David Cornes has just become the first player from Crake Valley to represent England when playing in the World Over 50’s GC Championship in Bunbury, Perth, Western Australia.

The event, which is held every four years, attracted top players from Egypt, USA, New Zealand, Spain, Sweden, Norway, Canada, Switzerland and the host country.

Despite being 42nd seed out of 48 players David excelled overall. In his group of 6 players he managed 3 game wins out of 12. All wins were against the top 4 who qualified and continued with distinction – two players made the Championship Quarter finals, one won the shield and the other caused the shock of the tournament beating Stephen Mulliner in the last 32.

In the Plate, David won 5 out of 6 in his block to progress to the knockout. In the quarter final Steiner Olsen (Norway) produced some amazing play to take the first game 7-4. David responded with a 7-2 win. The final game went to play order with Steiner always ahead having played blue first. At 5-5 there was a 30 minute battle on hoop 11 but Steiner  eventually won. David then ran 12 from 4 yards to set up the “golden hoop”. Steiner placed his first ball superbly but then jawsed it. David had a 9 foot angled jump shot on the difficult Quadway hoops and his ball hit the frame, span on top of Steiner’s black before coming back the wrong side of the hoop. David’s other ball was on the side boundary with no real  chance of clearing but he gave it his best shot only to peel Steiner through. 

David sums his tournament up ” A great experience under really tough conditions playing on another continent. Nearly a 50% win ratio overall against better players in their own back yard is pleasing. Even more rewarding is I am somewhere near back to my best and proud to be representing Crake Valley, the North West and England.”

David (left) with fellow England Representatives Rick Lilley (Phyllis Court), Stephen Custance-Baker (Taunton Deane), Mike Hills (Northampton), Steve Leonard (East Dorset) and Stephen Mulliner (Surbiton)

World Number 4 Ahmed El Mahdy (Egypt) beat New Zealand’s Jenny Clarke in the final. All scores are on WCF Over 50 GC World Championship – Croquet Scores

“Croquet quartet put Fylde on national map after big success

​Fylde Croquet Club are national champions after winning the Longman Inter Club Trophy.

The four-person team consisted of Andrew Webb and Phil Snowden, both of St Anne’s, Lytham’s Barry Broughton and Betty Bates, of Warton.

They travelled to Edgbaston Croquet Club to contest East Dorset for the trophy which has been competed for since 1929.

Play consisted of one doubles match and six singles, each lasting three hours and 15 minutes.

In the doubles Webb and Snowdon took on Dorset’s Chris Weedon and and Alan Jones. Webb made the first significant breakthrough, taking his ball to Rover. Fylde won plus five.

Bates then went up against Christine Rice and it was the Fylde player who scored the first point and had a major break which ended when the referee judged her to have faulted whilst trying to roquet a hampered ball.

Rice closed her way back into the game but Bates held on to win plus two.

At lunchtime. the score was Fylde 2 East Dorset 1. In the afternoon singles games, Webb again played very well getting his ball to rover in a single break and put Fylde into a 3-1 lead.

Snowdon found Mike Rice a difficult opponent and was unable to establish a big break. The Dorset ace held the lead throughout and went on to win plus16.

Broughton dominated his game against Rice with the former making a spectacular roquet to the black ball in the jaws of hoop5 with a 30-yard strike. He proceed to peg out red and win the cup for Fylde.”

By Craig Salmon

Published 6th Oct 2023

Original report available here

Fylde travelled to Edgbaston to play East Dorset in the Longman Cup.

Flyde fielded a strong team winning 5-2 and bringing the Longman cup back North.

Congratulations to all involved