2010 May Handicap tournament

Club

Croquet

Wrest Park

Handicap tournament 21-23 May

The tournament was played in hot sunshine, a welcome change from previous years, and players sought shade, drinks and suncream in equal measure. Played as a Swiss, there were three players all on six wins going into the final round with two of them (manager Eric Audsley and Nigel Polhill) due to play each other, and the third, Terry Mahoney, playing David Marsh. If Nigel won he would win by virtue of having earlier beaten Terry, if Nigel and Terry both lost then Eric would win, and if Nigel lost and Terry won then Terry would win, which is what happened.

We were honoured by the entries of both the Chairman (Patricia Duke-Cox) and the President (Quiller Barrett) of the CA, who were given Wrest Park mugs as souvenirs of their visit. Patricia also won a prize for the best performance in the higher handicap group, with five wins in nine games. Quiller had four wins, as did David Marsh, Arthur Reed, Keith Rhodes and George Collin, with David Gillett going one better with five.

The relatively fast conditions had several games going to time, and there was one which was never completed: Wendy Spencer-Smith (16) on peg and rover and out of bisques against John Bevington (1½) on hoop 5 with one ball, the innings and a laid 3-ball break. An intriguing prospect, the outcome of which we shall never know.Our thanks to Sally, Tim, Linda, Vera, Peggy and Margaret for keeping us fed and watered in the heat.

Lunch al fresco. L-R: Nick Evans, Patricia Duke-Cox, David Gillett, Philip Windred and Nigel Polhill.

Eric Audsley and George Collin watch Arthur Reed in play against Philip Windred late on Saturday while David Marsh and Patricia Duke-Cox look on.