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Derek Knight Wins at Southport B Level

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Southport B Level Tournament 20/21 July 2019

A wet and windy Saturday morning greeted eight players for this year’s B level event. Played as a swiss it produced some thrilling finishes and thoughtful play over the weekend.
Improving weather helped the lawns to dry out and on occasions become testing. By Sunday lunchtime 2 players were undefeated and played a wonderful final on lawn 1.
Derek Knight (Beverley) beat Barbara Haslam (Southport) to win by +11 and take the Hawkins Cup.
Southport President Alan Pidcock presents the Hawkins Cup to Derek Knight, B Level Winner.

Silver Celebration for Festival – 29/30 June 2019

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2019 Festival Champions – Pendle & Craven

Whilst the rest of Europe were celebrating record summer temperatures, our Federation had its own record to celebrate – the 25th year of the North West Festival of Croquet – record number of competitors, new competition with Level Play Golf introduced, Southport lawns best ever, we even hired portable toilets for the first time!

Manager Ivan Wheatley produced a strict schedule of matches to fit everything in and for the first time, games were ended as soon as the ball stopped moving when the timer ‘pinged’, much to the chagrin of the croquet heroes who like to come from behind to snatch a win with their last turn.

The Southport micro climate gave us a mixture of blue skies, dazzling sunshine, bracing sea breezes, grey skies and the odd shower – all adding to the colourful spectacle as up to 100 people filled the lawns with a kaleidoscope of club team colours. Margaret Flemington and her team produced another catering triumph enabling everyone to indulge in a fabulous lunch, afternoon tea and copious light refreshments. Players mingled and renewed friendships and rivalries – it seemed as though everyone knew everyone producing a wonderful atmosphere, so typical of our Federation.

After two days of competitive croquet Pendle set another record by winning the Advanced and the Handicap trophies for the first time, Chester retained the Short Croquet shield, Llanfairfechan won the Golf Croquet event and Southport became the first winners of the new Level Play Golf Croquet trophy. When all the points were calculated, Pendle were declared Festival Champions for 2019.

2019 Festival Placings

2019 FESTIVAL PLACINGSADVANCED ACHANDICAP ACSHORT ACLEVEL PLAY GCHANDICAP GC
1stPendle & CravenPendle & CravenChesterSouthportLlanfairfechan
2ndBuryFyldeSouthportCrake ValleyCrake Valley
3rdBowdonBowdonWestmorlandPendle & CravenCulcheth

Federation Chairman Paul Rigge closed the Festival with a presentation of all trophies, acknowledged the enormous work of Southport for their organisation and of course everyone who participated in a great weekend.

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First Tournament Win for Peter Williams

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The Carol Lewis Memorial Weekend – Southport 18/19 May 2019

Peter Williams (Southport) receives the Carol Lewis Trophy from Club President Alan Pidcock

Twelve players representing clubs from Middlesbrough, Crake Valley, Fylde, Bury, Pendle, Cheltenham and Southport arrived to start play at 9.30am. Although the forecasted rain did not materialise, the cold wind made some of those in shorts regret their decision. The afternoons on both days were much warmer.

Handicaps were from -1 to 22 providing an interesting mix of skills. Play started in blocks of four with the block winners and the highest scoring other players going through to the finals on the Sunday.

The block winners were Paul Rigge (-1), Gail Moors (18), with Brian Shorney (7) and Peter Williams (22) as the highest scoring players. During the block matches Paul completed a quadruple peel on his way to the semi finals.

In the semi finals Paul beat Brian whilst Peter beat Gail after a hard but even match leaving Paul and Peter to play in the final.

In the final Peter used his bisque advantage with effect, resulting in a 26-13 win and the trophy for the Southport player. He has now had his handicap reduced to 18 to reflect his play over the weekend.

My thanks go to the players and to Don Williamson, John Haslam, Ray Lowe and Paul Rigge for the help they gave me in managing my first tournament.

Jim Allcock

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