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McWeeney Croquet Trophy Stays in Cheltenham

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l to r - Mathew Martin, Gerard Osborne-Bourke, Andy Brandwood, Liz Wilson, Joe McGowan, Peter Wilson, Paul Wolff, Nigel Werner, Garry Wilson, Frank Martin, Betty Bates Nathaniel Healy (kneeling).
l to r – Mathew Martin, Gerard Osborne-Bourke, Andy Brandwood, Liz Wilson, Joe McGowan, Peter Wilson, Paul Wolff, Nigel Werner, Garry Wilson, Frank Martin, Betty Bates, Nathaniel Healy (kneeling).

The Vera McWeeney Croquet Trophy will again be on display at Cheltenham, after being retained by this year’s CA squad in Dublin, over 28/29th September.  Carrickmines C&LTC hosted the event and six first time visitors travelled over from four different airports to contest this AC Advanced test match. On paper the Irish did have a slight advantage, having requested ‘B/C’ class players be sent this campaign to pair with their availability. However, due to a couple of late unavoidable withdrawals from their squad, the balance of strength swung in our favour as play commenced.

Teams:
CA – Peter Wilson  (1.5);  Liz Wilson  (2.5);  Paul Wolff (4);  Andy Brandwood (5); Betty Bates  (9);  Garry Wilson (12).
CAI – Nathaniel Healy (0); Frank Martin  (5);  Nigel Werner  (6);  Gerard Osborne-Bourke  (7);  Joe McGowan (8);  Mathew Martin (12).

The Irish are known the world over for being hospitable and this weekend reinforced that stereotype. We were made very welcome, players were billeted with CAI members, the tournament dinner was a huge domestic party with much laughter and conversation – or perhaps I should say ‘craic’. Do I need to say that the games were played universally in good humour under bright warm sunshine?

The final result (17-7) matters less than the fact that it has been held, this the thirtieth contest, and the win puts clear water between our two associations with the totals now 16-14 in England’s favour.

Two players deserve name checks, both Irish; Nathanial Healy for producing the only Triple of the event and Mathew Martin – a very promising young talent who had to get permission from his school to participate, Vera would have loved to have seen him play.  Thanks are due to Nathaniel for managing the event (and for ensuring it happened), and also the Club & its members for their hospitality at the club and for opening their homes to us.

Full Results (CA names first):

Wilson L & Bates beat Healy & Martin M +22;   Wolff & Brandwood beat Osborne-Bourke & Martin F +22;   Wilson P & Wilson G beat McGowan & Werner +21.
Wolff P lost to Healy N -23tp;  Wilson P beat Martin F +3t;  Wilson L beat McGowan J +24;  Bates B beat Werner N +5t;  Wilson G lost to Osborne-Bourke G -9t;  Brandwood A lost to Martin M -15;  Wilson P lost to Healy N -14;  Wilson L beat Martin F +26;  Wolff P beat McGowan J +8t;  Brandwood A beat Werner N +6t;  Bates B beat Osborne-Bourke G +3t;  Wilson G lost Martin M -11;  Wolff & Brandwood beat Healy N & Martin M +7;  Wilson P & Wilson G beat Osborne-Bourke G & Martin F +13;  Wilson L & Bates B beat McGowan J & Werner N +4;  Wilson G beat McGowan J +15;  Wolff P beat Martin F +18;  Wilson L lost to Healy N -4;  Wilson P beat Werner N +13;  Bates B lost to Martin M -5;  Brandwood A beat Osborne-Bourke G +4.

l to r: Garry Wilson, Paul Wolff, Liz Wilson, Betty Bates, Andy Brandwood & Peter Wilson.
l to r: Garry Wilson, Paul Wolff, Liz Wilson, Betty Bates, Andy Brandwood & Peter Wilson.
l to r: Betty Bates, Garry Wilson, Andy Brandwood, Peter Wilson, Liz Wilson & Paul Wolff.
l to r: Betty Bates, Garry Wilson, Andy Brandwood, Peter Wilson, Liz Wilson & Paul Wolff.

Silver for David Boyd at All England Croquet

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After coming first and second in the northern area finals of the All England Handicap competition at Chester over the weekend of 31 August – 1 September, David Boyd and John Dawson took part in the national finals at Colchester on 14 – 15 September.  John Dawson was one of three competitors who won four of his five games and David Boyd won three of his five games but the overall winner was a young player from Peterborough, Joe Iddison, playing off a handicap of 16.

However, David Boyd achieved a Croquet Association Silver Medal in one game for running all twelve hoops from start to peg in a single innings with no bisques and winning the game.

Southport Croquet Plate Blown to Middlesborough

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Phil Scarr Wins Southport Advanced Tournament 14/15 Sep 13

Phil Scarr0001Sixteen players, including five locals, assembled for the Southport Advanced Tournament.  At stake – the Sandiford Plate; above – the roar of the Southport Air Show; ahead – some excellent croquet battles; the forecast – wonderful first day weather to be followed by gale force winds and torrential rain on the second day.

Despite the spectacle of the Red Arrows, Spitfires, Lancaster Bomber, Typhoon, all performing acrobatics in the sky, players from Hurlingham, Fylde, Bowdon, Crake, Tyneside, and Middlesborough played a good standard of croquet on excellent lawns, including a spectacular straight quadruple by Dave Nick.  Mindful of the worsening weather forecast, play continued until 8pm and in the gathering gloom two players emerged top of the leader board – Phil Scarr (Middlesborough) and Mark Ormerod (Hurlingham).  Phil Scar hitting in and winning a game by the light of the clubhouse security lamp.

Sunday dawned wet and windy to the news that the second day of the Air Show had been cancelled due to the worsening weather and our leaders made a very early start to grab any advantage the weather situation could provide.  By lunchtime, in torrential rain, Phil emerged as the tournament winner.  Presentation made over lunch, all lawns cleared by the players and the lawns were left to the seagulls and ducks as everyone hurriedly departed in the howling gales.

2013 Liz Wilson Red Arrows

 

 

 

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