10 competitors turned up to the ever-lovely Southport club for a most enjoyable weekend of seaside croquet.

Handicaps were spread fairly evenly from 4.5 to -1.5 allowing for an interesting variety of contests, (including a hard-fought plus one on time for Paul Rigge against a somewhat lesser opponent). Plenty of peels were attempted but completed triples were rare.

Rick Harding finished as the clear winner, simultaneous triggering a reduction to -1.5.  The manager John Haslam and all the other Southport members ensured everything ran smoothly in a great good-humoured atmosphere, with everyone getting as many games as they wanted.

Rick Harding, being presented with the Jubilee Tankard by club President Brian Lewis.

2023 has brought the return of the very popular, early season Alternate Strokes AC Pairs Tournament at Crake Valley. The last time this was held was 2019, so it was great to welcome 16 players from 7 North West based clubs, on a sunny, if windy, day in the Crake Valley.  

There were 3 rounds of matches in two “seeded” blocks, playing 18 point games to determine the finalists. In Block A, Howard Bowron & Sandra Cornes (Penrith & Crake Valley) and Gail Moors & Phil Snowdon (Southport & Fylde) used their (small number) of bisques effectively to both win two out of three games. 

By virtue of a better hoop difference Gail & Phil progressed.  In Block B, the holders (David Cornes & Simon Robins – Crake Valley) won two matches but were beaten to top place by the more experienced Steve Skelton & Jim Wilson (Keswick) who had two wins and a tie.

The final saw Gail & Phil take the lead but as their bisques reduced, the greater the chance of a comeback by Steve & Jim.  In the end Gail & Phil stayed ahead by two hoops to win the event. This is a great achievement by two 10-handicap players who have never played together before.