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Rigge Rules in the Snow

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Pendle John Beech Easter  Croquet Tournament 2013 by Barbara Dutton

Some could say the joke was on us. A hardy bunch of volunteers spent Maundy Thursday clearing snow drifts from the croquet lawns in order for play to start on the Friday. An equally hardy bunch of players turned up on the Friday to compete for the various honors on offer. Paul Rigge from Bury, another club founded by John Beech, managed the tournament which featured both handicap and advanced play. With sunshine but stiff breezes some shots may have been hampered by clothing and the warm pavilion and hot food kept frostbite away. Three players from Pendle and Craven: Roger Schofield, Paul Dowdall and Garry Wilson battled the other 12 players who travelled from croquet clubs as far away as Glasgow and Middlesbrough to compete.

John Beech 2013 LR2The manager, Paul Rigge, took the overall trophy, the John Beech cup.
Lee Hartley from Fylde took the Advanced trophy
Paul Dowdall from Pendle & Craven took the High handicap trophy
Joe Lennon from Glasgow took the Low Handicap trophy
The Fastest Croquet game went to Lee Hartley in 52 minutes (not beating the 42 minutes set by Alice Fleck previous year)
The most games of Croquet played was a three way tie between Paul Rigge, Betty Bates and Matt Holmes.

The picture shows Lee hartley, Betty Bates and Paul Rigge L to R with remaining snow

And from the Bury Website:

Pendle & Craven, 29th March -1st April, John Beech Easter Tournament

Bury member Paul Rigge regains the JB Easter title for the first time in a decade and also achieves a reduction in handicap to -1 (also shares most games played award with Matt Holmes & Betty Bates of Fylde)
It’s not very often that Croquet shares a venue with winter activities but with children enjoying the Bank Holiday sledging on the slope at the back, we played Croquet in the bright sunshine at Earby.
The weather stayed as forecast, dry and bright but with a bitterly cold easterly wind blowing, only the in-player went outside to brave it. Easter Sunday was the coldest on record with overnight temperatures hitting -7C.
Playing a mixture of advanced & handicap games, Paul only dropped a single game on his way to the title over the four days of competition, overcoming anything up to 20.5 Bisques multiple times.
Over the four days, various players floated into contention only to fall back into the pack. Last year’s winner and club mate, Andy Brandwood had a good campaign and finished in third place behind Joe Lennon (Glasgow).

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Pendle in the Rain (Peter Wilson reports from Earby, 06 July 2012)

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Pendle & Craven Midweek Tournament

Left to Right :
David Marsh: The Addict, Most games played.
Eileen Gallagher: The Irish Cup, Unrestricted Handicap Play.
Roger Staples: David Jenkinson Trophy, Open Advanced play Singles  (C Class).
Paul Rigge: The Pendle Rose Bowl, Open Advanced play Singles and The Egyptian Cup, Fastest  win in any tournament including doubles.
Janet Davies: The David Hoyle Trophy, Unrestricted Handicap Play Runner Up  Handicap 9+

Sensibly not present Terry Vernazza: The Pennine Trophy, Unrestricted Handicap Play. Runner Up Handicap 8 and under.

Seventeen entries. Heavy rain preceded the tournament but with a little attention, four lawns were available and all that we required with double banked doubles being scheduled each morning.  Conditions became unusual. We played in warm dry conditions but each night we received rain of Biblical proportions. Clothing varied from full sailing waterproofs and flat soled deck wellies to short and t-shirt with bare feet.  Gradually the  water table rose making each morning a bit harder to clear. On day three we lost a lawn.

On day four the Met Office issued 1.3 Billion severe flood warnings about the impending Jet Stream crisis and the players congregated for the early presentations and to watch as the lawns finally succumbed to the majesty of Mother Nature.  Nevertheless we completed everything except the doubles final which will be played at a later date between Peter Wilson & Eileen Rossiter v Liz Wilson& Garry Wilson (no relation!).

If seven maids with seven mops
Swept it for half a year.
Do you suppose,” Liz Wilson said,
“That they could get it clear?”
“I doubt it,” said the Manager,
And shed a bitter tear.

Quote of the tournament!  Peter Moore overrunning a hoop approach – “Ooh I’ve found a dry bit”

Pendle Win Best Ever Festival

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Pendle Win 2012 Federation  Jubilee Festival of Croquet

Successful Pendle team – Federation Jubilee Festival Champions 2012
Whatever did we do to upset the weather gods?  They threw everything at us during the 2012 Federation Festival of Croquet  –  dark clouds, heavy rain, high winds, thunder, even a few hailstones, before relenting their punishment to give us glorious sunshine for our presentations.  This was the biggest Festival tournament to date and the 27 teams representing 9 clubs seemed to agree it was also the most enjoyable.  The Southport club take great pride in hosting this event and provided an environment that would be difficult to better.  The amount of work involved in preparing and setting out 15 lawns each day is staggering not to mention the awesome standard of catering which served about 80 players daily.  The infamous North Lawns were in their best ever condition demonstrating the progress made since the club took full responsibility for their maintenance earlier this year.  The opportunity to meet so many croquet players from across the region in one event makes this Festival unique and continually reminds us why we have a strong North West Federation – together we succeed in making Croquet a competitive endeavour played in a spirit of great friendship.The Golf competition was won by Pendle who won all their matches.  Similarly, Westmorland won the Handicap competition , remaining undefeated in this event.  Llanfairfechan only lost one of their Short matches to take the Short trophy.  In a tense final match, Fylde won the Advanced shield (for the second year running).Team performance in each event gains points to determine the championship club.  By a small margin Pendle were declared 2012 Festival Champions with Westmorland a close runner up.
SHORTGOLFHCPADVPtsPlace
Bowdon5-----2-----78
Bury233197
Chester444-----123
Culcheth-----2----------29
Fylde3153123 =
Llanfairfechan75----------123 =
Pendle68----------141
Southport1612106
Westmorland-----76-----132
Advanced Winners – Fylde
Handicap Winners – Westmorland

 

N.W. Fed. Festival of Croquet 2012

The teams they came from Timbuktu,
All decked in colours, red and blue.
The challenge rang the North West through,
For Southport’s croquet lawns.

Frantic members measured lines,
Laid the hoops twice, fifteen times,
Spread tea and buffet super fine,
For Southport’s croquet lawns.

Gazebos raised defied the rain.
And sure enough the rain it came.
But wind and hail don’t stop the game
On Southport’s croquet lawns.

Black clouds thundered overhead
And to the clubhouse spectators sped,
But on they played the North West Fed
On Southport’s croquet lawns.

Four events, twenty seven teams,
Hundred plus players walked the greens,
Made a real inspiring scene
On Southport’s croquet lawns.

Brave at golf Rod Sutton played,
Newly joined, but not afraid,
To join in matches here assayed
On Southport’s croquet lawns.

Our Advanced team scooped up second place,
The Golf team’s third did not disgrace,
But trophies eluded every chase
On Southport’s croquet lawns.

The Advanced was won by Fylde I reckon
The Short went west with Llanfairfechan
Westmorland’s Handicap won collection,
From Southport’s croquet lawns.

But Golf gave Pendle pride of place,
The sun shone to light the winners’ face.
Best in the North West is no disgrace
On Southport’s croquet lawns.

The hoards of players dissolved away
Reflecting on friends they made at play
But will return another day
To Southport’s croquet lawns.

By Kath Thomas, SBCC, 2nd July 2012

Short Winners – Llanfairfechan
Golf Winners – Pendle

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