News — Page 185 — Croquet in the North West

Colin Irwin Wins Neil Williams Croquet Cup – Eventually

28 April 2014 by Paul Rigge

Neil Williams Millennium Advanced
Heaton Park 26th/27th April, 2014

Colin Irwin presented with Neil Williams Cup by Manager Paul Rigge

The 16 strongest players in the Federation (well bar two) ignored the weather forecast and attended this year’s Neil Williams at Heaton Park. The players were split into two blocks to enable both “8’s” to enjoy seven rounds of ‘all play all’ over the two days with the dividing line between the blocks being either a positive or negative handicap card.

The forecast was again wrong with not a drop of rain falling during daylight so play was un-interrupted but it still didn’t stop some games dragging on into darkness on the Saturday evening….. Some people just don’t care about the manager’s social life!

Thanks must go to Bury Club for again generously hosting the event and for supplying a huge catering team – we even got ‘starters’ before the Sunday meal (I do hope it’s not the last hurrah for this venue).

Robert Essler being presented with the Woodlands Trophy by Manager Paul Rigge

All competitors stated that they had enjoyed the weekend and much fun was had over the entire weekend but particularly at the close when the manager tried to announce the winners in each block without taking into account the results from the last round….total incompetent!

Winner of the Woodlands Trophy for ‘B’ level; Retained by Robert Essler with 6/7 over Jerry Guest who also had 6/7 but his loss was against Robert. Jerry however has now played 750 different opponents, 633 of them being wins!

As Paul then tried to award the Neil Williams Cup to Colin Irwin, howls of barracking and laughter ensured at his expense, as more and more players claimed they also had achieved 4/7 and they should get it instead. Back to the computer for the manager to check and re-check the final calculations until it was certain…Colin had indeed been victorious (on who beat who)! – that’s his story and he’s sticking to it….

John Beech Croquet Cup stays in Pendle

22 April 2014 by Paul Rigge

John Beech Memorial Easter Tournament (18^th /21^st April Pendle & Craven Croquet Club).

Roger Schofield being presented with the John Beech Trophy by Manager Paul Rigge

Lee Hartley retains the Peter Dowdall Cup (for Advanced play).
Roger Schofield Wins the John Beech Trophy.
High Handicap Trophy (10+): Joe Lennon.
Low Handicap Trophy (<10): Lee Hartley.
Fastest Game: Roger Staples.
Leisure Trophy (most games played): Andy Brandwood.

Lee Hartley presented with the Peter Dowdall Trophy by Manager Paul Rigge

Four days play in fine, dry and mainly warm weather was again the order of the day in Earby over Easter for this year’s ‘John Beech’ after last year’s seriously minus degree frozen expedition.

The main handicap event is run as an Egyptian but by the finish only two points separated third place from the winner, necessitating the manager checking and rechecking each card to validate the victory in Roger Schofield’s (Hcp2) favour from Lee Hartley (Hcp -0.5) & Andy Brandwood (Hcp 4.5).

In the Advanced All play All Block, the manager’s nightmare continued with three players tying for the title on the same wins; on who beat who – still a tie, so net points finally broke the stalemate in Lee’s favour.

The courts were green with very firmly set hoops and looking at the repairs to court 4, it won’t be long before Pendle & Craven return to being a five lawn club again having improved the clubs drainage.

Always known as a friendly tournament, with much banter & beer – the bar is sponsored by a certain croquet playing micro brewery proprietor after all, and this year was no different with all competitors vowing to return again and again. Did I mention the food yet? Each day, bang on 12:30 copious amounts of hot fare followed by pudding were enjoyed and the time honoured ‘tradition’ of tea at 4pm was of course observed to stave off any hunger

Another Croquet Win for the Bury Brewer

15 April 2014 by Chris Alvey

Matt Holmes Wins the Southport April Advanced Jubilee Tankard

Winner Matt Holmes receives Jubilee Tankard from Southport President Alan Pidcock

A very competitive field entered the Southport Advanced tournament, including international players James Hopgood and David Walters, renowned croquet author James Hawkins, mallet maker Alan Pidcock, international squad members Gabrielle Higgins and Matt Holmes. Despite a mixture of wind, sunshine and drizzly rain, an entertaining mix of croquet was served up, however, the local knowledge of the Southport guys, Brian Kerr, Ray Low and Alan Pidcock was not enough to get them onto the honours board, whilst the renowned Jerry Guest played his 750th different tournament opponent of his long croquet career.

The new catering arrangements at Southport worked well, especially with fortification from the new brew recently developed by Matt Holmes – the Southport Leave – a crisp golden ale with a touch of elderflower and refreshing taste.

The final was a tense affair between the Bury Brewer, Matt Holmes and the Quarryman, Dave Nick. In a match that gave winning opportunities to both players, Matt Holmes finally took advantage to claim the Jubilee Tankard. The plate was won by James Hawkins who also managed the event with efficiency and friendliness.

Knockout Results:

James Hopgood bt Liz Wilson +26TP; Mark Lloyd bt Alan Pidcock +22; Brian Storey bt Peter Wilson +1; Matt Holmes bt Brian Kerr +15; David Walters bt Derek Knight +21TP; James Hawkins bt Jerry Guest +18; Dave Nick bt Andy Brandwood +19; Gabrielle Higgins bt Ray Lowe +6;

Hopgood bt Lloyd +19; Holmes bt Storey +3; Walters bt Hawkins +4; Nick bt Higgins +14;

Holmes bt Hopgood -17 +17 +15; Nick bt Walters -11OTP +18 +4;

Holmes bt Nick +18;

Photo Gallery (Press any image to see slideshow):

Colin Irwin Wins Neil Williams Croquet Cup – Eventually

John Beech Croquet Cup stays in Pendle

Another Croquet Win for the Bury Brewer

Knockout Results:

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