Club

Croquet

Wrest Park

Annual Dinner 2017

The Annual Dinner was held at the Lower Stondon Golf Club on Friday 24 November and was ably organised as usual by Peter Aspinall. 21 members and guests attended and after the meal chairman David Woolley presented the prizes for this year’s club competitions. A list of winners from previous years is on the Archive page and can be seen here.

Fed and watered - the scene just prior to the prizegiving.

For what we are about to receive - Tom Anderson and Eric Audsley await the main course

Geoff Strutt, winner of the De Grey Cup, with David Woolley

Roy Bradbury, winner of the golf croquet handicap cup

Richard Keighley with the Archer Cup

Individual club competitions

Steel Cup (Advanced)

Winner: David Marsh

Runner-up: Rod Ashwell (who received the Bottomley Plate as runner-up)

David and Rod were due to play each other in both semi-finals, so it was effectively best of three. The final was played on 28 October. David took the first game, which lasted some hours, after pegging Rod out and winning +3. The second game was more clinical, David winning +26 TP.

Archer Cup (Handicap)

Winner: Richard Keighley

Runner-up: David Marsh

In the first semi-final Richard was due to play Tim Brewer who had to withdraw due to injury. In the other David had a walk-over against Nick Evans. Richard won +13.

Ashwell Cup (Handicap – All England qualifier)

Winner: Peter Aspinall

Runner-up: Tim Brewer

Peter won the final +22. Peter and Tim played at the area final at Edgbaston but neither qualified for the final, which was held at Wrest Park and won by Phil Nuttall of Bury CC.

De Grey Plate (Handicap)

Winner: Richard Keighley

Runner-up: Cliff Hayes

There were three entries, David Morris being the other, and the event was all play all, but David had to concede two games.

De Grey Cup (B level Advanced)

Winner: Geoff Strutt

Runner-up: either David Woolley or John Tew. Again, there were three entries, but I’m not sure if all the games were played that should have been played

14 point Trophy (Advanced)

Winner: Rod Ashwell

Runner-up: David Marsh

Golf croquet (Handicap)

Winner: Roy Bradbury

Runner-up: Ross Bagni


Club team competitions

Mary Rose (Advanced) – Wrest Park beat Chester and Bowdon (both away), but lost at home to Pendle & Craven in the semi-final.

Longman Cup (Handicap) - Wrest Park beat Watford but then lost at home to Hunstanton.

EACF Beds & Herts League (AC - Handicap) – Wrest Park finished third but had the satisfaction of being the only team to beat league winners Watford.

EACF Western Area League (GC - Handicap) – Wrest Park finished fifth and escaped the wooden spoon by beating Northampton Mallets, who finished last.

Richard Keighley organised the GC League matches, Peter Aspinall managed the Longman Cup team, and Bryan Harral managed the Mary Rose and Beds & Herts League teams.


Club members in CA selection events

The Treasurer’s Tankard (4th eight)

David Marsh and Cliff Jones were both selected for this event, David finishing in mid-table.

The Selectors Weekend

Bryan Harral played in this event and was set to win his block and reach the final, but he failed rover when well ahead and never took croquet again.

The GC B level final

This tournament is made up of 16 players who have done best in various qualifying events during the season. Ross Bagni, Rob Chatwin and Jean Ball reached the final, Ross finishing fourth.

© Wrest Park Croquet Club