It is very pleasing to say that the Level Play Golf Millennium tournament remains popular, with an excellent standard of play from our North West based players. 12 players (from 9 clubs) travelled north to Crake Valley where good, smooth lawns and friendly hospitality were waiting.

The play throughout the day was outstanding, with some rising stars showing they can cope with pre-tournament favourites. As a result, both Sarah Clements (Chester) and Dave Venables (Southport) achieved handicap reductions to 4.

There were two blocks of 6 with Block B going to form with Nigel Matthews (Bowdon) and Roger Brooks (Westmorland) going through without issue. Block A was a different story, with Dave Venables beating holder David Cornes (Crake Valley) 7-6 in the first round of games. Dave continued in the same manner and went through in 2nd place on hoop difference to the semi-finals. He joined pre-tournament favourite, Angharrad Walters (Bowdon), who won every game but had a huge fright in the first round overcoming Ursula Walker (Fylde) 7-6. A tremendous effort throughout the day from Ursula, playing in her first level play tournament with handicap of 12. Her game will improve no end from the experience.

Moving to the semi-finals and Roger Brooks was in unstoppable form overcoming Angharrad, with Nigel proving too strong for Dave.

In the final Roger held the lead for most of the match, but Nigel never gave up and fought back to win in a tense finale 10-9.

Congratulations to Nigel who adds the Level Play Golf crown to the Advanced AC Millennium trophy he won at Pendle the previous weekend.  

Listen very carefully and you might hear the rasping death throes of AC play up here in the North West – why start a report in such a manner? 

Well, despite multiple reminders from the Federation Secretary  to all member clubs, trying to gather support for the Federation’s Premier Tournament, the AC Millennium Level Play, the response was pitiful. Only eight players from four clubs attended this two day tournament at Pendle & Craven CC, with Handicaps ranging from 4.5 down to -1.5, both trophies at least could be contested.

Play got underway as the last winds from storm ‘Betty’ made conditions for ‘casters’ tricky. Four courts had been prepared, so luxurious single banking enabled four rounds of untimed games to be completed well before the booked tournament meal at the Jade.

Sunday was a warmer affair (summer returned), as the remaining three rounds of the all-play-all were completed… with the last round producing ties on number of wins for both cups.. This should have been resolved using who-beat-who for the Neil Williams, but all the high handicappers had beaten each other, and the options of playing various tie-breaking games were rejected, so ‘net-points’ as a method was utilised to separate them.

Thanks to Angharrad for posting up on CroquetScores, (https://croquetscores.com/2023/ac/nwfed-millennium-advanced) Richard, Nigel & Robert for helping set-up/clear-up

This year’s ‘Neil Williams recipient – Nigel Matthews (Woodland winner in ’22)

and the ‘Woodlands’ – to Steve Skelton.

Cheers Riggey

Now before all you North West Federation Members get upset – I don’t mean we lost I mean the actual Trophy is lost!

Two teams of 6 players from Croquet North and The North West Federation met at Pendle for this annual competition.  The two Captains did their best to match handicaps to enable the format of 3 Level Play Doubles in the morning and 6 games of singles in the afternoon. 

The morning doubles finished 2 -1 in favour of Croquet North with two of the games going to exciting “time turn” finishes in which Croquet North showed great resilience and determination.   The afternoon singles were 4 Advanced games and 2 handicap games matching the handicaps as best as could be done.  As results filtered in the score became 2 – 2 and then 3 – 2 to Croquet North.  The next match to finish made the result 4 – 2 to the visitors.  The home team’s players Steve Skelton and Phil Snowden pulled the score back to 4 – 4 and it took Brian Medley to finalise the score at 5 -4 to The North West Federation. 

Thank you to non-playing Captains Liz Wilson and Julian Gibson for arranging the event and to Pendle for hosting

Results as follows

Neil Adams and Phil Snowden lost to Phil Errington and Nigel Durie ( – 1 on time)

Brian Medley and Betty Bates beat Terry Vernazza and David Millener (+10)

Steve Skelton and Garry Wilson lost to Derek Watts and Nigel Roberts (- 1 on time)

Neil Adams beat Phil Errington (26TP – 1)

Garry Wilson lost to David Millener (12 – 26)

Betty Bates lost to Nigel Durie (14 – 21)

Steve Skelton beat Terry Vernazza (26 -12)

Phil Snowden beat Nigel Roberts (26 – 16)

Brian Medley beat Derek Watts (26 – 14)

Pictures show all the doubles pairings “in-action”