Club

Croquet

Wrest Park

EACF AC Champions Day tournament
10 May

report by Peter Rothwell

On 10 May, representatives from clubs across the East Anglian Croquet Federation gathered at Watford to participate in the EACF AC Club Champions Day.  Representing Wrest Park were Bryan Harral, Peter Rothwell, and Dave Barnett, as respective winners of WP’s 2024 internal AC competitions for the Steel, De Grey and Archer Cups.

The format is a one day tournament split into three categories: Advanced, B-Level Advanced, and Handicap with the winner of each category being awarded a shield for the year plus a smaller plaque to keep.

In the Advanced category, at the end of the block stage Bryan Harral was one of three players tied on games won but “who beat whom” did not provide a result.  The manager decided on a “Nottingham tie-break”, where each player starts with two balls in corner 4, sets up a rush to hoop 4 and then attempts to make as many hoops as they can in sequence with a 2-ball break.  This tests all aspects of AC skills, including accurate rushing, positioning both balls with croquet shot hoop approaches, and hoop running with control to get a rush to the next hoop.  Bryan passed this test with flying colours, making a break of five hoops against his opponents’ one and two hoops to win the tie-break.  He received the Lynnsport Shield  as winner of the Advanced category.

In the B-Level Advanced category, Peter Rothwell had some hard fought matches but managed to emerge undefeated and was therefore winner of the Norfolk Shield.

The Handicap category was played as a block of 18-point handicap matches, with Dave Barnett (14) unfortunately losing his first game to John Smallbone from Watford (4½) but then coming back strongly to win his other games, ending tied with John on games won.  However, as John had won their head-to-head game he won the shield and Dave was placed second.

So overall, it was a very successful day for WP’s representatives, with all participants enjoying the sunny weather and good lawn conditions.  Thanks go to Terrey Sparks for managing and to hosts Watford CC for their kind hospitality.



© Wrest Park Croquet Club  

All the winners: Peter Rothwell, Bryan Harral
and John Smallbone with their trophies.