Scottish Croquet Association

Spring Weekend 2017

6-7 May 2017, Meadows

The Spring Weekend 2017 was won by John-Paul Moberly in an exciting shoot out at the peg.  At the end of the tournament (a flexible Swiss) four players were tied on 4/6 wins: Roger Binks, Brian Durward and Alistair Malcolm being the others.

Read more: Spring Weekend 2017

Edinburgh Tournament 2017 - Day 7

Sorry if you were expecting a final report last night but after the tournament finished I had an inter-club GC match to play against Kevin and Michele from Auchincruive (they won), then there was athletics and football to watch on TV...

Anyway, Saturday dawned wet, very wet. As I made my way to Balgreen I found myself humming that old Gershwin song: "A rainy day in Edin-town / Had me low, had me down / I viewed the morning with much alarm / The world of croquet had lost its charm." But by 11 o’clock the rain had cleared and it stayed dry until a brief shower in late afternoon.

First up was the group final in the Open between John Surgenor and Alastair Burn-Murdoch. This was a nervy and scrappy match, with errors on both sides. John eventually won 21-15 on time but as he said to the applauding spectators, “Don’t clap anything in that game!” John went on to play Campbell Morrison in the final proper in the afternoon. This was a much better game, closely contested and really tense at the end, when Campbell was desperately trying to think of a way to get his second ball through 4 back without giving John the advantage of the lift from either baulk, where he'd carefully placed his balls. Eventually Campbell did it and ran out the overall winner +3.

Meanwhile James Thomson had beaten Lyn Gilpin +15 in the final of Event 4 and Kevin Wright had beaten Joe Lennon +19 in the final of the handicap Event 6. In the afternoon the two doubles finals took place - X and Y. Traditionally these draw the ‘crowds’ but Campbell and John’s match diverted them on this occasion. In the main doubles Alan Wilson and Rosemary S Robertson had a long, drawn-out match against Brian Durward and James Thomson, which they eventually won 19-18 on time. No hanging around in the consolation doubles where Bob Darling and Allan Hawke beat Bob and Morven Cross +4 in a brisk two hours.

After a delicious tea, contributed by several members from Balgreen and Edinburgh Clubs, the trophies were presented:

Open (Cramond Cup) - Campbell Morrison
4+ Level advanced singles (Ian H. Wright Trophy) - Bob Darling
8+ Handicap advanced singles (Silver Jubilee Salver) - John Campbell
Full bisque handicap singles (Walter B. Laing Cup) - James Thomson
Handicap doubles (Norton Wright Trophies) - Alan Wilson and Rosemary Saunders Robertson
Consolation doubles - Bob Darling and Allan Hawke
Unrestricted handicap singles (Edinburgh Croquet Cup) - Kevin Wright
Consolation handicap singles (Milne Trophy) - Alan Wilson
Golf croquet handicap singles - George Plant
Lauder Bowl (for player getting furthest without winning another trophy) - John Surgenor

Thank you for the appreciative words about these daily reports. I’ve enjoyed writing them.

Allan Hawke

Edinburgh Tournament 2017 - Results in full

Event 1 - Open Singes (The Cramond Cup)

Advanced play

Winner: Campbell Morrison

Block 1

 Block 2

Block 2 play-off: John Surgenor beat Alastair Burn-Murdoch +6T (21-15)

Final: Campbell Morrison beat John Surgenor +3

Event 2 - 4+ Level Advanced Singles (Ian H. Wright Trophy)

Advanced play

Winner: Bob Darling

Final: Bob Darling beat Allan Hawke +6

Event 3 - 8+ Handicap Advanced Singles (Silver Jubilee Salver)

Advanced play with bisques

Winner: John Campbell

Event 4 - Full Bisque Handicap Singles (Walter B. Laing Cup)

Handicap, full bisque base 12

Winner: James Thomson

Block 1

Block 2

Final: James Thomson beat Lyn Gilpin +15

Event 5X  - Handicap Doubles (Norton Wright Trophies)

Combined handicap 5 and over

Winners: Alan Wilson and Rosemary Saunders Robertson

Event 5Y - Consolation Doubles

Winners: Bob Darling and Allan Hawke

Event 6X  - Unrestricted Handicap Singles (Edinburgh Croquet Cup)

Winner: Kevin Wright

Event 6Y - Consolation Handicap Singles (Milne Trophy)

Swiss

Winner: Alan Wilson

Event 7 - Golf Croquet Handicap Singles

Winner: George Plant

The results for Event 7 are also on Croquet Scores.

Edinburgh Tournament 2017 - Day 6

Today was golf croquet day - 9 players, all play all, and a surprise winner. George Plant, who taught himself the game (AC) from a book forty years ago and hasn't played since until he joined Meadows CC about a month ago, took the honours. In the process he managed to run two 25 yard hoops and use a jump shot to good effect. Congratulations, George.

In the AC games there were also some surprises. In Event 1, James Hopgood, a favourite for the final, lost to Graham Brightwell and then to Alastair Burn-Murdoch. This leaves Alastair to play John Surgenor for a place in the final tomorrow against Campbell Morrison. Both matches should be well worth watching.

In Event 2, Allan Hawke, who beat Bob Darling yesterday in the round robin, lost to him today in the event final. It was a strange match. Bob got off to a good start, while Allan grew increasingly frustrated at his poor play and missed opportunities. Then he found his form and got round to peg one of Bob's balls out. However, Bob managed to pick up a three ball break and in the end won by 6 points.

The other day I wrote about 'fat lady' games, where one side seems to be well behind but then comes good and wins. We've had several of those, in both singles and doubles. The manager describes them as 'back from the dead' situations, so I’ve decided to call them 'Lazarus games'.

In Event 3 John Campbell beat Hamish Duguid to win Event 3 with 5 wins from 5 games (and reduce his handicap from 10 to 9). Congratulations to John.

Yet another final played today was in the handicap 'Swiss' (6Y) between Alan Wilson and James Thomson. Alan emerged triumphant despite all the distractions of managerial and refereeing duties. However, James deserves a special prize for the croquet crack of the week: if two balls are close together and you roquet one with the other in a straight line, it’s called a dolly rush; so if you play the roquet but the balls go off in different directions is it known as a 'Dolly Parting'?

Which brings us to yesterday's quotation quiz. The winner of the chocolate bar was Janice Duguid, who correctly guessed two of the three quotes. 'Exciting split shots' was said separately and independently by two people - Rachel Frith and Bob Cross. 'Most boring game ever' was said, almost in unison, by Jola Jurasinska and Jamieson Walker. And 'knit me a hankie' was said by yours truly.

Saturday's morning games are:

Alastair Burn-Murdoch v John Surgenor (see above)
Lyn Gilpin v James Thomson in the final of Event 4
Joe Lennon v Kevin Wright in the final of Event 6X

and from 1.15

Final of Event 1 - Campbell Morrison v Alastair or John
Doubles final - Brian Durward and James Thomson v Rosemary S Robertson and Alan Wilson
Consolation doubles final - Allan Hawke and Bob Darling v Morven and Bob Cross

Please note there will be no lunches provided on Saturday, but there will be the usual finals day tea in the afternoon, followed by the presentation of trophies.