Crake Valley was filled to the brim with mist when the LPG Millennium 2022 tournament got underway at 0930 on Thursday 25th August 2022. The air was a little chill and the eight contestants donned jackets and fleeces. Two players from each of Penrith and Westmorland in the north of the NW Federation area, two from Crake and two from Chester in the south of the region, came to the ‘all play all’ competition. The lawns had been trimmed at first light by the resident groundsman and would surely win any contest for the best croquet lawns in the NW. The last of the mist drained away by mid-morning and glorious warm and sunny weather settled in for the rest of the day.
The croquet was both vigorous and speedy, or more relaxed depending on the temperament of the players, but the competition rolled on very close to programme which is a familiar feature of Crake
tournament management. Lunch from the ‘Chippy’ for those in need and continuous drinks, biscuits and sweets for all.
Prize-giving was on the veranda in the warm evening sunshine with a beer or juice. David Cornes, a promising local lad, won with a clean sheet and was presented with the Plate and a memento from a local artisan ‘Glass by Sands’. Runner up was Howard Bowron from Penrith who put in a very solid performance following a quirky first game. All of the other players achieved a personal victory in one way or another and the day ended with the usual croquet banter watching the setting Sun.
Tom Grievson, Chester
