Dip in, join in, drop out, play, don’t play, choose version, rest.. .. what am I talking about? Well the JB Easter season opener of course!
Come and play croquet, preferably in the sunshine on fine dry courts. Fortunately Earby delivered just such over the bank holiday. Not saying we didn’t get any rain, we did, but almost as an afterthought, a bit, blowing through just before lunch on the final day with the first three days bathing us with blue sky & sunshine – some players resorting to SPF 25.
Eighteen players sensibly booked their places in this friendly (either Hcp or Adv) AC format tournament to be faced with four freshly laid-out courts and as already hinted at, some came just
for a single day, some for just a game or some for all three full days. Ten joined the Chinese Banquet on Saturday evening which curtailed play for them before 20:00 (time the table was booked for).
Just before we left to dine, we were treated to a ‘flyby’ of hot air balloons – one of which was the “Fort Vale” – a lovely sight over our grounds! (for those that don’t know Fort Vale aka Ted Fort had a major involvement in our early years)
In line with previous years, the tradition of buttered Hot Cross Buns for all on Good Friday & choccy Eggs on Sunday were available.
And so to the silverware;- after 76 games, is that a record? What must be, was the number of Advanced Games chosen to be played all the way down the field of entries with some surprise ‘scalps being collected.
John Beech Handicap Trophy – David Harding
Peter Dowdall Cup (adv) – Lee Hartley.
Under 10 Handicap Trophy – Richard Harding
10 & Over Handicap Trophy – Gabi Smolskiene
Fastest Game – David Harding (48mins Vs Lee Hartley)
Most Games – Lee Hartley.
