Handicap Tournament 21–22 May

© Wrest Park Croquet Club  

Up on the roof - the view from the container with play in full swing.

There was a full complement of 16 for this event, including two new faces: Bill Humphries visiting from Australia, who was playing at a number of events during his stay, and Lars Boman for whom this was his first experience of proper croquet, his previous experience being of the Finnish version which by all accounts is a bit more rustic. Lars was allotted a provisional handicap of 20 and managed three wins before being having his handicap set at 18 before his last game against Peter Aspinall, which he lost -5.

Manager Eric Audsley did not set time limits but reserved the right to impose them; this only occurred in two games, one of which went on so long the score was simply recorded as +x. There was a full spread of handicaps from -½ to 20 and the winner was Jonathan Lambton, playing off 14, who won all five of his games. His victims included Peter Aspinall who finished with four wins. James Skelton, also with four wins, won the prize for the best performance by a low handicapper.

5/5 Jonathan Lambton (14)

4/5 James Skelton (1½), Peter Aspinall (11)

3/5 Lars Boman (20*), George Collin (0), Geoff Johnson (4), Cliff Jones (-½), George Woolhouse (2½)

2/5 Eric Audsley (2), Bryan Harral (-½), Bill Humphries (3½), Andre Machell (10), Geoff Strutt (9)

1/5 Mel Christie (20), John Hall (6)

0/5 Nick Evans (1½)

Lars Boman at his first tournament. On his left, the eventual winner Jonathan Lambton.

“And your next opponent is . . .” Eric Audsley announces another round.

Club

Croquet

Wrest Park