Pendle Trophy Goes to Ilkley by Barbara Dutton (19 Apr 09)

The Golf Croquet Tournament, a non CA event, took place over Saturday and Sunday 18/19th April. Saturday was bright and sunny, but with the bitterly cold wind to contend with. Sunday was sunny and warm, spectators sat out by the lawns instead of huddling under blankets.

Ten competitors took part, playing singles, all against all on the Saturday and then on Sunday doubles with the top 5 partnering the 5 lower scoring players from the singles. In the singles competition, Trevor Wood from Ilkley was First, Martin Wroughton from Ashby de-la-Zouche was second and Geoff Whitaker from Pendle was Third.

In the doubles: David Harkness (Ilkley) with Martin Wroughton(Ashby) were First, Jan McLardy (Pendle) with Trevor Wood (Ilkley) were Second, Dawn Speer and Geoff Whitaker both Pendle were Third and Maureen Whitaker (Pendle) and Hugh Armitage (Pendle & Ilkley) were Fourth.

Manager Abdul Ahmad was thanked for his excellent arrangements and the caterers for successfully feeding the competitors.

John Beech Trophy Crosses Border by Barbara Dutton (14 Apr 09)

The John Beech Handicap tournament is played at Easter. After the snow last year, this year’s competitors had an easier tournament weatherwise after Friday’s rain muddied the whites a bit. The next three days were fine and the competition went ahead at a cracking pace ably managed by James Hapgood from Edinburgh.

Twelve countrywide competitors battled it out with the following results:
Alice Fleck, Newcastle – Fastest game won in 79 minutes;
Betty Bates, Fylde – High bisque winner, handicap reduced to 16;
David Appleton, Tyneside – Most Games played;
David Walters, Bowdon – Low bisque winner:
Overall winner – James Hapgood, Edinburgh.

Jacob Carr Snowballs to Victory by Barbara Dutton

The John Beech Memorial Handicap Tournament gave players a stern test at Pendle over the Easter weekend. With cold winds, rain, sleet and snow to contend with the players did well to complete their matches, even playing after dark. On Saturday players rolled huge snowballs around to clear the lawns for play and then had an early lunch to warm up.

Manager David Maugham from Bowdon club also won the most games played trophy with 12 games but the overall winner was Jacob Carr from Tyneside, who won all his 11 games played and also collected the cup for the fastest game in just 42 minutes with a victory over David Maugham. Lee Hartley collected the Low Bisque cup and Howard Bowron the High Bisque cup. Sadly vandalism by young footballers from the new playground and theft of three solar garden lights marred what was otherwise a friendly and enjoyable event in spite of the weather.