Crake (Dave Nick), Bowdon (David Walters) and Fylde (Lee Hartley) who again played all-play-all  (7 games over two days).  Players triple banked on one of the lawns which seemed to cause few problems and much delight.  Going in to the last round it looked like it might be a three way tie with 3 players on 5 wins all of whom had beaten each other. David Walters had beaten Lee Hartley who had beaten Paul Rigge who had beaten David Walters!  However in the final round the A Class Manager (Paul) lost which resolved the dilemma.  Lee Hartley and David Walters finished on 6 wins each and David won as he had beaten Lee. 

The event was held in glorious sunshine and raised £70 for the Federation.  Thank you everyone for coming to Fylde and supporting the club and the Federation.

 

Triple banking can be great fun!

 

James Hawkins goes fishing

Take a look at the drone footage:

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