Matt Holmes Wins Spencer Ell at Pendle by Ian Lines and Bury CC Website
Having won the Treasurer’s Tankard last year and the Croquet Selectors in 2012, he is now the first player ever, to have won each of these Eights in consecutive years, gaining promotion into the next ‘division’ as he did so.
It’s also worth noting that he beat Paul Rigge (who was also picked for this Ell) for the first time under Super Advanced Rules – but taking five hours to accomplish his win against him with a very solid ‘trap line’ strategy, a real tactical thoughtful game with some very good shooting – Matt’s comment after the game; “you’re like a limpet, I can’t shake you off”.
Matt won the Spencer Ell Cup with one round to spare. What’s next for him? We’ll have to wait and see if he gains promotion next year into the Chairmans Eight but at least we can award him Bury Croquet Clubs man of the year again!
Full details; CA’s Site
Paul, who after last year’s thrashing in this event, was a questionable inclusion for this year, proved his selection was justified, by finishing in a solid fifth place. Matt with this win has now widened the gap in the ranking database between him and Paul to thirty odd places now.
Positions after 14 Rounds
| PLAYER | MH | IL | DN | JM | MO | PR | DK | MM | Won | Tot | Pos |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Matt Holmes | +6 | +6 | +23 | +26 | -17tp | -9 | +26tp | 5 | 10 | 1 | |
| -26 | +11 | -4 | +24tp | +11 | +25tp | +25 | 5 | ||||
| Ian Lines | -6 | +26 | +20tp | +25 | -16 | +26tp | +7 | 5 | 9 | 2 | |
| +26 | +15 | +26tp | -26tp | +8 | -15 | -14 | 4 | ||||
| Dave Nick | -6 | -26 | +16 | +18 | +10 | +12tp | +21 | 5 | 8 | 3 | |
| -11 | -15 | -17 | +20 | +17qp | +15 | -26tp | 3 | ||||
| Jaimie Mussi | -23 | -20tp | -16 | +5 | +3 | -24 | +26 | 3 | 7 | 4 | |
| +4 | -26tp | +17 | -6tpo | +25 | +7 | -3 | 4 | ||||
| Mark Ormerod | -26 | -25 | -18 | -5 | -6 | +13 | +4tp | 2 | 6 | 5= | |
| -24tp | +26tp | -20 | +6tpo | +13 | -26 | +4 | 4 | ||||
| Paul Rigge | +17tp | +16 | -10 | -3 | +6 | -26sxp | +13 | 4 | 6 | 5= | |
| -11 | -8 | -17qp | -25 | -13 | +21 | +11 | 2 | ||||
| Dave Kibble | +9 | -26tp | -12tp | +24 | -13 | +26sxp | -16 | 3 | 5 | 7= | |
| -25tp | +15 | -15 | -7 | +26 | -21 | -16 | 2 | ||||
| Martin Murray | -26tp | -7 | -21 | -26 | -4tp | -13 | +16 | 1 | 5 | 7= | |
| -25 | +14 | +26tp | +3 | -4 | -11 | +16 | 4 |