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Peg Decides Fylde Croquet Winner

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GED SMOLSKAS WINS FYLDE SHORT AC JUBILEE TROPHY 24/25 July 2021

Ged Smolskas

As with so many tournaments this year our numbers were down, we had six. On the plus side it created single banked games and a pleasantly quiet atmosphere during the games. Two time winner John Henderson beat Fylde’s Phil Snowden in round 1 with a masterclass of patience. Gediminas Smolskas narrowly beat John in a nail biting finish. Phil beat Ged in the final round. Both players are learning the game rapidly, but Phil pegged Ged out and his extra experience got him home.

Unfortunately by this point we had two withdrawals from our already small field of six. Both absentees had very good reasons. Replacements were brought in.

After the last round with a three way tie out of only four players, the tie breakers all remained equal. Five areas at different distances from the peg were chosen with 2 points for the nearest (2 yards), six points for the farthest ( 8 yards). John, Ged and Phil were asked to secretly select three areas on paper, then cards were drawn to decide the order of play. Ged scored 3 and 4 but missed from 6, but that proved to be the winning score.

The lawns played fast.

Hot Croquet Route to Festival

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National C Level GC Qualifier – Bury CC – Wednesday 21 July 2021

On a scorching hot July day, eight players played some quality golf croquet in Bury’s National C level qualifier. As the players were playing in extreme heat it was agreed to use 45 minute, time limited games and a draw would be an acceptable result.  If we hadn’t done so, it was highly likely someone would have suffered sun stroke.

Eight players in the Bury heat of the National C level GC competition

Very little separated the top 2 players with the key game featuring two Crake Valley members. The game was won by Peter Uglow against Sandra Cornes 7-6. Peter, impressive throughout, won all 7 games during the day whilst Sandra won 5 and drew one of her games. 

Peter is now planning how to get to the Isle of Wight during their Festival week to compete in the National Finals in September.

David Barrett presents Peter Uglow with a Trophy

The third and fourth places were taken by Bury members, John Cassell and Gail Burnett both of them new to tournament croquet.

The event was ably managed by David Cornes. 1st Peter Uglow (Crake Valley); 2nd Sandra Cornes (Crake Valley); 3rd John Cassell (Bury); 4th Gail Burnett (Bury). All results are on croquet scores except three 6-6 draws.  https://croquetscores.com/2021/gc/bury-national-c-level-qualifier/all-play-all

Young Jack Wins Lanc Open Golf Championship

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Lancashire Open Golf Croquet Championship – Pendle – 17/18 July 2021

Manager Abdul Ahmad with winner Jack Good

What a difference twelve months can make! This time last year, Pendle was the only tournament held in this country, so players came from far and wide to enjoy the Covid safe outdoors. This time, we had to compete with an ‘A’ Level, an ‘Open’ grade and even the Home International’s, all scheduled onto our allocated Northern  Championship weekend. Unsurprisingly then, the quantity of players entered was down but Quality…more about that later…

Pendle supplied four newly set courts, freshly mown, sun-parched surfaces cut to 4mm, meaning that the slightest tap on a ball caused it to travel and travel and travel some more – challenging! Internationally renowned Abdul Ahmad again agreed to manage, but it proved to be a simple matter. Singles, all-play-all block, to sort out full seeding order for the KO title race.

And so to the play in the baking 27oC heat; 

Top Seed? – 15 year old Jack Good, second seed? – another Under 25 year old, Callum Johnson, with the rest of the more established players scrambling for the other slots. (8th Seed – the other Under 25 year old, James  Thomas).     

The decision was made to start with the Best of Three Quarter Final on the first day, but only two games – if all three would be required, the third could wait for the morning.  In the event, 3 of the four *did*  only need two rubbers to advance into the semi’s, but interest turned to the battle taking place between two under 25’s – Jack(S1) Vs James(S8), both playing the same tactic, shooting hard & straight to either clear, or run hoops, from distance with neither apparently aware of positional approaches..overnight some suspense, waiting  to see how it would be resolved in the “shoot-out” deciding rubber…

After a sweltering night, with no respite from the heat on offer (not many clubs have air conditioning up here..) the out-standing game from the Quarter Final started on time with all the other players being granted a late start – mattered not, they all appeared to spectate the contest on offer. Quality battle with Jack prevailing through.

And so to the semi’s, with the ‘out’ players assigned their own 5th to 8th KO games. As befitting the stature of an Ascot Cup qualifier, both of the Semis required the three rubbers allowed to resolve (and the winner of the first game, not progressing..

With all the other places resolved (well mostly) and a few other club members attending to view, the Final started on Court One to a packed veranda (the hoops having been reset for the match over lunch by the manager). I’d like to report that a close contest ensued, but frankly, it really was very one-sided.. Rigge had no response to Good’s long-range clearances as his own evaporated with miss after miss and he succumbed in two to the blooming rising star – Jack Good.  

Paul Rigge in flamboyant mood

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