Club

Croquet

Wrest Park

Handicap tournament 21-22 May

With no rain to speak of since the slitter was used the lawns were slightly bumpy in places, and this, coupled with rock-solid hoops, led to frequent changes of innings and many games going to time. The 21 players (seven club members) were split into two blocks, each played as a flexible Swiss. Handicaps ranged from Nigel Polhill at -1 to Peter Aspinall, playing in his first tournament off 20.

In the first block, Geoff Johnson led the pack after three rounds with three wins, with Nigel, George Collin, Ian Mantle, David Marsh and Alan Clark snapping at his heels. Nigel, David and Alan then caught him up and in the final round Alan beat Geoff while Nigel got the better of David after pegging him out. Alan won the block by virtue of having beaten Nigel +26 in the third round.

The second block was more clear-cut as Alain Giraud, playing off 1, won all his five games. The closest he came to defeat was his victory over John Bevington +1 on time, which could have gone the other way had John remembered his half-bisque. Alain’s nearest challengers were Terry Mahoney, Ray Pearcy and George Woolhouse with three wins.

Our thanks to Geoff Strutt, Sally Marsh and Tim Brewer for keeping everyone fed and watered, and also to English Heritage for their loan of a prop for the presentation photo.


A barrier holds back the crowd before the prizegiving.

In the battle of the bulges, Ian Mantle beat Eric Audsley +16.

© Wrest Park Croquet Club