Club
Croquet
Wrest Park
Mary Rose 2015
Final v Surbiton (at Surbiton) October 3 Lost 2-
Bryan Harral (0) and John Bevington (1) beat Nigel Polhill (0) and Chris Roberts (1) +23
David Marsh (1) beat Andy Dibben (2) +3
Tim Brewer (2½) lost to Graham Brightwell (2) -
Bryan Harral lost to Nigel Polhill -
John Bevington lost to Chris Roberts -
David Marsh lost to Graham Brightwell -
Tim Brewer v Andy Dibben unfinished
There was dew on the lawns and a cold mist in the air when we arrived, but Bryan soon warmed up when a successful roll-
The sun came out after lunch, but it seemed to shine on our opponents. Bryan missed a short cut rush to hoop 1, and Nigel then embarked on a triple. Complications ensued and Bryan managed to peg out Nigel’s peg ball, but with Bryan for 2-
David made six hoops in his game but pointed out that he had been peeled through two of them. Tim’s game was abandoned with both players on 3 and 4-
Never mind. It’s something to have got to the final, after all.
© Wrest Park Croquet Club
At around 4pm in the early stages of the afternoon singles Frank Moir contemplates the split to hoop 3 and partner in corner 2, while Bryan prepares to take on hoop 2
The winners, with the trophy presented by CA President Quiller Barrett. L-
The losers: Bryan Harral, David Marsh, Tim Brewer, John Bevington
John then found some form and got round to peg and rover, but let Frank in again after slightly over-
v Pinchbeck (played at Hunstanton) July 16 Won 4-
George Collin (0) and Bryan Harral (0) beat Terrey Sparks (1½) and John Filsak (2) +22
John Bevington (1) lost to Bob Thompson (3) -
David Woolley (8) lost to Mike Bowser (4) -
George beat Terrey +18
Bryan beat John +19
John beat Mike +5
David lost to Bob -
With Bryan and George’s handicaps now at 0, meeting the minimum aggregate of 4 is becoming more difficult, and David Woolley came in to replace Tim. Pinchbeck is a one-
Bryan and George made short work of the doubles, and although David got off to a good start he eventually lost -
The journey home was enlivened by a detour taking in Wisbech and the road alongside the Sixteen Foot Drain. The latter was only reached after two false starts, so we all got home a bit later than planned. But never mind, we won.
v Sussex County (away) June 3 Won 7-
George Collin (0) and Bryan Harral (0) beat Simon Hayward-
Tim Brewer (2½) beat David Gaitley (3½) +25
John Bevington (1) beat Peter Pullin (1½) +2
George beat Simon +24
Bryan beat Tudor +17
John beat David +6
Tim beat Peter +8
Leaving early (in Tim’s shiny new Astra) we could have stopped for breakfast but as no-
George won again in an hour or so, and after the others had finished John completed the whitewash after a messy ending which included a failed peg-
v Bowdon (home) September 7 Won 4-
On paper it should have been a formality. We were playing at home and our opponents had had a long and stressful drive, arriving at 10.45 as the sun disappeared and low cloud set in for the rest of the day. But things do not always go to plan. Barry’s play belied his handicap and he was the first to finish. Tim was having a nightmare but finally came good. In the doubles Martin got round to 4-
When the doubles resumed Martin, with Frank for peg, tried for control at penult and just failed to get through, which let John in and we eventually won +4 for a 2-