Basil Townsend Quaich 2012
22 September 2012, Auchincruive
The inter-club handicap singles competition for the Basil Townsend Quaich was originally planned for the 5th of May but had to be postponed twice - to the 10th of June and then to this date in September. Eventually, however, it all came together, and on a fine frosty equinoctial morning Fergus McInnes (Edinburgh) and David Houston (Meadows) caught a train to Glasgow, where they joined Robert Lay (Glasgow) for the drive to Auchincruive. On arrival they took the back way in, as remembered by David from his previous visit, but then encountered a difficulty because the gate between their parking place and the croquet lawn was locked. Fergus climbed over and joined Malcolm Smith (Auchincruive) in finding hoop holes while Robert and David made their way around the obstacle by other routes. By 10am the four players were together by the lawn, the draw for the first round was made and battle commenced.
There was agreement in favour of a fairly short day's play, and so the event was played in the form of 18-point games - all clips starting on hoop 5 - with a time limit of two and a quarter hours. This time proved sufficient for all games to reach a peg-out. In the first round Fergus won a close game against David (+4) after pegging out David's forward ball, while in a game without bisques Malcolm beat Robert +10. Winners played losers in the second round; Malcolm notched up a second +10 against David, and Robert beat Fergus by the same margin - though it was looking like a +18 until Robert failed to finish with his second ball and allowed Fergus his first roquet of the game. In the third round Malcolm had his only loss, -4 to Fergus, and David had a win (+15) over Robert. So Malcolm and Fergus were tied on games won, and the decision went down to points, on which basis Malcolm was declared the winner.
Thanks go to the Auchincruive Club for its hospitality (David Arnot also turned up in the afternoon) and to Robert for helping with transport. The weather stayed sunny, and we all had an enjoyable day in this idyllic corner of the croquet world.
Fergus McInnes
Tracks in the dew reveal the undulations of the ground as David prepares to play a croquet stroke in his morning game.
Malcolm in play against David in the afternoon.
