Interclan Golf Croquet Tournament at Crathes, 15th September

Once again Jamie Burnett asked our assistance to supervise his annual Interclan event. Despite a forecast of unpredictable weather, it was decided to run the event but giving any Clan who had to travel a long way the option of playing or not. 7 teams eventually contested the event, Burnett 1(featuring a sartorial elegant Bob Burnett), Burnett 2, Burnett 3 (3 visiting Americans from Seattle), Irvine, Gordon, Farquharson and Strachan.

As time was restricted by the eventual lack of daylight, it was decided to abandon the original format and arrange matches as and when teams turned up, with matches limited to 6 hoops. It was really great to see everyone enjoying playing croquet but unfortunately it came to an end when the rain arrived and play was abandoned. Jamie decided not to announce a winner but everyone expressed an interest in playing next year, perhaps a little earlier in the year.

Thanks to Bob for helping setup the lawns and everyone who helped dismantle them in the rain and Jamie for his generous donation to the club.

Aberdeen Tournament 11 September 2022

Due to considerable fox damage on the croquet lawn, and potential for similar damage on the bowling green, a full tournament was not possible. However, four people played a one-day all-play-all tournament with the usual 18-point format. Bill Strachan had moved the hoop holes to avoid the damaged areas being a problem near the hoops, and there appeared to be no significant impact on the play.

Bill Strachan started using his bisques early against John Owen and kept John off the lawn for over half an hour, but ran out of bisques quite early, allowing John to make a break round to peg then finish the game soon after, winning 18-8. The early finish allowed John to go to watch the coffin of Queen Elizabeth pass by on its way from Balmoral to Edinburgh. Meanwhile, Derek Knight was winning 18-7 against John Henderson.

In the second round of matches, Bill made no mistakes in a convincing 18-0 win over Derek. The match between the two Johns was an exciting affair. John O took the lead with a good break, but John H used his two bisques to move ahead. A couple of very long hit-ins rescued the game for John O who prevailed by the narrow margin of 18-16.

Derek started his last match with John O by playing the wrong ball on turn 3. This allowed John to score a hoop, which proved to be crucial in the long run. Apart from blobbing hoop 2, Derek played very well after that, giving John no chance and winning 18-1. This left John O and Derek tied on two wins, but, crucially, John had 37 gross points compared to Derek’s 36. Only Bill now had the chance to overtake John. His match with John H ebbed and flowed and was close for much of the time, but John H eventually pulled away to win 18-10, leaving John O as the winner.

John Owen has a handicap reduction to 0.5

The Spalding Trophy – Knightswood, Glasgow 20th August 2022

Like last year, there was a disappointing lack of entries from Edinburgh players, and there were just two teams, John Owen and Bill Strachan from Aberdeen and Crathes Croquet Club (ACCC), the holders of the trophy, and Brian Durward and Stefan Colling from Glasgow Croquet Club. It was agreed to play two games, the first of which would be an alternate shot doubles (ASD), and the second would be conventional doubles, both played to Advanced rules. Gross hoops would be used as a tie-breaker if each team won one match.

A downpour in the Glasgow area about an hour before play was due to start fortunately didn’t make the lawn unplayable, and during the course of the morning, waterproofs gave way to sunhats. In the ASD, the Glasgow team made a good start, and for the first hour the ACCC team was reduced to the occasional missed shot. Glasgow made it to hoops 3 and 4-back, but the course of the game gradually changed as ACCC made steady progress while Glasgow repeatedly had problems at hoop 3. After around 3 hours, ACCC finally won 26-11.

After pizza and alcohol-free beer at lunchtime, the conventional doubles started in warm sunshine. Bill took the first opportunities for ACCC and reached hoop 4 with black. Stefan then shot and missed with red. Bill was about to play again when Stefan admitted to playing the wrong ball. This was most unfortunate, as the red ball was replaced near hoop 1, and it allowed John to play instead, with an easy start to a break. He went round to 4-back, which gave ACCC 12 points and a guarantee that they would retain the trophy, even if the game was lost. Stefan hit in and reached hoop 6, but Bill replied with a break to 4-back. Brian hit in but couldn’t get in front of hoop 1, and that was the final chance for Glasgow, with ACCC going on to win 26-5. There was enough time for a friendly game to start before Eleanor Spalding arrived to present the trophy. She also accepted a donation from the players on behalf of the Prince and Princess of Wales hospice.

Results

John Owen & Bill Strachan 26 Brian Durward & Stefan Colling 11 (ASD)
John Owen & Bill Strachan 26 Brian Durward & Stefan Colling 5 (conventional doubles)

Report by John Owen

Summer Golf Croquet Event Sunday 14th August

14 members entered our second GC tournament of the season. They were divided into 2 groups, “seeded” and “unseeded”, where “unseeded” players were partnered with “seeded” players. For both morning and afternoon sessions “unseeded” players would be rotated so that they played with a different “seeded” partner after each round.

Format was 13 point games, duration 30/25 minutes, winner to be decided by most wins, most halved matches, gross hoops scored, hoop one shoot out.

Play started in rather pleasant warm conditions. After the morning rounds the Garwoods lead with 3 wins (20 hoops) closely followed by Gordon Hendry (18 hoops), Roslyn Justice (17 hoops) and John Webber (16 hoops) on 2 wins.

Suitably refreshed play commenced in continuing fine warm weather. Midway through 3 players were tied on 4 wins Garwoods (29 hoops), Gordon Hendry (28 hoops) and Roslyn Justice (25 hoops). After the penultimate round Gordon Hendry took a slender lead on 5 wins (33 hoops) with Eddie Marshall 4 wins (34 hoops), Garwoods 4 wins (30 hoops) and Roslyn Justice 4 wins (28 hoops). With Eddie partnering Gordon in the final round his hope of winning was dashed and with the Garwoods losing and Roslyn drawing her match, Gordon emerged as overall winner. Playing in her first competition Roslyn Justice finished in a creditable third place.

Final Results. Winner Gordon Hendry 5 wins, 2nd Eddie Marshall 4 wins (36 hoops), 3rd Roslyn Justice 4 wins (31 hoops).

Wilkinson Sword Handicap Doubles – 6th August 2022 at Knightswood

4 clubs contested this year’s Wilkinson Sword competition, Glasgow (Brian Durward and Stefan Colling (8), Auchincruive (Kevin and Michele Wright (26), Balgreen (Roger Binks and Rosemary Saunders Robertson (9) and Aberdeen Crathes (Derek Knight and Bill Strachan (10).

Play started with the unpredictable weather varying between sunshine and light showers.

Due to time pressure a full all play all format was not possible so a draw for a knockout semi-final and final was made. Auchincruive against Aberdeen, proved the old saying that you cannot win at croquet unless you can hit roquets. Aberdeen appeared incapable of hitting the provable barn door with a frying pan and lost 19-4. Balgreen proved too strong for Glasgow winning 26-16.

The final was a low scoring tactical affair with Auchincruive coming out on top 12-9. The 3rd /4th playoff match between Glasgow and Aberdeen, saw Aberdeen’s play improve but with time running out Brian, Stefan and Derek were all on peg with Bill on 2 back. Bill hit in and as he approached 2 back time was called. Derek optomistally said we can still win this and we can take our time to complete the turn. Bill under the guidance of Derek then proceed to complete his turn and peg out both balls to win 26-24. The remaining matches were 14pt and a 16.50pm guillotine finishing time. Balgreen beat Aberdeen 14-10, with Roger negotiating a three ball finish to win the match. Auchincruive complete the grand slam beating Glasgow in a close match 8-7 and were worthy winners of this year’s Wilkinson Sword.

The presentation of the Trophy by Stefan took place in glorious sunshine.

Thanks to Stefan for managing the event, Brian for setting up the lawn and referring and Stefan for providing the alcohol-free refreshments in the afternoon.

Spring Golf Croquet Event Sunday 19th June

Ten members entered our first tournament of the season. They were divided into 2 groups, “seeded” and “unseeded” where “unseeded” players were partnered with “seeded” players.
It was hoped that “unseeded” players would be rotated so that they played with a different “seeded” partner each round. This proved extremely difficult to arrange, so partnerships would be redrawn for the afternoon session instead.
Format was 13 point games, duration 25 minutes, winner to be decided by most wins, gross hoops scored, hoop one shoot out.
Teams Morning session : Derek Knight-Gordon Hendry, John Owen-Hilary McDonald, Stefan Colling-Garwoods, Peggy Martin– Lynne Copping and John Webber-Zosia Colling.
Play started in decidedly Autumnal conditions, overcast, windy and occasional drizzle but it did not deter players from enjoying the event. After the 4 morning rounds John Owen led with 3 wins (21 hoops) from Derek Knight/Gordon Hendry 2 wins (19 hoops) and Lynne Copping 2 wins (16 hoops).
Teams Afternoon session : Derek Knight-Garwoods, John Owen-Zosia Colling, Stefan Colling-Lynne Copping, Peggy Martin-Meg Strachan and John Webber-Gordon Hendry.
After redrawing the teams, play started with Derek-Garwoods inflicting a 7-2 defeat on John-Zosia only to lose their next match scoring only 1 hoop and with John-Zosia winning 7-3 it was back to square one. Results over the next 2 rounds were close but John emerged the winner with 5 wins (40 hoops) against Derek’s 5 wins (37 hoops). In joint 3rd place were Peggy and Lynne (unseeded) with 4 wins (33 hoops).
Our next event is the Summer Golf Croquet Tournament on Sunday 14th August here’s hoping the weather is kinder to us.

Cults O 50s Croquet Session

Continuing on from last season Cults O 50’s club had their first croquet session on Thursday afternoon. 8 members attended and the weather was really kind to us. You are never too old to take up a new sport as Arthur and Ada with a combined age of 185 years proved. Looking forward to our next session towards the end of June.