Southport’s inaugural one-day Short Croquet tournament was a most enjoyable finish to the summer season. Competitors with handicaps between 10 bisques and 1 mandatory peel played in two blocks in the warm, dry beginnings of autumn on the smooth seaside lawns.

Block play was competitive with many close finishes but after the implementation of several layers of tiebreaks, Cas Sinclair and Charles Harding emerged as the block winners to set up an all-Bowdon final. It was a closely-fought game which went to time on a three ball ending after Charles had pegged Cas out. This allowed most of the other competitors to watch the closing stages. Some enjoyed the opportunity for friendly heckling, led by the manager, of Charles’ tactics, peeling strategy and controversial attempt, after time had been called, to peg out his forward ball without having completed his mandatory peel. Charles barely noticed and with characteristic calm and aplomb, secured the game and the top spot.

The Southport setting and hospitality were outstanding as ever, and everyone left hoping that this format of competition will be a permanent addition to the fixtures calendar. For players considering making a first foray onto the tournament scene, it would be the ideal start.

Chester, 16-17th September 2023

Anne Alvey from Bury is the 2023 CA All England AC H/C Champion, on this its centennial year joining a select group of women who have won this competition.

In a nerve shredding final game, Anne survived a fierce comeback by her opponent to end the finals having won four out of five games. This was enough to give her victory as one of two players on four wins; but an earlier crucial head-to-head victory by 13-10 on time, tipped the balanced in her favour.

Her victory was cemented by outstanding handicap play on the first day when she won all three of her games against strong opposition and, following a wobble in the her fourth game, she stood firm with determined play under intense pressure in her final game to seal the title.

For her efforts Anne holds the splendid trophy for the year and Bury Croquet Club a beautiful shield, presented to the CA by the New Zealand Croquet Council in 1956 for the Club of the current champion.

Robin Tasker

Tournament Manager

(The Finalists. From left to right: Sean Doherty, Simon Tuke, Gareth Hobby, Bernie Phillips, Anne Alvey, Bryan Harral, Patricia Mulcahy, Clive Moncrieff)

3 of the 4 eights were hosted by clubs in our area last weekend –  Presidents at Bowdon, Chairman’s at Southport and Treasurers at Pendle.

Our own Neil Adams won the Tankard at his first invitation

and Jack Good also swept all aside in the non-eight Selectors to take the title on his first showing.