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

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 27^oC 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. (8^th 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 5^th to 8^th 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.  

PENDLE & CRAVEN MIDWEEK TOURNAMENT – Dave Kibble retains the Rose Bowl.

See all match details at Croquet Scores: https://croquetscores.com/2021/ac/pendle-craven/rose-bowl

Paul Rigge triggers to minus one and a half. Croquet welcomed Richard Harding back, playing smooth Croquet after a long absence from the game.

The week resolved four tournaments. Covid had reduced the number entering and so things were not as flexible as they are usually were. Therefore the Addict Trophy for the most games was re-branded for this year as the Peeling Bonanza Trophy. This did cause some variation in play as some rivalry was generated, especially from the high low doubles pairings.

A special mention is due to Tom Dewar who came as a spectator for the first two days but assisted in the catering and lawn maintenance throughout his time here. A second special mention to Roger Staples Fruit Salad. Unanimously voted the best fruit salad we ever tasted. Croquet lore says eating of the fruit salad improves your game and Roger has clearly eaten of the fruit salad recently, being half of the winning doubles side with Paul Rigge and winning the B Class (albeit by 1 Sonneborn–Berger  point).

While the rest of the country was awash with rain and low pressure Pendle was bathed in Sunshine.

Some other stuff happened too:

Richard received a loud spontaneous round of applause for his roquet jump shot over hoop one.

At the end of day two, opponents and  spectators fell silent at the ending of a doubles match. Lorna had been pegged out Steve then out drilled out a ball from the jaws of penult from 18 yards.  What followed was a magnificent three ball break to the peg and box to win the game.

However in his next game with time called and the balls in all the corners Steve hit a 14 yarder and then a thin take off from hoop three to inside the ball at corner four. That ball was rushed to corner one and then that one to hoop seven which was run. From there, a four ball break to peg out.

Photo shows Ken Jones trialing the latest technique for determining a wiring lift:

The manager, Liz Wilson, must get a mention for the choreography of four trophies accommodating several players only coming for two days and therefore two tournament meals at the Jade Palace. In addition the Euros semi final with England involved had to be factored in with a nice early finish on that day.