White Rose Open 10/11 August 2019
Ever get that feeling of deja vu? Paul Rigge experienced it over the weekend 10/11 August at York Croquet Club.
He travelled over the Pennines to contest the Second holding of the White Rose Open in the rain, again.
Other entries attending came from Nottingham, Anglia, Luxemburg, London & Yorkshire, again.
The atmosphere and welcome was warm & friendly, again.
The Manager (Peter Thompson) ran it as a flexible Egyptian, again.
Weather conditions (bit of rain now & then) and Tournament dinner, at same place as last year… you get my point by now.
Even the same two players made it though the Semi-Finals KO to contest the Final, which by now you won’t be surprised to learn also ended with a 3ball ending just like last year. The title was again taken by Paul from a much improved Callum Johnson.. weird!
From your correspondent across the Pennines.
You have to be determined to play in this pleasurable 2 day, no time limit, advanced association tournament but that was no trouble for Paul to defend his status as the Winner of last year’s Inaugural White Rose.
Once your hotel / stay / parking / lunch sorted out it was very well run by Peter Thompson.
You do not notice the showers turn to stair-rods when you are winning but Paul was beaten in a very early round (a slip up would be unfair to Dave Gunn who tripped him up) – so by end of play Saturday – Paul adjourned to the evening nosh knowing he had to win his Sunday morning game to be in the semi-finals.
He did himself no favours, upsetting the neutrals by beating Cliff Jones of Wrest Park, whom had himself achieved 2 triple peels in earlier rounds – hitting the lift and then win.
Callum (under 21 rising star in Yorkshire and England) however had played the first day with fluidly and quiet confidence to reach final but after a late ending Saturday night party….. coolly continued in the same vein to earn his place in the final.
Great to see the young guns having a crack at the old guard and giving them a hard time of it.
The final was good quality (not excellent – do not want to them big ‘eds) with only 1 unforced error each, but PR’s experience carried the match.
Never one to be backward in coming forward had stashed in his kit bag the Lancastrian Flag to proclaim a victory for the West again. This will make the locals even more determined next year – so reinforcements needed.
As for that picture . . . . . . . . . what is your caption for it……..
Your correspondent was the highest handicap at 4 so only cost 24 index points over losing 6 games enjoying the croquet and the social company.
Malcolm
PS Paul Rigge is on the left……as if you did not know
A full bottle suits Mr Rigge better than an empty glass!
Thank you for spotting the error, now corrected.