Club Champions Tournament
by year:
Association CroquetManager: Terrey Sparks
As the Wrest Park lawns were not available this year due to their relocation it was decided to stage this tournament, the first in the Federation's calendar, at the Hunstanton club. Any doubts that the Manager had had regarding the club's remote location were soon dispelled with a substantial entry of 16 from 7 of the region's clubs. In fact several of the entrants decided to avail themselves of the notorious Hunstanton micro-climate and book in for the night at local B&Bs to take a week-end break. They were not to be disappointed as after weeks of the notoriously easterly winds and bitter arctic temperatures the croquet gods smiled, the sun put its hat on, the winds relented and spring at last was finally here.
As is the usual practice the tournament was split into three sections: Advanced, 'B' Level Advanced and Handicap. Each player played 3 games, which because of the time constraints were timed at 2.5 hours. However, although the lawns were in very good condition they were moderately paced and the hoops generous so that few games went to time.
In the Advanced section which comprised 4 entrants, despite a sluggish start Simon Hathrell from Watford ran out the overall winner with a 100% record. Likewise in the 'B' Level section of 6 entrants, last year's winner Tim Brewer of Wrest Park dominated the group winning all 3 of his game to retain the shield. Things were a little different in the Handicap section where despite a strong start the out-bisqued John Bevington from Wrest Park, playing off a handicap of 1, grubbed out wins in his first two games and looked the favourite to win the section. However, an unexpected defeat at the hands of David Haslam in the 3rd game upset the apple-cart, and to compound the Manager's problem the group ended up with 4 players - John Bevington, Jonathan Toye, David Haslam (Colchester) and David Wicks (Ipswich) - all on 2 wins apiece, and a tie breaker looked in the offing as the who-beat-whom rule appeared neutral. However, invoking the number of games finished within time, Jonathan Toye of Downham Market ran out the unexpected winner with both his wins within time whilst the other 3 each had only one.
Our thanks go to the Hunstanton Club for allowing the use of the splendid lawns superbly prepared by their groundsman Jeff Race.
Report and photos by Terrey Sparks|
|
H'cap | SH | BH | CH | DT | Wins | Wins within time |
Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Simon Hathrell (Watford) |
-½ | +11 | +11 | +23 | 3 | 3 | 1 | |
| Bryan Harral (Wrest Park) |
1 | -11 | +17 | +10 | 2 | 2 | 2 | |
| Colin Hemming (Colchester) |
0 | -11 | -17 | +1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | |
| David Tutt (Letchworth) |
0 | -23 | -10 | -1 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| H'cap | TB | MB | KR | GH | IT | RB | Wins | Wins within time |
Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tim Brewer (Wrest Park) |
4 | +9(T) | +8(T) | +21(T) | 3 | 0 | 1 | |||
| Mike Bowser (Hunstanton) |
4 | -9(T) | +17 | +17 | 2 | 2 | 2= | |||
| Keith Rhodes (Letchworth) |
5 | -8(T) | +4 | +22 | 2 | 2 | 2= | |||
| Georgeen Hemming (Colchester) |
7 | -21(T) | -17 | +5(T) | 1 | 0 | 4 | |||
| Ian Thompson (Downham Market) |
4½ | -4 | -5(T) | +8(T) | 1 | 0 | 5 | |||
| Robin Barry (Watford) |
9 | -17 | -22 | -8(T) | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| H'cap | JT | DH | JB | DW | PR | WSS | Wins | Wins within time |
Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jonathan Toye (Downham Market) |
7 | +4 | -7(T) | +8 | 2 | 2 | 1 | |||
| David Haslam (Colchester) |
10 | -4 | +15 | +1(T) | 2 | 1 | 2= | |||
| John Bevington (Wrest Park) |
1 | +7(T) | -15 | +4 | 2 | 1 | 2= | |||
| David Wicks (Ipswich) |
14 | -4 | +6(T) | +8 | 2 | 1 | 2= | |||
| Peter Ross (Letchworth) |
14 | -1(T) | -6(T) | +2(T) | 1 | 0 | 5 | |||
| Wendy Spencer-Smith (Watford) |
18 | -8 | -8 | -2(T) | 0 | 0 | 6 |
Winner & tie-breaking determined by:
See also:
AC Club Champions Tournament
- past winners
GC Club Champions Tournament
