Re-produced from the April 2015 edition of the Croquet Gazette:
North West Federation of Croquet Clubs - for everything Croquet in the north west
by Paul Rigge
Lancashire 15th Open Golf Croquet Tournament 11/12 April 2015
Heaton Park as a croquet venue, what can I report? Well because the Facility Club House had been booked by another organisation on ‘our’ weekend, we didn’t have morning main hut access, but after the ‘tool shed’ spring clean by Bury CC members, normal breakfast service was available from within that – it was also quite intimate and cosy for the Manager’s briefing with crew & players in there.
The playing surface outside continues to decline, lumps and bumps, tuffs and moss augmented the rabbit holes this year. Sad to see, but on a plus note Croquet is now being played on it’s 2014 Commonwealth built Bowls Facility in Glasgow – a great facility even further north.
The players this time were all in a single block, all play all, untimed 13 point games with the top four qualifying for the title run knock out (Bo3). A ranked consolation KO was available for those who failed to qualify.
All played nine games by home time on the first day, with the balance completed Sunday morning – although a few did want to leave earlier due to tired legs! (one pedometer reported 10.5 miles covered, but I don’t believe it).
The four highest ranked players were true to form & qualified for the KO which started an hour before lunch, with the final being fought by the two highest – could James retain the trophy for a second year? Err, No. He fell to the 2009 champion, David Walters.
The Consolation Singles KO title was won by Jane Pringle after a cracking match with Kath Wright.
by Chris Alvey
Matt Holmes Retains the Southport Advanced Jubilee Tankard
Entrants from Middlesborough, Manchester, Chester, Hull and Cheltenham plus a few local players entered the first Southport Open Croquet competition of 2015 in Victoria Park last weekend. The lawns looked resplendent for this stage of the season and played very well despite the efforts of the wind and rain to disturb players concentration. Sun cream was required on both days – to protect against the sun on Saturday and to waterproof the skin against the rain on Sunday.
Local players Carol Lewis, Alan Pidcock and Brian Kerr fared well but could not match the sublime skills of the brewer from Bury – Matt Holmes. Matt won this trophy last year and has continued his development, now being a member of the Great Britain development squad.
In an exciting final, Matt defeated Phil Scarr from Middslesborough. Matt thanked the club for organising a superb tournament with excellent management and catering. As always Southports pricing offers wonderful value – £7.50 per day inclusive of two course meal, afternoon tea and coffee/tea/biscuits all day.
Following this success at Southport, Matt Holmes has now reached a satisfactory grade as an International Player Development Squad Graduate to now be admitted to the GB training squad. In order to retain this place over the next few years Matt must keep improving until holding a World class grade.