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Margaret Anderton Wins Regional All England AC Heat

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The All England Croquet Handicap NW Regional Final 1st – 2nd August 2012

Manager Don Williamson with Tony Thomas, Margaret Anderton and Alan Morton.
Manager Don Williamson with Tony Thomas, Margaret Anderton and Alan Morton.

Despite the inclement weather and a disappointing number of competitors, players gathered at Southport for the All England Croquet Handicap Regional final – the prize at stake – a trip to Ramsgate for the national final!.  Although a bit squelchy under foot, the lawns were in excellent condition under the circumstances.  A hugely enjoyable weekend followed as players battled it out with the threat of a Ramsgate journey never far away.  The event was excellently managed by Don Williamson who kept games flowing efficiently and as always the catering was 'par excellence' by Margaret Flemington.

Happy players dreaming of Ramsgate - l to r - Garry Wilson, Tony Thomas, Alan Farrell, Alan Morton, Margaret Anderton, Richard Harvey.
Happy players dreaming of Ramsgate – l to r – Garry Wilson, Tony Thomas, Alan Farrell, Alan Morton, Margaret Anderton, Richard Harvey.

The first day saw Alan Morton (Fylde) becoming the 'bookies favourite' but as evening approached other players acclimatised to the lawns (or were fortified by a superb lunch!) with Margaret Anderton (Bury) and Tony Thomas (Southport) coming into contention.   As the light rain cleared away on Sunday, the Southport sunshine encouraged improving play from Richard Harvey (Bury) and Alan Farrell (Southport).  New kid on the block Garry Wilson (Crake Valley) gave a spirited performance and is one to watch next season.

Eventually Margaret Anderton and Tony Thomas provided an entertaining finale to the watching spectators.  With Margaret on Peg and Penult, Tony on Peg and Peg, he roqueted Margarets peg ball onto the peg – ( a semi greivous?).  In his next turn, he went one better and did a 'proper grievous' leaving only two balls on the lawn.  Margaret hit in and two-balled the final hoops and pegged out – a well deserved victory.

The steady play of Alan Morton gave him third place and after much discussion was awarded the honour of representing the North West at the Ramsgate final.

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Southport Sizzler with Super B and B in the Sun

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Southport Chairman Brian Lewis presents the Super B trophy to Gail Curry
Southport Chairman Brian Lewis presents the Super B trophy to Gail Curry

Southport B Level and Super B (Liz Wilson reports from Victoria Park, 22/07/12)

Derek Knight with the B Level Trophy
Derek Knight with the B Level Trophy

Sunshine at last!  18 players smiled their way through the weekend with not a waterproof in sight.  The manager even arranged a fly past by the red arrows (something to do with a celebration of a local BEN convalescent home).  8 players in the handicap range ½ to 2 ½ contested the super B trophy with 10 players in the handicap range 2 ½ to 8 competed for the B level Hawkins Cup.  Topically on the weekend when the new Batman film “The Dark Knight Rises” the B level was won again by Derek Knight (Beverley) who finished on 5 wins out of 5.  Peter Wilson (Fylde) was the runner up with 4 wins out of 5 only having been beaten by Derek on the first day.  The Super B was won by Gail Curry (Tyneside) returning to the game after a break.  Liz Wilson nearly won in the first game but managed to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory (-2).  After that Gail remembered how to play and upped her game beating all the manager put before her including Peter McDermott (Middlesbrough) +2 (T) in the final.

The atmosphere was friendly and jolly, the food was Michelin standard, the bar was well stocked and the local members were very generous in letting the visitors win!   Credit to the Southport club who have taken over full care of their lawns and it shows.  The lawns were as good as they ever have been – definitely worth a visit – next tournament “Open Advanced” 15th and 16th September – come and have a go at beating the CA Gazette Editor! – see you there!

Super B – Winner Gail Curry, Runner-up Peter McDermott
B Level – Winner Derek Knight, Runner-up Peter Wilson

 

The local newspaper (Southport Visiter) reports:

Tony_Thomas_SouthportB-Jul12
Tony Thomas with another strange shot

B Level Advanced Tournament

In a glare of bright sunshine, tournament manager John Haslam had to pick his way through a maze of level scores to find the finalists of the annual B-Level Advanced croquet tournament at the weekend – a B-Level event for low handicap players plus a Super B-Level for very low handicaps.  The event attracted well known players from Tyneside, Yorkshire, Nottingham and Fylde.  Southport players performed well, with several players entered at both levels.  Tony Thomas went as far as the final of the B-Level, but in a tough match saw the beautiful B-Level trophy slip from his grasp to the play of Derrick Knight of Beverley, a worthy winner.  The Super B trophy went predictably to Gail Curry from Tyneside, formerly a scratch player, who is making a come back after a serious injury.

 

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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