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.